Field Trip & Planning Guidance 

Gads Hill Center childcare facilities are structured to provide a safe place for children to explore; however, other environments off-site are made available to children we service. It’s important to make outings as safe as possible while allowing children to learn from their experiences in a variety of settings. When the policy applies:

Communication plan for staff and parents:

• Site Director will cover policies, plans, and procedures with all new staff (paid or volunteer staff) during orientation training. Everyone who attended will sign that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by the content of the policies. Each classroom teacher will cover the policy with all volunteers who will accompany them on Field trip day with their classroom.

• During enrollment this policy will be reviewed by the Site Manager  or Family Support Specialist, with the parents and parents will sign the Consent for Gads Hill Center Off-site Activities. A copy of all policies will be available during all hours of operation to staff and parents along with the policy handbook located at the front desk of the site.

        I.            Procedure and Practices, including responsible person(s):

• Site Manager will notify parents in advance of all field trips requiring transportation

and any other special arrangements necessary.

• A parent or legal guardian will sign an informed consent form for all field trips requiring transportation

• A well-stocked first aid kit along with the children’s emergency contact numbers will be taken on offsite activities

• At least one staff person with current First Aid and CPR certification must accompany children on offsite activities.

• Field trips will be planned as part of the overall curriculum and/or children’s interests and will provide

learning opportunities through hands on participation.

• Whenever possible, a Gads Hill Center Staff person will visit the site ahead of time to determine the safety of the location, what experiences the children may gain along with age-appropriateness and to plan the

route of transportation.

• Additional staffing may be needed to provide adequate supervision and will be scheduled ahead of

time for off-site activities. Child/Teacher Ratio will increase for safety according to the 407 licenses Standards.

• Children will be counted before leaving the Gads Hill Center, during the field trip, and again at the time of

departure for return to the Gads Hill Center to ensure that all children are accounted for.

• At least one Gads Hill Center staff member will have a cell phone in case of emergency on all off-site activities.

• A specific Gads Hill Center Staff will be assigned to each group of children. A staff member will always

accompany children to a public restroom.

• All children will wear identifying information that gives the facility’s name and phone number.

• While on walking trips the Gads Hill Center Staff will model pedestrian safety and teach the children to only cross at the corner, when traffic signals indicate it is safe, and only after looking left, right and left again.

• Gads Hill Center Staff will keep younger children together on walking trips with the aid of a travel rope (a knotted rope) that the children hold onto which is stretched between 2 Gads Hill Staff while they walk. Children may also hold the hand of an adult or use another means that keeps the child physically connected to an adult at all times.

• If a child has medication needs, the site director or the designated Gads Hill Staff will be responsible to take and administer the medication as needed.