Bringing your students on a camping trip is one of the most rewarding experiences. They don’t have to wait until summertime to camp. This will give your students a break from school and their after-school interests. This is a great way for them to have fun and learn about nature. Here are some ways you can get your students involved in planning the perfect camping trip.
Choose an Ideal Location
You can’t play what you’re going to do on your camping trip until you choose the right location. It’s best to let the chaperones to pick the location, and let your students give you input on other decisions. You should search for a campground that includes outdoor showers and portable toilets to make the experience more comfortable.
There are plenty of camping grounds that are kid-friendly for your students. Or, you can choose a location that you’ve camped before, and you’ve become familiar with the background and its surroundings. If you choose to stay at Gold Coast schoolies accommodation, know there’s a KOA campground nearby. The amenities at these camping grounds vary, and you can find it on the camping ground’s official website.
Consider the amenities that you and your students need, and find the right campground that benefits those needs
Get the Right Gear
Once you have a location in mind, you need to plan out your camping gear. This is a great way to get your students involved with planning the trip. If you’re camping in a tent, have your students sleep in the tent in the classroom before using it in the wild. Think about another gear you’ll need, and give each student a task of testing it out before your trip.
It doesn’t end at tents and sleeping bags. But there is camping gear that you don’t want your students to test out. You should test out some of the following yourself:
Batteries
Camping mattresses
Camping stove and fuel
First-aid kits
Flashlights
Insect repellent
Headlamps
Sunscreen
Pack Supplies
Packing is the hardest part of planning your camping trip. Make sure you have everything you need and that you have enough of it. You also want to make sure your students have everything they need as well. This is an additional step that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
If your students are old enough, get them involved by assigning them different jobs. Enforce a dress code to make sure they’re wearing the proper clothing. An easy way to enforce a dress code is to give them a packing list, and allow them to check through it. Don’t forget to pack emergency supplies such as a first-aid kit, an auto safety kit, blankets, bottled water, emergency food, and a battery charger.
Allow them to pick a favourite thing from home. This will allow them to feel more comfortable with being in a strange place. If you think you have everything for your trip, go through your checklist and double-check everything off. Give your students the job of reading the list aloud as you check items off.
Plan Your Route
With your destination in mind, you have to plan how you’ll get there. Think of activities that your students to do on the way there, and give them options to choose which ones they’d like to do. This is a great way to get them excited about your camping trip. The more involved they are, the more they’ll look forward to the trip. They don’t like the thought of having to do something unless it involves fun.
Pack Snacks and Meals
No matter how far you’re travelling, you should pack snacks and meals. Give your students the chance to pick some of their favourite snacks. Don’t forget to keep those with food allergies in mind. Once you chose your snacks, you want to focus on the meals, which isn’t easy to plan.
Choose healthy and kid-friendly meals that your students will want to eat. Planning meals ahead of time can save a lot of time. When you plan your meals, don’t forget about dessert. S’mores make the perfect dessert. Let your students choose their favourite chocolate for s’mores, and this will become one of their favourite experiences.
Plan Your Activities
You want to set aside some time to plan the things you want to do on your camping trip. This is also a time to let your students play an important role in planning the trip. Ask them what they want to do when you go camping. You should also do some research and find out what activities you can do on the camping grounds, and give your students a list of available activities to choose from.
Activities don’t always have to involve nature. Your students can bring some things with them from home that they can enjoy doing while camping. Some of these items include:
Bikes
Board games
Books
Kites
Fishing gear
Swimsuits
Arts and crafts are another way to keep your students engaged during the camping trip. This is a great way to cure boredom and to keep them off their smartphones and tablets. Plus, arts and crafts boost creativity and brainstorming.
