Tips for Successful Student Travel
44875
Travel & Leisure > Destinations
Sep 4, 2007
chiron99
Tips for Successful Student Travel
Many new trip sponsors take on the responsibility of planning a student excursion without the benefit of a "mentor" or any previous experience. Although the eventual travel experience can be highly successful there are many obstacles that could just as easily result in a negative experience. That doesn't have to be the case if you take into account the following tried and true guidelines. During my years as a middle school trip sponsor we took an annual grade level trip to Washington, DC.Initially, I was hesitant to make the trip because Washington, DC can be a huge travel challenge. The capital area is a densely populated region with a heavy traffic volume. In addition, there is little or no parking near the popular museums, monuments and memorials. I learned, however, that with careful preplanning you can all but eliminate these issues and ensure that your group will have the experience of a lifetime. One of the most critical, and frequently overlooked, aspects of trip planning is making sure a knowledgeable "destination specialist" accompanies the group. A destination specialist isn't just an expert on navigating about the area, but someone who can also assist a motorcoach driver and make recommendations to the trip sponsor to reduce the time between stops and create smooth transitions between venues. This same individual will call ahead to confirm reservations, work with the trip sponsor to adjust the itinerary during the trip, and facilitate the arrival and departure of the group from hotels, attractions and meals. The best destination specialists are individuals employed by student tour providers. They are frequently referred to as tour directors or trip escorts and either reside in the destination or specialize in escorting trips to that region. An equally important key to a successful trip is organization. A well structured travel experience begins with the realization that your group must have the best possible supervision AND the clearest expectations for the participants. I recommend that you extend your school code of conduct to cover the trip or adopt behavioral expectations for travel on a motor coach, touring and at the hotel. Students and parents must know the behavioral expectations and consequences prior to the trip departure date. I also recommend that you select adult chaperons for the trip that are either staff members or parent volunteers with experience in working with the age group of the student travelers. These individuals will be supervising students while they are away from home and must be effective authority figures. Their ability to handle minor discipline problems, ensure that students are in the right place at the appointed time, and conduct nightly room checks will help assure that the trip is a success. Once this group has been determined I suggest scheduling a "Chaperon Training Session". An excellent time to hold the meeting is a day or two prior to departure. Getting all of the adults together at the same time will allow you to review the rules for the students as well as those for the adults. Stress that the trip is an extension of the classroom and that each chaperon has the same responsibilities as a teacher. You should also stress being on time for activities, staying with their student group at all times, and being a good role model. During this meeting it would be a good idea to review the final itinerary, emphasizing the learning experiences and providing tips for a memorable experience. While reviewing the schedule, review the chaperon responsibilities at key points such as check-in, on the motorcoach, in the hotel, and at meals and attractions. Another important component of a safe travel experience is nighttime security. Following nightly curfew in the hotel, the trip sponsor and chaperons need to get a good nights rest and be refreshed for the next day of the trip. A reputable student tour provider like Travel Adventures will include a local nighttime security firm as part of your trip package. Trained guards will be stationed on each floor throughout the night to protect the students, keep them from becoming a distraction to other hotel guests, and to prevent them from leaving their room or visiting another room. This trip feature will increase the safety and security, while allowing the adults to get a good night's rest. Providing a safe travel experience also means that you must plan for health care and the handling of medication. When parents allow their children to travel with the school, they assume that provisions are in place for an unforeseen illness or accident. Parents also want to be assured that an adult will be responsible for dispensing medications and daily prescriptions. Most schools have clearly defined guidelines for the administration of medication and have adopted a uniform "Health Form" for use on field trips. These can easily be adapted to your trip. Generally speaking: - Medication cannot be dispensed without written permission of parent/guardian. - Parent/guardian or school personnel must administer all medication (Unless school policy allows for exceptions). - Students may not carry prescription medications on their person (occasionally high school aged students are allowed to carry their own medications). Exceptions are usually made for Epi-pens, inhalers, and diabetic supplies. It is also strongly recommended that parent/guardian sign a "Medical Release and Proxy Form" in the event of an emergency. This form should include space for the parent/guardian to provide up-to-date insurance information and emergency contact numbers. Successful student travel is not simply selecting a travel date and destination, making reservations enrolling students, and collecting payments. It takes thorough planning, frequent and effective communication, and attention to details. The tips provided in this article are suggestions that are not only applicable to an excursion to Washington, DC, but to other destinations as well.
traveladventures Travel Adventures is staffed by educators who understand the needs of teachers. Serving over one half million students since our inception, we provide hassle-free travel arrangements while empowering teachers to create change by expanding the classroom to the world. Our experienced team of travel professionals is dedicated to exceeding your student travel expectations.
send email to chiron99
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
Toronto has long been known as a multicultural city, making it an ideal place for student group travel. Its unique neighborhoods and marketplaces provide visitors with a variety of sights, sounds, and experiences.
