|
|
|
Field Trips 101
We request that all CHB member families review the Field Trip Policy FAQ document and the Field Trip Etiquette document before registering for or attending any field trip. These documents have been designed to educate and inform our membership about respectfully representing Christ, as well as the home schooling movement in our community.
FIELD TRIP POLICY
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.) Where can I receive information on upcoming field trips?
A.) Visit our web site at http://www.ch-eb.org/events/index.shtml. Click on the event heading for information and guidelines for registering for
the field trips. Note: Guidelines vary with each field trip.
Q.) I have some great ideas for field trips but I'm already serving on
another committee. To whom do I give this information?
A.) The field trip chairperson will happily accept your ideas at any
time during the year. However, as field trips are planned months in
advance in most cases, please don't be offended if your idea is not
pursued in the current year.
Q.) Who can attend a CHB field trip?
A.) This question has a two-part answer, a special note, and an exception:
- A field trip participant must be a member of CHB.
- Only CHB member families, including grandparents, may participate.
Note: Family pets are not listed on the CHB registration form and should not attend any CHB field trip.
Exceptions to A1) and A2):
- With the prior-approval of the field trip coordinator: If a field trip has a maximum number of "unlimited," and a CHB member family desires to invite another home-schooled family, additional friends, and/or family members on said field trip, they may do so, with the understanding that they are responsible for the behavior of their guests. Also, the CHB member family must understand that if any problems are encountered, that member family may lose their right to attend field trips for the duration of the school year, and/or you may be responsible for the elimination of this exception.
- If a field trip has a minimum number of field trip participants required, and we fall short by a couple of spaces, we may with the approval of the Field Trip chairperson and/or the approval of the CHB board, open this field trip to select groups.
Q.) May I run some errands while my child is attending a field trip?
A.) No. There are only two reasons you should not be in attendance with
your child at a field trip. First, if the field trip guidelines dictate
that the parent cannot attend or if there is a maximum number of
parent chaperones allowed. Second, if you have made an arrangement with another parent to be your child's designated chaperone.
Q.) I signed up for a field trip, but I've found that I cannot attend. Can I get a refund?
A.) Refunds for field trips are only available before the registration deadline. Frequently, we must make final reservations and payments making refunds difficult. You may be able to get another CHB family to take your spot, but such a change must be approved/cleared through the field trip coordinator for that individual event.
Q.) What if my neighborhood home-schooling friends and I want to arrange a field trip for ourselves? Since we're all CHB members, couldn't we just call the contact and tell them that we're from CHB and want to set up a field trip?
A.) No. You are more than welcome to set up a field trip for you and your CHB-member friends. However, you may not use the name CHB when setting up your individual field trip. The name CHB will only be used to sponsor CHB Field Trips advertised on our web site.
Q.) I'm new this year and I'm unsure what to do when I arrive at the
field trip location. Do I just go in and ask the staff for the tour?
A.) First, plan to arrive promptly at the check-in time (usually 15 minutes
prior to the start time). The field trip coordinator and other
participants will be arriving at roughly the same time. The coordi-
nator will be doing check-ins and will act as your liaison throughout
the event.
Q.) There's a field trip listed that I'm very interested in having my child attend; however, she's not old enough. Is there any way to get
around the age or grade guidelines? I just know she'd love it!
A.) The host of the field trip usually sets these guidelines, having reasons
which may or may not have been explained to the field trip
coordinator. If it's a field trip you are interested in having us repeat
in a few years, when it is age-appropriate for your child (based on
the guidelines), make the field trip chairperson aware of your
interest. This should be done in April for a fall semester field trip,
or in August for a spring field trip.
Q.) My child was disruptive at a field trip. I tried to ignore him, hoping
his behavior would subside. However, it didn't and the
coordinator asked me to take him outside - I didn't want to
leave my other son (who was enjoying the presentation). Are
we banned from attending field trips?
A.) A few steps have to occur before a child or family may have their field
trip privileges suspended.
- In the Field Trip Etiquette document, we encourage parents to
address expected behavior prior to the event.
- At the event, if disruptive behavior occurs and is not dealt with
promptly by the parent or designated chaperone, the field
trip coordinator will ask that the child be removed from the
field trip until he/she has been calmed. If this occurs, after
the event the Field Trip chairperson will be made aware of
the situation, and the situation will be noted.
- At this point, the Field Trip chairperson will make contact with
the family to address the issue and issue a formal disciplinary
warning. Should misconduct be repeated after this warning
occurs, the family may be suspended from involvement with
field trips for the remainder of the school year.
The above outlines the CHB field trip disciplinary policy; however, there has yet to be a situation where it has had to be fully enforced.
FIELD TRIP ETIQUETTE
As a group of Christian Home-Educators, please remember that first and foremost our behavior should reflect that of Christ Jesus.
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV).
Show respect and love to one another and to those in the community whom you will encounter.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV).
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35 NIV).
Registration
- Follow the registration guidelines given on the web site by the field trip coordinator. Please pay special attention to dates, registration fees, and any requested documents. Note: If you intend to register for a field trip at or near the deadline (due to cost, if you're not sure you have the field trip date free, etc.), please contact the field trip coordinator in advance. This will help him/her most effectively coordinate with the host the number of tour groups needed.
- Once the deadline for registration has passed, refunds will not be issued.
Preparation
- If you have children in age groups that will not be participating in the field trip, please arrange childcare for them, rather than bringing them on the field trip. An option is for you to arrange for another parent who will be in attendance to take responsibility for your participating child. Note: This means if there is a note on the field trip form that the field trip is age/grade specific, and it is not mentioned whether strollers, lap-babies, etc., are welcome, you need to consider making the above arrangements. If you have any questions about this, contact the field trip coordinator and/or field trip chairperson.
- Research the field trip and give at least a preliminary overview to your children so they know key things to look for, and will be able to develop questions they would like to have answered. This enriches the experience for all in attendance.
- Review relevant portions of this document with all of your family members who will be attending. Good coaching at this point tends to head-off many potentially problematic situations. Reminder: The behavior of your children and any other child in your care is your responsibility.
Communication
- If your children will be under the care of an adult other than their own parent, please notify the field trip coordinator in advance.
- If after you have registered for a field trip, you find you will be unable to attend, contact the field trip coordinator ASAP. Yes, do this even if it is the morning of the event. Occasionally, there will be a waiting list for an event, and another participant may be able to fill your space.
- Check your email and the web site often to note any changes in the schedule.
- Providing your cell phone number to the field trip coordinator (with your registration) is helpful, especially in the case of outdoor field trips, which may be impacted by ever-changing weather conditions.
Participation
- Cell phones should be set to vibrate. During the field trip, if you must accept a call, do so only after you have stepped outside or otherwise removed yourself from the group.
- Arrive as close to check-in time as possible, which is usually 15 minutes before the start time. Many of our hosts request that we enter as a group; therefore, we require prompt arrival in order to honor their request.
- Remove your disruptive child from the field trip, promptly. Once the child is calmed down, you may return. Note: If you do not deal with the situation responsibly, the field trip coordinator will step in and ask you to leave.
- The Thoroughbred Center for Theater requests that our group wait until we have 15-20 people checked-in before we request seating. This allows their staff to be efficient, filling each seat in each row of our reserved space as they go. Note: If you desire to sit with another CHB family, it would be wise to enter the building together.
Appreciation
- A written thank you note is especially considerate, given that those leading our tours are investing their time to supplement the education of our children. The field trip coordinator, in most cases, will send an email to scheduled participants a few days before the day of the event with the contact name and postal and/or email address. If you do not receive this information, you may contact either the field trip coordinator or the field trip chairperson.
|
