When planning and executing student trips to Washington DC, New York City, Orlando, FL, or other US destinations, one of the main components to a smooth and fun trip is good communication between a chaperone (also known as tour director) and the teacher. who is sponsoring the class trip.
Some student trips can be quite large, with groups ranging from 100-150 students, while other class trips can have 40-60 students. No matter how large or small the group and how many buses are needed, a trained trip director is a necessary part of the trip and can make all the difference in whether or not the student trip is managed well.
An educational travel company with experience in taking school groups on tour will always provide a chaperone as part of the total cost of the trip. The chaperone is the representative of the educational travel company whose main task is to maintain an open dialogue with the teacher when schedule changes or itinerary deviations are suggested or needed, among other things.
A trip director is not in charge of the trip. The teacher is the person who fulfills this role and assumes the ultimate responsibility for making decisions on behalf of the group of students. The role of the tour escort is to assist the teacher when a decision must be made and to inform him of the possible charges that may be incurred for making decisions that do not match the planned itinerary.
Here is a breakdown of the role a trip director will play on a class trip and the responsibilities of the teacher or school group leader:
tourist escort
• The teacher is introduced before the trip through a personal phone call.
• Use the itinerary as a guide for the entire class trip.
• Keeps the group on time and manages any issues that may arise that will affect punctuality in attendance at scheduled events, destinations, restaurants, etc.
• Acts as a liaison between attractions, hotels, restaurants, the bus driver and other stops on the tour.
• When requested by the teacher or group leader, the tour director may assume more control of the group. For example, a teacher may be absent on a personal phone call, going to the bathroom, or supervising a problem with a student or group of students. The tour director will act as a temporary group leader when the teacher’s attention is elsewhere.
professor
• He or she is the class trip group leader and maintains control of the students.
• The educator talks with the companion and makes the final decisions on adjustments to the itinerary or schedule.
• A teacher will consult with the tour escort regarding any actual or potential financial changes that may occur due to itinerary modifications.
• When disciplinary problems arise with a student or group of students, the teacher takes the lead role in intervening and correcting the problem.
• If there is a problem with the location or time, the tour escort informs the teacher how the problem will be resolved and makes final decisions on the outcome of the situation.
The teacher-chaperone relationship is always most effective when both individuals keep the lines of communication open. A skilled companion is a competent communicator. An educator must have excellent speaking skills to run a classroom on a regular basis. When these two key roles work in unison, a student trip to any destination is a quality educational experience fondly remembered by all.