Field trips give everyone a break from the classroom. That being said, it takes a lot of preparation to go on one of these trips. It might seem overwhelming to think about planning such an important task. Fortunately, following a few simple steps makes this process much easier than normal. With that in mind, here are four tips for planning a great field trip.
- Avoid Crowded Locations
Before a field trip happens, you’ll need to find the right destination. If you’re looking for a way to narrow down location choices, look for those that aren’t going to be extremely busy. Many locations will set aside certain times of the year for field trips. This ensures that everyone from your school is able to stay together, all in one large group. Taking trips to busy locations often causes headaches for parents and teacher who are trying to keep all children together in one facility. - Give Students and Parents Plenty of Preparation Time
While you might be ready for a field trip right away, these activities take time to plan. Typically, schools need to receive permission regarding when and where field trips can take place. In addition, students need time to tell their parents. These parents need time to gather funds to give their children for this upcoming trip. Lastly, your school also needs to send this money to your school’s field trip destination. Therefore, it’s wise to begin field trip planning as soon as possible. - Rent a Charter Bus
If you’re going to rent a bus for field trip transportation, consider a charter bus. These buses are six times more efficient than transit buses in regards to reduced C02 output. Renting a charter bus is a great way to show students, parents, and staff that your school focuses on being environmentally friendly. Charter buses feature amenities you won’t find on an average school bus including climate control, restrooms, and even wireless internet. In fact, statistics show that students and seniors made up for 50.2% of all motorcoach passenger trips during 2012. - Send Volunteer Forms for Parents Early
While planning a field trip, teachers often need all of the help they can get. Considering that, it’s wise for your school to send out volunteer forms for parents. This allows teachers to have extra help while on a field trip. In addition, many parents will likely jump at the chance to spend this special time with their children. However, parents often lead extremely busy lives. Therefore, it’s wise to get these forms to parents well in advance of your school’s field trip. This notice helps to ensure that each parent will be able to schedule time away from their work facility.
In conclusion, it’s important to be prepared for an upcoming school field trip. Whether you’re visiting a zoo, facility, or other location, you can rest assured that charter buses will provide safe transportation. In addition, a full charter bus has the potential to remove 55 vehicles from roadways. Charter buses also feature amenities you won’t find on a school bus, making a field trip much more enjoyable for faculty, students, and volunteers.
