Every November, the Royal Geographical Society in London becomes a hub of adventure, exploration, and ideas when it hosts RGS Explore 2025 – the expedition and field work planning weekend. The event brings together explorers, scientists, students, fieldworkers and organisations from across the world who are planning or supporting expeditions. It is an inspiring gathering of people who share a passion for pushing boundaries and learning from challenging environments.
This year’s conference takes place from Friday 21 – Sunday 23 November 2025.
In 2025, the First Aid Training Co-operative (FATC) will once again be present at Explore as an exhibitor, showcasing the unique blend of expedition first aid and mental health first aid (MHFA) training that we deliver. Our focus is simple but vital: giving expedition teams, leaders, and organisations the skills they need to respond effectively to emergencies, whether those emergencies are physical or psychological.
Why First Aid Matters on Expedition
Expeditions take people into demanding environments — high mountains, remote deserts, tropical rainforests, icy seas — often far from reliable medical support. In these contexts, even relatively minor injuries can become serious if not managed promptly and effectively. Expedition teams must be prepared to handle everything from fractures, wounds, and altitude illness to heatstroke, hypothermia, insect bites and dehydration.
That’s where our expedition first aid courses come in. Designed by experienced expedition leaders and medical trainers, these courses go beyond standard first aid. They include scenario-based learning that simulates the challenges of providing care in remote, resource-limited environments. We train participants to think creatively, adapt equipment, and make sound decisions under pressure.
But physical health is only half the story. Expeditions are also mentally demanding. Fatigue, isolation, culture shock, interpersonal tensions, and exposure to trauma can all affect the mental wellbeing of team members. Increasingly, leaders are recognising the need to be as prepared for mental health challenges as they are for physical ones.
Mental Health First Aid for Expeditions
The First Aid Training Co-operative is proud to be at the forefront of bringing Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) into expedition training. We deliver courses that help leaders and team members recognise the signs of mental health distress, start supportive conversations, and guide people towards professional help when appropriate.
Our Mental Health First Responder course has been specially developed for outdoor and expedition contexts. The training includes online modules plus a scenario-based practical day, giving participants the confidence to apply their learning in realistic situations. Delegates leave the course with a three-year assessed qualification and the skills to respond effectively to situations such as panic attacks, extreme anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts — issues that, if left unaddressed, can jeopardise an entire expedition.
By combining physical first aid and mental health first aid, FATC equips expedition teams to handle the full spectrum of health challenges they may encounter.
Our International Partnerships
Expeditions often involve global teams, and FATC is proud to support this international community through partnerships with respected organisations overseas.
In Rwanda, we work with Kingfisher Journeys, an adventure travel and guiding company, to deliver wilderness first aid and CPR training for guides, staff, and community groups. This ensures that those leading kayaking, trekking, and wildlife trips on the ground have the confidence and skills to keep their clients safe.
In Kenya, we collaborate with Adventure First Aid, delivering highly practical courses for safari guides, outdoor educators, and expedition teams. Together, we provide training designed for the realities of remote African environments, from the savannah to the highlands.
These partnerships strengthen FATC’s vision of making practical, context-specific first aid training accessible worldwide, building resilience in local guiding communities as well as international expedition teams.
Our Role at RGS Explore 2025
As an exhibitor at RGS Explore 2025, FATC will be sharing information about our training programmes and talking directly with expedition planners, team leaders, and aspiring explorers. Visitors will be able to:
• Find out about our Outdoor and Expedition First Aid courses, tailored for teams heading into remote and extreme environments.
• Learn about our Mental Health First Responder course, designed to prepare expedition leaders for the psychological demands of long and challenging projects.
• Discuss their expedition plans and how FATC training can be adapted to specific environments — whether Arctic, desert, jungle, or ocean.
• Meet Cory Jones, our lead trainer and expedition specialist, who has a wealth of experience delivering training and leading teams all over the world.
We believe that every expedition should have leaders who feel confident in both physical and mental health first aid. Explore 2025 is the perfect platform for us to share this message.
Cory Jones: Experience in the Field
FATC co-founder Cory Jones will be on hand throughout the weekend to talk with visitors about training, expeditions, and the realities of looking after people in tough environments.
Cory has worked on expeditions and training programmes on almost every continent. His experience ranges from mountain and canoe expeditions in Europe and Canada, to wildlife and community projects in East Africa, to guiding and natural history work in Antarctica. He is also a qualified wilderness and mental health first aid trainer, delivering courses to professional guides, outdoor instructors, and expedition teams worldwide.
With over 30 years in the outdoor sector, Cory has a unique perspective on the challenges of keeping people safe, healthy, and resilient on expedition. He combines deep technical knowledge with practical, lived experience of leading groups through demanding and unpredictable situations.
Main Stage Talk: Dealing with Mental Health Distress on Expedition
In addition to representing FATC on our exhibition stand, Cory will also be speaking on the main stage at RGS Explore 2025. His talk will focus on dealing with mental health distress on expeditions — a subject of growing importance for the exploration community.
The session will explore questions such as:
• What are the most common mental health challenges faced by expedition teams?
• How can leaders spot early signs of distress?
• What practical steps can be taken to support someone struggling in the field?
• How do mental health challenges impact the success and safety of an expedition?
Cory will draw on real-world experience and FATC’s specialist training to offer insights and tools for expedition leaders, encouraging more open discussion around mental wellbeing in adventurous contexts.
Why Visit Us at Explore?
If you are attending RGS Explore 2025 (21–23 November), we’d love you to come and see us. Whether you are planning your first overseas fieldwork trip, leading a student expedition, or preparing for a major research project in a remote location, our training can make the difference between success and struggle.
By training with FATC, you will gain:
• The confidence to deal with injuries and illness far from medical help.
• The ability to support mental health and resilience within your team.
• The reassurance that you are following best practice in expedition safety and duty of care.
• A recognised qualification that strengthens your expedition plan and funding applications.
Looking Ahead
We are excited to be part of RGS Explore once again and to connect with the vibrant community of explorers, researchers, and adventurers who gather each year. The conversations we have at Explore always spark new collaborations, inspire fresh ideas, and reinforce the importance of preparation.
If you’re attending Explore 2025, please stop by our stand to meet the team, learn about our courses, and share your expedition plans. And don’t miss Cory’s main-stage talk on mental health distress in expeditions — a session that promises to be thought-provoking, practical, and highly relevant to anyone working in the field.
Find out more about our courses:
Expedition First Aid Training – We can deliver this course for your group at your venue. We also run these courses regularly as public courses.
Mental Health First Responder – Our 2 Day certificated course that can be run privately or as a public course.
We look forward to seeing you at RGS Explore 2025 between 21st and 23rd November in London !
