Camps & excursions guidelines for schools and preschools

6.2 Bus tours

Generally, bus tours are educational tours where the bus company plans the itinerary, the activities and the catering. While bus tours generally don’t require many specialised skills of the leaders, they provide some situations which are unique to this type of excursion.

Although a bus tour operator may be contracted by a school, the teacher-in-charge is responsible for the overall program and supervision of students.
Leadership team qualifications and experience
Teacher-in-charge:

Familiarity with requirements regarding transport. (See 4. ‘Transport’)

• 
  experience in supervising students in out-of-school situations
  

First Aid:

See 2.5.4.

Leadership team-to-student ratio

• 
  1:10 for Preschool- Year 2
  
• 
  1:15 for Years 3-12
  
• 
  Minimum of two leaders required.
  

Area/location

Carefully select the environment with reference to emergency action procedures. (See also the School Care emergency and crisis management website at: http://www.crisis.sa.edu.au

Equipment/preparation

Hazard assessment: Conducted and documented as part of site selection process for principal’s approval. (See 2.2 ‘Site selection’)
Emergencies: Communication, transportation and other emergency action protocols all planned, in place and operable. (See 2.3 ‘Contingency plans’). An emergency evacuation plan must be clearly understood by all participants. It the emergency is a fire, participants must evacuate as a priority and not attempt firefighting (See also the School Care emergency and crisis management website at: http://www.crisis.sa.edu.au)
Medical: Updated health care information — restrictions, special needs etc — must be communicated to concerned teachers and other leaders on a need-to-know basis, as negotiated with the student and family.

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  Tour groups should be well prepared for any environmental and weather variations they may encounter.
  

Safety/supervision

If the group is staying in caravan parks and has year 3–7 students, a leader should sleep in each caravan or dormitory. Where leaders are not in the sleeping accommodation, they should be nearby and available at all times.

• 
  Mixed gender student groups must have mixed gender leadership unless parents have approved of alternatives during the consent-seeking process.
  
• 
  Some students will have reservations about using shower blocks, and teachers must therefore give careful attention to safety aspects, eg conduct a teachers’ pre-check. Students should then enter the blocks in groups, accompanied by leaders if necessary — two leaders are recommended in this case. Teachers need to be sensitive to particular student needs and should plan accordingly.
  
• 
  Check curfew arrangements, as some will be relatively early.
  
• 
  Arranging an accommodation site within caravan parks some distance from other campers, or near to toilets, may be prudent.
  
• 
  Night games and hikes should be conducted in an area that has been checked during the day, and may require an increase in the ratio of leaders to students.
  

6.3 Caravan parks

Accommodation in caravan parks can include caravans, dormitories, bunkhouses and tents. Facilities including toilets, showers, cooking and laundry should be provided.

Leadership team qualifications and experience
Teacher-in-charge:

• 
  Experience in conducting student camps and conducting camping activities.
  

• 
  Experience in supervising students in out-of-school-hours situations.
  
• 
  Experience in tent camping, cooking over open fires and living in the outdoors.
  

First Aid:

See 2.5.4.

Leadership team-to-student ratio

• 
  1:10 for Preschool- Year 2
  
• 
  1:15 for years 3-12
  
• 
  Minimum of two leaders required.
  

Area/location

Carefully select the environment with reference to emergency action procedures.

Equipment/preparation

Hazard assessment: Conducted and documented as part of site selection process for principal’s approval. (See 2.2 ‘Site selection’)
Emergencies: Communication, transportation and other emergency action protocols all planned, in place and operable. (See 2.3 ‘Contingency plans’)
Medical: Updated health care information including restrictions, special needs etc, must be communicated to concerned teachers and other leaders on a need-to-know basis, as negotiated with the student and family.
Safety/supervision

• 
  Leaders must be readily available for students at all times.
  
• 
  Mixed gender student groups must have mixed gender leadership unless parents have approved of alternatives during the consent-seeking process.
  
• 
  A leader should sleep in each caravan/dormitory which accommodates preschool–year 7 students/children.
  
• 
  For older students, leaders should sleep nearby.
  
• 
  Some students will have reservations about using shower blocks, and teachers must therefore give careful attention to safety aspects, eg conduct a teacher’s pre-check. Students should then enter the blocks in groups, accompanied by leaders if necessary — two leaders are recommended in this case. Teachers need to be sensitive to particular student needs and should plan accordingly.
  
• 
  Check curfew arrangements, as many will be relatively early.
  
• 
  Choosing an accommodation site some distance from other campers, or near to the toilets, may be prudent.
  
• 
  Night games and hikes should be conducted in an area that has been checked during the day, and may require an increase in the ratio of leaders to students.
  
• 
  The teacher-in-charge is responsible for the health of students on camp, and despite the health and sanitation policy of the caravan park proprietors, should seek remedial action where standards appear to be compromised.