| When you plan a class or school trip there are | | | | passed resolutions that forbid any adult on a |
| some easy to follow tips that will help you and | | | | school trip from consuming alcohol even if no |
| your class members get the most out of the | | | | students are around. First, this policy sends the |
| experience. Planning and carrying out a school trip | | | | right message to your students. Second, it is a |
| can be an incredibly stressful adventure if you | | | | good safeguard against a parent calling your |
| don't plan correctly, but as the trip planner you | | | | principal and complaining because their daughter |
| should get to have fun too. Follow these easy | | | | told them that one of your chaperones was |
| school trip planning tips to help minimize your | | | | down drinking in the hotel bar last night. |
| stress level and maximize your enjoyment of the | | | | 4. School trip chaperones should be provided with |
| trip. Please note that these tips are primarily | | | | a guidebook. |
| focused on middle school and high school group | | | | Make a planning packet specifically for your trip's |
| travel topics. Older groups may not require this | | | | chaperones that spells out your expectations, |
| much attention. | | | | their duties, and a more in-depth itinerary than the |
| 1. When planning a class or school trip plan to take | | | | one you give to the students. You should also |
| along a medical professional. | | | | include in this guidebook a trip roommate listing, |
| If your budget allows for it, and you need another | | | | airline flight assignments, travel agent emergency |
| chaperone on the trip, consider asking your school | | | | numbers, and cell phone numbers for you and |
| nurse to go along on the trip with you. Other | | | | your trip nurse. |
| alternatives could be the parent of a student in | | | | 5. Always have an emergency plan in place for |
| the class that is a nurse or physician. You should | | | | your trip participants. |
| plan on giving this person a reduced price on the | | | | Give each student a wallet sized card with cell |
| trip, but in return you will not have to worry as | | | | phone numbers, hotel numbers, and other |
| much about what to do if a student gets sick | | | | important information to use on the chance that |
| after you leave. If at all possible always take the | | | | they get separated from the group. If your class |
| school nurse on the trip. They have liability | | | | trip takes you to a country that does not speak |
| coverage through the school just in case | | | | your language, always include on the card a |
| something goes wrong. | | | | sentence or two in the native language explaining |
| 2. Plan ahead and make sure your chaperones are | | | | how to contact you. Tell your students to present |
| kept busy during the trip. | | | | this card to only to a police officer or someone |
| Taking more chaperones on trip than you need is | | | | they believe they can trust and to only use it if |
| not necessarily a good thing. Sometimes adults | | | | needed. |
| can be even more of a pain than the students | | | | 6. ALWAYS have a discipline plan set up for your |
| can, especially if that adult looks at the class trip | | | | class or school group. |
| as a vacation for themselves rather than as an | | | | For more information on this very important |
| educational experience for the students. | | | | aspect of planning a school trip please visit my |
| 3. Ban alcohol on your trip. | | | | articles on School Trip Conduct Policies, Group |
| I'm not talking about just students, I'm also talking | | | | Discipline While Traveling and others in the |
| about adults. Many PTA and other groups have | | | | Educational Travel Section. |