Traveling With Traveling With Students:Students:

Adventures in Studying Adventures in Studying Real Live ArtReal Live Art

Liz Ashworth, Nipissing UniversityLiz Ashworth, Nipissing University

Why Take Students Out of the Why Take Students Out of the School?School?

► because you’re crazybecause you’re crazy► because they can learn outside of the because they can learn outside of the

classroom walls (sometimes better)classroom walls (sometimes better)► because they need to expand their because they need to expand their

real-life experiencesreal-life experiences► because they need to see art in its because they need to see art in its

real form (as opposed to slides and real form (as opposed to slides and photos)photos)

How To Get Started…How To Get Started…

► start small (local start small (local sketching trips, galleries)sketching trips, galleries)

► work up to out-of-town work up to out-of-town day trips and overnight day trips and overnight onesones

► don’t be afraid to leave don’t be afraid to leave the countrythe country

► work with professional work with professional student travel student travel companiescompanies

► customize the trip to fit customize the trip to fit your students’ needsyour students’ needs

You’ve chosen a destination, now You’ve chosen a destination, now what do you do?what do you do?► write a proposal (why important for students)write a proposal (why important for students)► get administration approval get administration approval ► advertise to students and parentsadvertise to students and parents► plan a information meetingplan a information meeting► check the “undesirable list” in the officecheck the “undesirable list” in the office► create a list of students and have a waiting create a list of students and have a waiting

list as welllist as well► keep numbers smaller for international tripskeep numbers smaller for international trips► have a meeting with both students and have a meeting with both students and

parentsparents

What About Money?What About Money?

► fundraise well in advance to ensure all fundraise well in advance to ensure all students can gostudents can go

► do not fundraise alone; get students do not fundraise alone; get students and parents involvedand parents involved

► be aware of hidden costs (e.g. tips, be aware of hidden costs (e.g. tips, uncovered meals, taxes, etc.)uncovered meals, taxes, etc.)

► set due dates for installments well set due dates for installments well before you really need the moneybefore you really need the money

Tips for Bus Trips:Tips for Bus Trips:► Try to fill the bus (to Try to fill the bus (to

defray costs)defray costs)► May have to share with May have to share with

another schoolanother school► Book something Book something

appropriate and appropriate and comfortablecomfortable

► Bring videos/DVDsBring videos/DVDs► Take attendance after Take attendance after

each stopeach stop► When you reach the When you reach the

destination, do not let destination, do not let students off bus students off bus without a map and your without a map and your cell number!cell number!

Tips for Airplane Trips:Tips for Airplane Trips:

► Find out who has not Find out who has not flown beforeflown before

► Charter an airline Charter an airline busbus

► Review airport Review airport security proceduressecurity procedures

► Check in together to Check in together to get grouped seatsget grouped seats

► Pair nervous fliers Pair nervous fliers with seasoned oneswith seasoned ones

Hotel Tips:Hotel Tips:

► Make sure hotel is Make sure hotel is student-friendlystudent-friendly

► Keep all students in Keep all students in same part of hotel as same part of hotel as youyou

► Have a separate room Have a separate room from studentsfrom students

► Make sure there is Make sure there is securitysecurity

► Have a set curfewHave a set curfew► Check on them before Check on them before

you sleepyou sleep► Tape them into their Tape them into their

roomsrooms► Make sure they come to Make sure they come to

the door for wake-up callthe door for wake-up call

Gallery and Museum Tips:Gallery and Museum Tips:

►Have an assignment for them to doHave an assignment for them to do►Discuss gallery and museum protocolsDiscuss gallery and museum protocols►Move in groups Move in groups ►Book a guide, or get the audio guideBook a guide, or get the audio guide►Give students gallery/museum mapsGive students gallery/museum maps►Have set meeting times and placesHave set meeting times and places

Student Travel Logistics:Student Travel Logistics:

► Have detailed itineraries Have detailed itineraries to deter latenessto deter lateness

► Fill their time as much as Fill their time as much as possiblepossible

► Build in shopping and fun Build in shopping and fun timetime

► Give students a packing Give students a packing listlist

► Have students bring bank Have students bring bank cards instead of travelers’ cards instead of travelers’ chequescheques

► When walking keep When walking keep students between students between chaperoneschaperones

► Count them constantlyCount them constantly► No less than four in a No less than four in a

group when they “explore”group when they “explore”

Student Travel Logistics, Student Travel Logistics, cont’d:cont’d:►Have all student info on you at all timesHave all student info on you at all times► Keep a second batch of student meds on Keep a second batch of student meds on

you and know their allergiesyou and know their allergies►Give them a currency exchange chart for Give them a currency exchange chart for

foreign countriesforeign countries► Encourage them to try new foodsEncourage them to try new foods►Have students keep a travel journal and Have students keep a travel journal and

sketchbooksketchbook►Don’t be afraid to send them home early Don’t be afraid to send them home early

at their parents’ expense!at their parents’ expense!►Have a phone pyramid in case of Have a phone pyramid in case of

emergencyemergency►Have a party to swap photos after the trip!Have a party to swap photos after the trip!

For More Information:For More Information:

EF Tours – EF Tours – www.eftours.ca

Explorica – Explorica – www.explorica.ca

Check with local bus companies for Check with local bus companies for group excursions and ratesgroup excursions and rates