Before Your Trip

• Tell us about your class: Look out for a confirmation email asking more questions about your class. This helps us tailor your trip, promote accessibility, and support learning.
• Sign up at least 2 chaperones per class. Up to 6 are welcome. Share this chaperone tip sheet with them to help them prepare.
• Review behavior expectations with students. 
• Dress for success: Students should wear comfy clothes and closed-toed shoes that comply with the school dress code and are appropriate for indoor and outdoor activities. Consider jackets, hats, water bottles, sunscreen, etc.
• Encourage students to bring a snack on the field trip! There will be a 15-min break in the middle of the field trip that is great for using the restroom and having a snack.

Day of Your Trip

• Students should wear name tags.
• Staff will meet you out front to walk you into our site. If you brought lunch to eat after the trip, you can leave it on the bus or bring it in the lobby.
• The whole group will be split into 2 "classes" of 15-36 students each. Each "class" will work in 6 small groups of 3-6 students each. Please divide your group into 2 "classes" and each "class" into smaller groups ahead of time or we'll do it the morning of your field trip.
• We rely heavily on teachers and chaperones to assist students and handle discipline. Adults are expected to be actively engaged, ready to assist, and not on their cell phones. We’ll review this with all adults during the introductions.
• Restrooms and water fountains will be nearby for the majority of the trip that students can use as needed. There will also be a 15-minute break halfway through the field trip for students to eat their own snacks and use the restroom.
• Due to our new NGSS-aligned grade-level-specific programs, most field trips will not include visiting Sam the tortoise. Consider using part of your 15-minute break or the time right after the field trip program to visit Sam if you would like.

Take Your Trip to the Next Level!

• Correlate Concepts: Research shows students learn the most on field trips when they can connect the concepts covered to their classroom learning. Check out our field trip related resources for ideas on pre and post trip lessons.
• Orient to the Waterwise Community Center and Schedule: Research also shows students gain more if they know what to expect. Tell students what they’ll be doing, review the schedule and consider giving them a preview with our online campus tour.
• Enter your students in a contest as a great way to apply what they learned.