It’s a new year and travel is steadily recovering, meaning demand for setting out into the world is higher than ever. With destinations and attractions new and old welcoming visitors with open arms, it’s never the wrong time to start planning your next class trip to an unforgettable place.
A common concern among educators is ensuring enough students sign up to participate in the trip. Thankfully, there’s plenty that could be done to increase your chances of garnering the student numbers needed to make the trip a reality. Keep these pointers and guidelines in mind next time you begin planning a student trip.
FUNDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
The top factor usually preventing students from attending a trip is lack of adequate funds. Be sure to immediately get into fundraising mode once you’ve secured your trip details with ETI. A bounty of options exist, from hosting bake sales, car washes, etc. Don’t be afraid to get creative, either! Approach local businesses or past donors to see if they’re interested in donating or sponsoring a student’s trip.
Additionally, encourage students to apply for available educational travel scholarships. Do some online research to find potential opportunities and pass them along—you never know how effective this can be unless students apply. ETI is very active with the SYTA Youth Foundation, which offers their Road Scholarship, aimed at allowing more students to experience the benefits of student travel.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
It’s key to choose a destination that your students will get excited about. Simply stated, if they aren’t excited about where you’re going, they aren’t going to sign up or work hard to fundraise for the trip. Make sure the destination is not only one that students will be interested in, but is one that fits into a realistic budget, as well. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking the more under-the-radar destinations, many of which have grown in popularity since the pandemic.
STAYING ON THE BALL.
Be proactive in communicating and sharing information with parents as early on in the planning process as possible. Emphasize the vital role travel plays in students’ development and hold regular planning meetings—keeping the lines of communication with parents open and transparent. Making yourself available otherwise to answer any questions they may have helps build trust and reassures them that their child is safe in your capable care.
BUILD EXCITEMENT & SHARE THE FUN!
Traveling undoubtedly offers a wide variety of educational benefits, but remember to be intentional about sharing the specific ties the trip has to what students have been learning. Instead of reading about a historic event that happened at a location that seems so far away, bringing students there—standing where those history makers once stood—will have an impact beyond what their textbook alone can give.
Essential to broadening a student’s worldview, traveling has endless cultural benefits, as well. Share with students the fact that they’ll get to interact with new people and experience traditions that are different than their own.
Besides the obvious educational benefits, trips like these are FUN. Be sure to share that in addition to the trip having components that are tied to your curriculum, there will also be plenty of chances for kids to be kids. Opportunities like these not only enrich their educational learning, but will leave students with memories that will last a lifetime.
Courtesy of ETI.