Category:
Love 'em or hate 'em, the Detroit Lions are the city's only professional football franchise. The team currently resides just a luxury sedan or limo ride away at Ford Field, located in downtown Detroit. Here are some team historical highlights:
Category:
Three of the major shippers in the USA are USPS (United States Postal Service), UPS and the global giant, DHL. These shippers play an important role in international business and shipping. Let's take a look at how they do they go about their work ...
Category:
The knife was one of the first tools used by early humans, and in the past thousands of years its use and its design have evolved considerably. Today there are several different kinds of knives, made from a variety of materials, and used as tools,
Category:
Gold is a pure metal first found by early man. It is very workable in its naturally occurring pure state and has been used by craftsmen for the past 11,000 years. Revered for millennia gold is now the material of choice of people across the globe as an ex
Category:
If you want to store some goods or send them to another destination then you may find cardboard boxes to be the best way to do it. In case you are wondering which kind of cardboard box to use here is a brief introduction to the types of cardboard...
Category:
If you are fascinated by gold, as most humans have been for the past 7,000 years, then you might find the following facts about the beautiful metal that you may be wearing on your neck, wrists and fingers to be quite interesting and in some cases surprisi
Category:
Are you ready for the ultimate student group travel science trip? Then consider exploring the islands of the Galapagos, and let your students see for themselves the place where Charles Darwin formulated his theories of evolution.
Category:
In the early 1950's a Cleveland disc jockey named Alan Freed coined the term rock and roll and a new musical and cultural movement started. It is fitting that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame now thrives in Cleveland, offering visitors and students a chance
Category:
Pure silver, also called fine silver, is relatively soft, very malleable, and easily damaged. It is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more durable product. This article provides a survey of the most common types of silver that are used in j
Category:
Promotional products are items used to promote a product, service or company program and they include advertising specialties, premiums, incentives, business gifts, awards, prizes, commemoratives and other imprinted or decorated items.
Category:
Today is an exciting time for nurses. The job market is plentiful with positions including the demand for traveling nurses.
Category:
If you are thinking of shipping a package to or from a location in the USA or abroad then you will probably come in contact with two prominent shipping services, Federal Express and UPS. In case you have wondered how these companies are run or wanted to k
Category:
Humankind has long been fascinated by the beauty of gold and since the earliest days of civilization gold has been used to adorn us in the form of jewelry. Let's take a look at how gold jewelry has been used in the various parts of the world during the la
Category:
Chlorinated paraffins are excellent stamping lubricants. They protect the tooling during deep draws and allow the formation of the part to take place without weakening the metal. The problem arises when these waxy lubricants need to be removed from the pa
Category:
Platinum is a rare precious metal that is used to create fine jewelry. Its heavy weight and durability make it a metal that will not wear away with constant use. When used as prongs and other setting components, platinum holds fine gemstones firmly in pla
Category:
It has got to be the most commonly asked question about starting a new lawn. Anybody who has ever contemplated starting a new lawn has pondered this question. Sod or seeds? Ordering topsoil and seeds is cheaper ...
Category:
You have planned a school trip and want all of the eligible students to participate. This is a common goal and many school sponsors are using fundraising as a means of achieving it. I recommend you select a reputable fundraising company with a proven trac
Category:
Palladium deserves a small chapter in the history of jewelry. Let's take a look at the history of this metal and its role in the world of jewelry. Of the platinum group of metals -- platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, osmium and ruthenium -- palladium
Category:
Do you have pearls or are you thinking of getting some? Pearls have a fascinating history, so let's look a bit closer at this popular item of jewelry.
Category:
Other links at Travel & Leisure > Destinations
Sacramento that used to be a city located peacefully in a valley of the canopies of tall trees and scenic rivers, has now turned into a cosmopolitan city with gleaming tall buildings, shops and restaurants, exciting arts forms and an array of facilities f
Category:
The beautiful and almost magical city of Paris is considered by many to be the most romantic city in the world.
Category:
You may ask yourself, exactly what is a dance holiday? If you would like to experience a holiday like no other, in a magical place, then you will want to look into one of the many dance holidays in South America.
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68214
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
