Walking Field Trip

Covid-19 – Protocols and practice for outdoor excursions

SD71 approves parent volunteers to assist on outdoor excursions – although it is highly encouraged to use a bus.
If parents are within 2 m of staff and students it is required they wear a mask
Parents must drive their own vehicle to meet classes at any off-site location
Parents can only drive their own child
Teachers can drive up to two students from their own cohort, masks on and windows ajar.
Students from the same cohort can ride a bus together
In accordance with public health regulations currently there is no more than 10 adults gathering at one time outdoors.

Walking Field Trip

A: Short Off-site walks <1.5km

B: Extended Walking/Sightseeing walks >1.5km

A) Walking Field Trips-Safety Guidelines

(e.g., 300 m walk to a park to collect leaves for Art)

Starting and finishing at the school

Generally staying within 1.5 km of the school

Obvious route

Short duration outing; generally within a class period

Group walking as a single unit

No major traffic to contend with (e.g., quiet roads and/or controlled intersections)

All students visible virtually all of the time

Annual walking form
Communications with parents – reminder email – Who / When / Where / What / Why / How
Notify school admin & office – map
Identify known potential risks
Prepare students: Students are adequately prepared for the distance and weather (food, water, clothing). Extra support for students with high needs. Medications, (ex. epi-pen, inhaler).
Teacher Check List

NOTE: When walking with students, safety management approaches will vary somewhat depending on the age and maturity of the students.

(e.g., 2 km walk to/from botanical garden & walk through it)

Walking more than 1.5 km from the school grounds (one way)

Walking in less familiar environments (e.g., following a bus ride to a walking tour location)

Some way-finding likely needed

Duration generally longer than a class period (including any travel to/from the area)

More and/or faster traffic to deal with

Group spread out and/or walking in subgroups

Not all students in sight all of the time

Proposal for Normal Risk activity form – submit to school admin
Parent/Guardian consent Normal Risk Activities
Letter to parents/guardians: Who / When / What / Where / Why / How
Reconnaissance trip to get familiar with specific site to best prepare for the day and your risk management plan.
Identify known potential risks
Prepare students:
- Students are adequately prepared for the distance and weather (food, water, clothing).
- Extra support for students with high needs.
- Medications, (ex. epi-pen, inhaler).

NOTE: When walking with students, safety management approaches will vary somewhat depending on the age and maturity of the students.