School field trips
A school field trip is a supervised teacher- or school-sponsored activity (curricular or extra curricular) where students leave the school premises for part of a day, a day, or multiple days.
Field trips may be considered “low risk” or “high risk:”
- Examples of low risk field trips could include: a tour of the band store, Spirit Bear Lodge, or the Stewardship office, etc.
- Examples of high risk field trips could include: kayak or canoe trips, camping on Marvin Island, hiking to the helicopter pad, etc.
Field trips are an extension of classroom activities and an integral part of the school program that have educational value. All students are expected to participate in field trips during the school hours.
Field Trip Communication & Safety (for Staff)
Each teacher is required to communicate to the office (principal and administrative assistant) relevant information about field trips (i.e., time of departure/return, destination, number of students, etc.) as far in advance as possible. All teachers must take a cell phone (and leave their cell phone number with the office).
Supervising teachers must bring a small first aid kit with them on field trips and walkabouts.
Teachers must complete a written permission form for each field trip: parents/guardians must give permission for each field trip. Also, specific approval by parents/guardians will be required for all school field trips exceeding one day.
Walkabouts
Short supervised walking trips within the vicinity of the school may be taken with the principal’s permission without having to complete a field trip permission. Supervision requirements and ratios for walkabouts may be reduced to 1 adult per 15 students.
Safety
Any off-site school field trips must be pre-approved by the principal and parents need to be informed of its instructional value and other information outlined below.
ALL OVERNIGHT TRIPS MUST HAVE A BUDGET AND MUST BE FORMALLY APPROVED BY the principal and the KITASOO EDUCATION AUTHORITY.
In some cases, field trips that require booking travel for students will require a $500 deposit from parents. This will be applied toward the cost of the trip if the student goes. If the student chooses not to go at the last minute the $500 will be forfeited to cover travel costs that cannot be refunded.
When on extra-curricular travel, students and chaperones shall:
- Abide by the instructions of the coordinating teacher/supervisor.
- Conduct themselves in a manner that will bring honour to their parents/guardians, supervisors, school, and village. Follow the rules of the supervisors before and during the field trip.
- Recognize that participation in school travel requires respectful behaviour in regular classes and completing assignments.
- Be returned home at the expense of the parents/guardians if, in the opinion of the supervisor, there is serious misconduct that includes but is not limited to, the use of alcohol/drugs.
- Create a budget for spending his/her money while on the trip.
- Seek the permission of their supervisor for any unscheduled or unplanned activity. Such activities will not normally be permitted.
- Accept the accommodation as arranged by the school or the trip supervisor. Students will not be permitted to stay elsewhere or to make their own arrangements unless special arrangements have been made with the supervisor and school principal prior to the trip.
- Always be in the company of the supervisor or a prearranged “buddy” when on their own.
- Under no circumstances, consume alcohol beverages or use illegal drugs.
- Attend school, if in session, up until the time of departure and immediately upon return, unless excused by the supervisor.
- Although the Kitasoo Education Authority will contribute most of the funds for any field trip, the participants are expected to take some responsibility for the trip and raise at least 1/3 of the costs. All participants will be required to help in all fundraising efforts.
Trip supervisors shall:
- Follow travel rules and recognize that it is a privilege to travel on behalf of the school and the village. Any disregard of travel rules, the privilege will be withdrawn.
- Make sure that all participants have been cleared by their teachers and the principal as being eligible to travel, in terms of having a good academic standing and good behaviour.
- Ensure that travel consent forms have been completed and signed by the parent/guardian and the principal and returned on or before due date and time, no exceptions.
- Ensure that procedures are in place to deal with any participant having medical alert status.
- Provide participants, parents/guardians and principal with a trip itinerary, including emergency phone numbers.
- Remain with the group/class in accommodations at all times, shall not leave the group for any reason, at any time.
- Advise the participants, in advance, of the expectations regarding behaviour which will include an outline for the consequences of inappropriate behaviour.
- Ensure that driving participants and chaperones are adequately insured, licensed and have completed a criminal record check.
- Ensure male supervision for male students and female supervision for female students. If this is not possible, special arrangements must be approved by the principal and parents/guardians.
- Have procedures for contacting parents/guardians should the need arise.
- Ensure that students have supplied a BC Medical number.
- Have students supervised whenever possible or if on their own, in a group of two or more.
- Establish and enforce a curfew.
- Ensure the separation of male and female participants when assigning and supervising sleeping accommodations.
- Report all possession and/or use of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs to the school principal and to parents/guardians.
- Report all instances of serious inappropriate behaviour to the principal as soon as is reasonably possible.
- Arrange and supervise fund raising activities and ensure that all participants take part in fundraising activities.
School administrators shall ensure that a first aid kit is available in the staff room and on field trips to deal with minor cuts and injuries. Most of the school staff have first aid training. Parents are asked to respect the health of all students in the community by keeping their children at home if they have an infectious illness or open sores.
Pre-Field Trip Planning
- Supervising teacher(s) notify the principal (in writing) about the plan for each school field trip. The principal must approve and sign the request prior to the field trip.
- Parents complete a written permission form for each field trip.
- Transportation: When private vehicles are used, information regarding vehicle insurance is in the office. There must be verification that the number of passengers does not exceed the number of seatbelts. No child under the age of 13 shall travel in the front seat where an air bag could be deployed.
- The principal will ensure that roles and responsibilities of all students and attending adults are clearly defined prior to the school field trip. The school’s code of conduct must be reviewed by all participants prior to the field trip.
- The principal will ensure guidelines are established with regard to free time on any school field trip.
- Students requiring special medical care must be identified and provisions made for procedures to meet any potential emergent need. There must be adequate notice given to parents/guardians in order that they may provide appropriate student protection from the elements and for the setting. Examples are sunscreen, hats, proper attire and appropriate footwear.
- There must be adequate notice (suggested two weeks) to parents/guardians and administration in advance of each field trip. Field trips that have significant costs require more lead time for parents/guardians. However, it is acknowledged that on occasion, due to special circumstances, two weeks notice cannot always be given.
Adult Supervision on one-day Field Trips
The principal shall ensure that there is adequate adult supervision using the following criteria:
| Grades | Min. # of adults | Ratio of adults to students |
| K4 to 5 | 1+ adults | 1:10 |
| 6 – 12 | 1+ adults | 1:15 |
* Educational Assistants normally assigned to a student with special needs are not to be included in ratios above unless agreed to by the teacher and the principal.
* Parents may not supervise their own children on field trips.
Teachers’ Responsibilities
Teachers also provide a roster of student participants to the principal, noting who is absent on the day of the field trip. ‘Walkabout’ types of field trips do not require a roster as the information is already available in the school office.
Provisions must be made to handle emergent situations such as emergency medication, accidents, illness or disciplinary action.
- Preventative expectations/guidelines must be made known to parents/guardians and students.
- An emergency phone plan must be in place, when necessary.
- Provisions for emergencies must be available: First Aid Kit, cell telephone, etc.
- A plan is in place to support students with special needs or behaviour challenges which may have safety implications.
The school office must be notified of any changes to school trip departure, arrival times, or location of activities.
While field trips are part of the curriculum and all students are expected to participate, if a student does not participate in a field trip, teachers provide a program of instruction for students not attending the field trip.