The end of the school year is almost here. Almost. My son has a lot of fun that’s going to be packed into these last two weeks; a kickball tournament, Science Day, a luau and a field trip to the WWII Museum in New Orleans. Wow! That’s a lot in a few weeks! Guess who’s going on the field trip? That’s right, this mom! Today I’m going to share what a field trip packing list that every chaperone needs have to make the day a success and make you mom of the year!
Essential items for a field trip:
- Snacks and Water
- First Aid Kit
- Comfortable Shoes
- Comfortable and Weather Appropriate Clothing
- Sun Protection
- Wet Wipes or Hand Sanitizer
- Note-Taking Supplies
- Camera or Smartphone
- Personal Identification
- Museum Maps or Guidebooks
- List of Kids Names in Your Group
- Extra Cash
- Plastic Bags
- Emergency Contact Numbers
- Handkerchief or Tissues
- Portable Phone Charger
Snacks and Hydration: Keeping Energized Throughout the Trip
When we get hungry our attention span and focus also drifts and our energy levels plumet. Field trips are fun, but they’re also educational, so it’s important to have our focus on point and energy levels high. There’s also the hanger! Stave it off for yourself and the kiddos in your group with some healthy snacks.
Some options might be pre-cut veggies, crackers, dried fruit, apples, oranges, granola bars. Be sure to check for any nut allergies before giving the kids anything with them in it!
Be sure to bring wet wipes and hand sanitizer to use before snack or lunch time. That will also be of use for places that might not have ready access to full-size bathrooms with sinks (hello, farm we used to go to!).
When you get five steps from the water fountain you know the kids are going to say they’re thirsty! Be sure that everyone brings their water bottles to fill up and carry with them. I like to get the bottles that they can somehow clip to themselves because you can’t be carrying six kids’ water bottles!
First Aid & Safety: Expect the Best, Prepare for the Worst
When I went to a farm and pumpkin patch with my son’s first grade class, we had two accidents. One in their pants and one on the concrete. It was such a relief for my son’s teacher that I had everything we needed for both situations!
Carry at least two gallon size plastic bags with you. That will allow you to put anything you don’t want touching your other things in them. Wet pants, used wet wipes with no trash can around, etc.
In a smaller Ziploc bag, create a little first aid kit if you don’t have one in a plastic container. You will want to add Band-Aids, Neosporin, pain reliever like Tylenol or Motrin, gauze, and disposable gloves. If you have them, you can also bring disposable cold packs (you pop them and they get cold), a thermometer, and an Epi-pen.
Last but not least in the safety area is sunscreen. I always wear it (at the very least on my face!) because I do not want wrinkles. My mom is almost 60 and she doesn’t look anywhere near it. Hopefully the good genes continue, but it helps that she had me wearing sunscreen as a kid, but then makeup with sunscreen in it from the very beginning! Kid your kids cancer and wrinkle free by putting sunscreen on them whenever they’re going to be outside for more than 10 minutes. Bring a bottle with you for reapplication and for those who forgot it.
Comfort is King!
No matter where you’re going on a field trip to, it’s important that you’re comfortable while you’re there. I’m the world’s worst about wanting to be cute over comfortable. That should go out the window when you’ll be chaperoning ten or more kids on your own! Well not completely, but it should take a second-row seat lol!
Wear comfortable shoes! I like to wear my Steve Madden super cushiony ballet flats. I don’t do tennis shoes otherwise that would be the way to go.
Bring a cardigan if you’ll be indoors or outdoors in a cooler climate. If you will be outside in the heat, wear an outfit that fits the weather. Back in first grade I brought a pair of shorts for my son with me to the farm. He ended up running and sweating, so he went in the bathroom and changed into them. He was so happy to have them!
Note-Taking Supplies & Guidebooks
Be sure to brink a little note pad and a pen for notes. That will help you keep track of the info on the kids in your group. I’m the worst at remembering names! You can also write down any emergency information you may need for them and anything the teacher wants you to know about the field trip location. Write down any health information that you might need for littles that they won’t know about themselves. For example, allergies or diabetes or medications. You’ll also want any emergency numbers for parents, the school, and the teachers.
We all know most kids don’t care about the truly educational information about the location. Jot it down and bring it up to them during lunch or after the visit. A lot of teachers ask questions about what they’ve learned there, so make sure your group is the smartest!
Grab any guidebooks that are offered before you begin your tour. Not only is it helpful to have during the trip, they also make great additions to memory or scrapbooks!
I hope that this chaperone packing list helps you relax & have a blast on your field trip!
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