10 Helpful Tips to Plan an Awesome 7th Grade Trip

Seventh grade is a quirky time when students thrive on structure but want to spread their wings. That’s why it’s a great time to plan travel! Planning a 7^th grade trip offers a break from the classroom routine and introduces them to new learning adventures!  If you’ve been thinking about getting away with your group, we have 10 helpful tips to plan an awesome 7^th grade trip!

Why Should We Travel?

Encouraging kids to travel with their class is a wonderful way to explore the world within a supervised bubble. It also teaches responsibility and independence.

If you want to understand more about how travel helps students, here are 5 great reasons to give kids the gift of travel!

Real-Life Learning

We send our kids to school to prepare them for real life. Allowing them to learn beyond the walls of a classroom is as “real life” as it gets!

Time outside of school pushes them to adapt to new situations and fosters a willingness to learn. It makes education hands-on and not just something to be found in a book. Connecting the curriculum to reality is what educators strive for.

Academic Benefits

Kids who travel are more willing to learn, participate in class discussions, and get better test scores. A recent study by the Student Youth Travel Association studied the impact of travel on nearly 1.2 million students.

This landmark study found student travel to be “significantly more effective than computer-based learning and classroom instruction alone.”

Confidence and Self-Esteem

Do you remember the feeling you had when you first got your license? That small taste of independence? It was a life-changing, confidence-building moment to know that you were in control. Today’s non-driving, Uber generation aside, travel does the same thing for teens’ confidence and self-esteem.

It promotes self-expression and an outgoing disposition. It also encourages cooperation and collaboration among peers. Children will rise to the challenges we set – if we allow them to try!

Cultural Awareness and Social Responsibility

In a world consumed by technology, it’s nice to look up once in a while and see what’s happening around you. Travel teaches students that the world is bigger than what they know.

Kids who travel have a strong sense of their place in the world, are more tolerant and respectful of others, are more collaborative, and adapt more readily to new situations.

It’s Fun!

Kids have so much on their plates today. Practices, competitions, school, clubs, jobs, and on and on. Wouldn’t it be nice to have some fun? Going on the class trip (or any trip) is a great time with friends and a great memory to keep.

Destination Ideas for an Unforgettable 7th Grade Trip

Choosing the best place for your seventh-grade trip is important. You want the location to match what your students are learning and spark their interest. Think amazing natural sites, famous historical places, and cultural destinations.

National Parks

National parks are living classrooms. They help students understand the cycle of nature and the importance of sustainability. Each has a unique ecosystem to explore with the guidance of a trained park ranger.

Your 7^th graders will get up close and personal with spectacular Mother Nature and discover how we all play a role in caring for our environment.

Going to a national park is not just for looking around. It helps people love nature and encourages them to take care of it for future generations.

Historical Sites

From the cobblestone streets of Colonial Williamsburg to the battlefields of Gettysburg, historical sites are a link to the past. They allow students step back in time and watch history unfold in front of them.

A Fresh Look at an ‘Olde’ Favorite: Plan Your Student Trip to Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown

As they walk in the steps of important figures, explore preserved buildings, and look at artifacts, curriculum becomes reality rather than simply dates and names to memorize. These living history destinations give 7^th graders a better understanding of why things happen and how past events shape our world today.

Steeped in History and Mystery – Gettysburg is a Student Favorite

STEM Destinations

STEM-based travel for 7^th graders is limited only by your imagination. Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Huntsville, Houston – all are amazing and student-friendly STEM cities!

Here students will engage in learning that fuels curiosity and inspires innovation.

Inspiring STEM Trip Ideas

10 Helpful Tips To Plan An Awesome 7th Grade Trip

Careful planning is the key to a great seventh-grade trip. It ensures everyone is in sync and has an awesome experience. Start by thinking about what you want your students to get from this

Let’s break it down…

1. “Tease” the trip

Talking about the trip builds excitement and can increase interest in your program. This helps with both recruitment and retention. The earlier you “tease” it, the better your participation.

2. Investigate your trip dates

Here’s a pro tip that often gets overlooked.  Check the school calendar for events that may be happening during your proposed travel dates.

Testing, sports schedules, and other activities make it challenging to find open dates. ALWAYS have alternatives in mind.

3. Get your principal’s approval

Once you set your trip dates, enlist the support of your principal. If you have a hands-on administrator, get his or her approval before moving forward with dates. It’s very helpful to have administrative muscle in your corner!

4. Get your school board’s approval

Present a comprehensive travel plan to your board. Include any parent communications, fundraising efforts, travel dates, etc.

You should also be prepared to discuss trip protection plan options that parents can purchase.

Be sure the bus company you plan to use is on your district’s approved list of providers (if it has such a list). Also, be ready to detail the many pros of your chosen trip planning company!

How to Get Your Student Trip Board Approved

5. Create a parent letter to gauge interest

Reach out to parents with trip information and requests for first deposits. This is important for two reasons:

• You’ll know roughly how many students are going on the trip
• You’ll have a more accurate idea of trip cost (group size affects your bottom line)

Include a firm sign-up deadline in your interest letter. If you have a limited number of open spots on the trip, the first to turn in deposits will get one. Others can be put on a waiting list which is often absorbed into the trip.

Be SURE that parents understand the trip planner’s cancellation and refund policies.

6. Prepare for health and safety

Health and safety are everyone’s top priorities. As you plan your trip, ask yourself these important safety questions:

1. Do you have a plan for health and safety or procedures for sick travelers?
2. Are you using a reputable security company with vetted guards?
3. Do you have travel protection for each of your travelers?
4. If traveling by motorcoach, is the equipment modern and recently inspected? Do drivers follow all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration guidelines? Check out the new rules for driver hours.
5. Does your hotel have interior corridors?
6. Do you have emergency procedures in place for transportation, accommodations, cities, theme parks, etc.?

7. Plan a chaperone meeting

Plan a chaperone meeting prior to the trip. Review expectations and responsibilities (in writing!) and discuss the itinerary in detail. Stress that while you genuinely appreciate their time and help, this is NOT a vacation!

Emphasize that you are counting on them to be responsible for students while you manage the trip and any emergencies (discipline, illness, etc.) that pop up.

9 Tips for Picking the Perfect Chaperones

8. Set a payment plan

Split the cost of the trip into manageable payments for parents. If you are planning a spring trip, begin collecting payments in late fall. If you are traveling in the fall, you may want to start taking payments during the spring prior to the trip.

9. Get organized

You are the point person for this adventure so be prepared from start to finish! Keep detailed notes while planning the trip AND during the trip (things you like, things you would change, etc.) Make several copies of bus lists, rooming lists, confirmation numbers, and anything else you can think of to share with chaperones and other trip leaders.

Demonstrate that you are capable, organized, and competent. If your trip is well-managed, parents and administrators will take note.

10. Plan with a pro

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, make planning your 7^th grade class trip super easy and plan with a pro!

Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning outstanding student travel for more than 30 years. Online registration and payments, convenient crowdfunding options, and an expert team make your planning simple and efficient.

They’ll work with you to plan an exceptional travel experience for your students from start to finish!

Click HERE to Plan Your 7th Grade Class Trip with Kaleidoscope Adventures