Consider the process you would go through to plan a field trip.
Planning a field trip is not an easy task even to experienced teachers. It requires specialization to perfect the task. These are some of the guidelines which will be useful in the process:
- Deciding early enough ahead of the time you think you will be tackling the topics requiring the field trip. This will be the first plan and it leaves chances for another if it fails.
- Select the appropriate number of days within those of teaching the unit.
- Make the necessary paper work aimed at applying permission as required by your institution. Also identify an administrator whom you will go with at the trip.
- Communicate with the person involved with reservation at the place of your trip to determine whether the set days are available and book if so. If not go for plan B.
- Organize for means of transport. This could be the school buses and if not possible you can make arrangements with a private means of transport considering the most favourable in terms of cost, reliability and security.
- Inform the parents about the trip by sending slips to request for permission and indicate the cost of the trip and the reason you have organized it.
- State any special rules and regulations governing the trip to the students. Tell them what they can bring and that which they are not allowed come with.
- Organize for several copies of class list and distribute them to the adults in the trip and remain with some. This will be used to take a roll call when the class has moved from one point to another.
- Once the trip is over don’t forget to thank those who participated, including the parents in writing, then keep all the materials used safely for reference in the years to come.
Legal issues that you must consider when planning a field trip
When planning for a field trip one can be faced with a couple of challenges. It is due to this that one needs to put into considerations some of the legal issues that may be necessary.Some simple and normal responsibilities may be complicated by supervision and transportation needs. Documents to describe the field, its objectives, provisions, special instructions to students and liability release-statements should be comprehensive. Emergency preparedness should be addressed.
The teachers are tasked to take care of the students while in trip. This can be achieved by training the students to undertake their duties well to avoid any dangers and also ensuring that proper supervision is done to avert any possible risks.Risk should be assessed and possible measures to prevent against possible known risks put in place. Risk managements measures should also be planned for.
Parents should be fully informed about the time when they are being asked to grand permission for their children to participate in the trips. They should be told about any possible risks and the measures the organizers have put in place to curb them. Other information like methods of transportation, levels of supervision and the logistics and contingency of the trip should also be conveyed to the parents.Documentation is essential for the planning and carrying out of all the activities of the trip. All copies of certification, reports and any shortfalls must be filed after the completion of the trip for reference
