"It's a student-led expedition with nine courageous students, and it will push them and provide an adventure that will help shape their lives," college principal Mason Stretch said.
The nine pupils, now aged 14-17, in years 10 to 12, will travel to Nepal in May. Fundraising for the expedition was launched last week and the goal is to reach $80,000.
A function in Cromwell with guest speaker Guy Cotter, of Wanaka, was the first of the fundraising ventures last week. .
Mr Cotter talked about his mountaineering experiences, including climbing Mt Everest four times.
"It's a pleasure to be raising funds to see young people go into the outdoors to have an amazing adventure in this place, which is close to my heart," he said.
It was important to send young people "out into the world" and let them face challenges rather than trying to protect them.
"We don't take risks by throwing them into the deep end, but by taking incremental steps. If we don't allow people to learn those things and develop, the human race is going to suffer as a consequence."
The idea for the trip came from mountaineer Kim Logan, who has a son at the college.
"I took my son over there last year and I was in Mason's [the principal's] office - for good reasons - having a chat and put it to him that I felt a group of pupils could do this trip."
Mr Logan, Mr Stretch and parent Pauline Murphy will be accompanying the pupils.
"It's fantastic to have these kids doing what they are doing and achieve what they're going to and they'll gain incredible memories," Mr Logan said.
"They're going to be working it out for themselves; there's no babysitting. They'll be raising money, sorting out flights, working out the logistics, handling the health and safety side of it, and involved in daily meetings with the Sherpas when we're there."
Mr Stretch said he hoped half the money needed would be raised through sponsorship and the rest would be raised by the pupils. Some of the money will be donated to the Hillary Himalayan Trust, founded by the late Sir Edmund Hillary.
Team leader Dave Borrie (16) said the expedition would bean amazing adventure.
"Personally, I'm really interested in seeing the culture and seeing how people deal with the resources they take in with them, as well as comparing how they live with how we live."
Jonathan Streeter (16) said it would give the pupils the opportunity to experience another culture and tackle some amazing challenges.
Will Harrison (17) said it would be special to reach the base camp around the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest.
Elsa Mannering (14) is unfazed by being the only girl in the team.
"I'm inspired by my great-great-grandfather George Edward Mannering, who was a climber and was one of the first Europeans to climb the Southern Alps, so I'm kind of following in his footsteps," she said.
The next fundraising venture is an evening with Peter Hillary on Friday, September 28.
Everest Base Camp Expedition
• Nine Cromwell College pupils, three adults
• 21-day trek, April-May 2013
• Fundraising goal $80,000
• Trek through Gokyo Valley and via Chola Pass to base camp and back
• Forms part of the pupils' Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award
• Portion of fundraising for Hillary's Himalayan Trust
• Trip coincides with 60th anniversary of first Everest ascent
