Best practices to consider when planning a 4-H field trip or tour
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Email4-H field trips or tours can add value to experiential learning.
Experiential learning is an important part of any youth’s 4-H experience. Taking a field trip or touring a facility has the potential to add high value to the 4-H experience. Here are some important things to consider when planning a 4-H field trip or tour.
The first stage is to brainstorm ideas. Make sure youth are involved in the process. What ideas do they have to contribute? In 4-H, we believe youth thrive when adults support and encourage youth voice.
Next, think about what outcomes you would like to achieve. What will the youth learn by going? Are there hands-on experiences available where you want to go? If not, how could you create a hands-on experience for the members of the club after the trip?
An important part of planning a field trip or tour is how affordable the trip will be. Club funds can be used for educational experiences for club members and volunteers. Does your club have enough funds or do you need to consider doing a fundraiser to help cover costs? Don’t forget to fill out and turn in the county fundraiser form to your 4-H program coordinator if you do one. If you have questions, look at the financial manual for 4-H volunteers and talk to your local 4-H program coordinator to ensure your club is using 4-H funds appropriately.
Once you decide on where your club would like to go, contact the facility. What size groups can they accommodate? Is the facility accessible to all? Make sure to set a date and time.
In addition, there are several things to think about to keep your 4-H members and volunteers safe.
- Do you need to purchase special activities accident insurance from independent insurance providers? This insurance is designed to provide supplemental accident insurance coverage for event participants and would be in addition to the supplemental accident insurance already provided to 4-H youth and volunteers individually enrolled in 4-H Online. Learn more from the special risk division activity report form with American Income Life.
- Are all youth attending the field trip or tour enrolled in 4-H Online?
- Think about your chaperone to youth ratio; a 1:8 ratio (one chaperone for every eight youth) is best practice. All chaperones should be Gold level volunteers. Learn more about becoming a 4-H volunteer if you need additional chaperones for your trip.
- It is recommended that 4-H volunteers and staff use the Michigan 4-H Field Trip and Activities Permission Form when taking youth on field trips. It includes space for the 4-H volunteer or staff member to provide information to parents and guardians about the field trip and to obtain their written permission for their child to attend.
Other things to consider:
- What will you do for lunch?
- What will the dress code be, including shoes?
- What are the details of where and when to meet?
- Do you need to break into smaller groups? Do you want to assign those beforehand?
- Print health forms of youth in attendance and carry those with you.
- Make sure to take a first aid kit.
Before leaving the facility, make sure to thank your host or tour guide. The club secretary should send a thank you note.
Be sure to have youth reflect on the experience afterwards. Reflection is an important step of the experiential learning module. For more information, read the Michigan State University Extension article, ”Implementing the experiential learning model in 4-H programming: Part 3.”
