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Younger students in particular may be daunted by the fledgling school excursion abroad. That first time that a student steps off the plane, bus, or train (which may well be the first time they have spent a significant period away from their parents or guardians), in a foreign land will provoke wide-eyed curiosity, a rush of excited chattering, but also a cautious wondering about what might happen next. Students, parents and teachers can work together to prepare novices to enjoy and engage with their first excursion experience. A little preparation will go a long way towards assuring students that their first time will only make them keen to pursue more educational tours in the future Be aware of your weaknesses First, students on initial school trips need to understand exactly what might cause them strife when they leave the safety of their classroom and home. For example, some students have medical conditions that require forms of regular treatment, such as asthma or diabetes, while other students simply have common phobias or causes of stress that could erupt when in an unfamiliar environment. With proper awareness of these potentially limiting factors, students can make sure they avoid stress, fear, or medical trauma, which could occur simply because they are outside their comfort zones and daily routines. Bring only what you need It can be a little daunting to decide what to bring on school trips. This is even more troubling to students who have never been on one before. Whether the student is going to the heat of the Mediterranean, the museums and galleries of Paris or the cold of Northern Europe, it is important to bring the appropriate clothing, gear and accessories – much of which students may take for granted when they are at school or home. Forgetting these, or packing unnecessary items, can leave students short when they need something vital, or even mean they lose something valuable they did not need to bring. Trust your teachers On school trips, the authority figure is the same as that of the classroom: the teacher. Yet, as those about to embark on their first excursion may not be aware, the role of the teacher suddenly seems different when students are walking in a group through the streets of Athens, around a Spanish village or in a museum in Washington, DC. It can be tempting to try to avoid or even subvert the authority of the teacher in this context, but it is vital for students to trust and listen to their teachers to make sure that the tour runs smoothly. Share with your friends Ultimately, students on the first of their potentially numerous school trips need to have fun. It is a great opportunity to bond and enjoy time with their peers. A great way to make sure this fun is stress free is to ensure students look out for one another, report any issues and realise that the best way fun can be had is within a safe context. Angela Bowden works for STS (School Travel Service), the UK's largest educational travel company, providing school trips for secondary schools, primary schools and colleges. School trips with STS can encompass art/design, foreign languages, history, science/nature, geography and more, to worldwide destinations.
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