During school PTA meetings, one of the topics inevitably covered every year is the field trip. Many parents groan when this is mentioned, muttering, “gastos na naman”. But Winston Jerome Luna, VP for Academic Affairs of St. Jerome School in Novaliches and St. Jerome Science Montessori in Caloocan, says that it is a valuable part of the curriculum. “The educational tour is a verification of what is learned inside the classroom, It is an experiential tool that also helps them to develop their socialization skills.” He illustrates that a trip to an amusement park can be used as a guide towards teaching mass and physics, while a plant tour will familiarize students with organizational charts and the production assembly line.

In their school, as with many others, the field trip is composed of a very large group – from preschool classmates and their chaperones all the way to the high school level. So many crises may easily arise from shepherding a large group that can easily swell to hundreds of little boys and girls. Someone can get lost or items can get stolen (in our case, Ino was once stung by a bee).

Luna says it only takes a little planning, both on the school’s and the parent’s parts, to ensure a safe and happy day trip. “We actually give out a set of guidelines for the parents and the pupils, to address safety issues and to help them maximize the learning experience.”

He shares some tips on how to have a happy field trip:

1. Come if you can. 

“In our school, it is mandatory for a parent or guardian to accompany kids from preschool up to the primary levels. Even with the higher grades, we encourage adult supervision.”

2. Stick to a buddy. 

“We implement the buddy system during our field trips. With a large group, it can definitely help us to keep track of everybody.” Not a rule in your child’s school? Talk to another parent and look out for each other.

3. Be identifiable. 

Although it may look cool to come decked out in the latest fashion, Luna advises sticking to the dress code. “We instruct our students to come in their P.E. uniform, so we can easily spot them even in a large area. Teachers also wear a special T-shirt that we have printed for the occasion, so the students and their parents can see them easily too.”

4. Bring baon. 

Some parents think it's better to just buy when on the road, but Lun advises otherwise.

“We tell them to pack three meals. We leave very early, sometimes as early as 5 am, so it is ideal for them to have breakfast, lunch, and a dinner packed just in case. The best food to bring would be those that don’t easily spoil, such as adobo. Buying meals on the go can bring risks, especially since you are not sure about food safety. Aside from that, buying your food will also mean delays because you will have to queue up at counters in fast food restaurants, for example.”

5. Get those numbers. 

Store the teacher’s number on your cell phone, so in case you get lost or left behind, you have someone to call. At the school meeting, suggest that the adviser also get a database of contact numbers, so they can also have a ready list in case of emergencies.

6. Prep your kid for the trip. 

Luna recommends teaching your kids what to do when they get lost.

“The person they should look for is the security guard. They should also stay within in the facility to make it easier for the group to find them. It would help to have a designated waiting area, such as the entrance of the venue, so stragglers will know where to go.”

7. Think gadgets over. 

“Allow your child to bring gadgets such as cell phones and cameras only when you know they are responsible enough to take care of these. We tell our students that instead of bringing phones to the trip, they can use the teacher’s to call or text home. Also, we discourage them from bringing gaming gear, such as iPads, because that would defeat the purpose of initiating social interaction with their peers.”

8. Make safety an issue. 

“On one of our trips, a student fell and was injured. The problem was that the venue was quite a long way from the main roads, and the facility was not very cooperative about helping us give medical attention. It took a while for us to be able to bring the child to a medical center. We learned our lesson from there, and now we always make sure that we have a first aid kit on hand, with a car and driver on standby in case something happens.” In school meetings about the field trip, raise safety as an issue, and ask the point persons about their contingency measures in case something untoward happens.