On Site

Here are a few of our tips for making the trip a great one!

Music on school camp

We have mentioned it a few times but MUSIC is a must, especially for a proper ‘in tent’ school camp.  Music really changes the mood. Use upbeat music so the students can dance.  For journey’s have music the students can sing too. You can throw in some golden oldies as well as surprisingly a lot of the students know some of the classics. I always remember one group loved my playlist as it was full of Queen and their dads all play Queen at home.

Games

Have lots of back up short and snappy games. Here are a few from our experts

1. Uno card game,
2. Mancala African stone game
3. Cribbage Card game & travel board
4. Farkle dice game
5. Active games that are inclusive and not too skills based so all kids can join in, or let them select from choices,
6. treasure hunts, scavenger hunts are always good and fun.
7. Eye Spy,
8. I went to Market,
9. Card games – Uno.
10. Frisbee.

Dealing with student problems – disruption and homesickness.

Its likely that some of the kids and staff will get home sick or be disruptive, especially if you have a large group or are away for a long trip of 2-8 weeks.

Here are some advice from our experienced teachers.

“Disruption usually happens with kids who are either fearful of looking incompetent or are bored. If you determine it’s the first, then you can try to identify the source of the fear: don’t want to fail in front of others, don’t have the background knowledge, didn’t understand the prompt, etc”

“For disruptive students in activities the key is to give them something of importance, or at least reined importance, especially if it’s a social issue. Once they feel they’re responsible for a key duty they tend to take on this with enthusiasm, especially the more confident disruptive ones. As an instructor is usually the quite detached ones that are more of an issue. With these involvements may need to be heavily encouraged with additional prompts.”

“If you can create an environment where the students take on responsibility to support each other then this is by far the most effective situation to dispel homesickness. Often homesickness is purely an attention seeking strategy, and even where it isn’t, paying too much attention to the issue can be far more damaging than helpful—it’s a delicate balance.” 

Expect changes and issues during school camps

Sometimes things just don’t go right!  The key to this is to have things planned as best as possible and have back up plans!  Say it rains all morning and you can’t do an activity as planned.  They you need to go into the back up plan. Your provider should have some back up activities planned and also games.

It is always great if the teachers could have a few games up their sleeves as gap fillers as well.  Always expect there to be an accident, so IF heavens for bid it does happen, you are expecting it, and so you don’t panic.

How to deal with an accident during school trips

Time and communication are the most important things with this.  If an accident happens the teachers need to work closely with the providers.  In my experience accidents normally happen in free time, like twisting ankles whilst walking down stairs, accidents happening during sports etc etc  Here are some tips

1. Always ensure the provider has an evacuation vehicle ready and that the keys are in a safe place! The vehicle has spare cash in case fuel runs out and for whatever happens.
2. Put a hard copy of all the staff and student details inside the vehicle.
3. Send one staff, one provider and a friend of the patient
4. If the person going to the hospital is the leader inform your teacher team and assign someone as the new leader. This is why having a few senior team members is important. They may not be senior at the school but senior for the school camp.
5. RELAX, you are going to hospital and will be in good care
6. Inform the school and if its minor ONCE you have information then inform the parents. If major, then of course inform the parents straight away. If it’s a sprained ankle then that’s minor and you will only worry the parents until you have more news from the doctor.
7. Write what happened down as it happens to help with specifics for your accident report form.

How to deal with special diets

Special diets should be informed to the providers at least 3 to 4 weeks before the start and they should then give you a menu. It is important to add the teachers in this list as well! In my experience the leaders diet requirements are often missed out and then we need to make changes onsite which causes some stress.

Allergies are the main issue, ensure you talk with the parents to get a clearer picture of the allergy. ALSO ask about what the student likes to eat.  Then portray this info to the provider and they should deal with the rest.  But at meal times ensure you have an eppy pen available if they have been required before.  The provider should double check the kitchen to ensure what they have is allergen free.

Assign a few students to be school trip photographers

In each group of students assign a student to take photos and videos.  This is really important for remembering the experience.

Reflections

In my experience its best to have reflections each night which are fun, more game focused and then have a more serious one on the last night.  BUT finding the right time and location to do a reflection is important.

I like to play games like charades and pictionary.  The students will write down their own experiences from the day for the subjects to act or draw.  Make it competitive and then you have a reflection activity that is a fun game and doesn’t feel like a reflection.

Here is what the teachers said

“We found that our students didn’t want to write anything down!!  However, it is always great at the end of the day to sit down together as a team and discuss the day’s events.  What went well, what needs improving etc”

“ A common theme through the week helps them structure their ideas during reflections – small daily ones can build up to a big one at the end of the trip where you go over the ideas they have come up with throughout the week.”

“Would you rather….or…? is a an excellent journal prompt. For example, after a day on the trail, Would you rather pick leeches off your ankles or swat mosquitoes?  After a few of these, the students will be able to create their own and you can use them.”

“video it, podcast it, draw it, act it – anything but write it down which is the boring one. Or ask them questions that are quirky and a little different which make them sit up and think.”

The last night

The last night is really important, if we have a large group we would do a talent show with fire breathers and a little disco at the end. Its important to get the students involved in planning and hosting this. BUT be warned you will likely be called up to do a performance with the teachers – this is why I said having a music teacher is important 😊

If you have a smaller group have a BBQ with the students cooking, build a bon fire, play a guitar, cook smores, play some music and games and watch the stars.