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HOME > Public Education > Book a Trip > Step 6: Arranging details at your end >to Step 7

Step 6: Planning Resources: arranging details at your end

What to bring
Safety
Teacher and Chaperone roles
Activities and Labs

What details am I responsible for?

Transportation: You are responsible for planning and financing your group's transportation to and from the Centre. Because we know the area so well, we may be able to provide advice. Access to Bamfield is available by road or water. Both boats and buses can be chartered.

Chaperones: For youth groups we require a 10:1 student to teacher ratio. For mixed sex youth groups we require both a female and male chaperone. The program works best when the chaperones are regular teachers of the students they are accompanying. We understand this is not always possible, on occasion other staff or parent volunteers may accompany the group in the role of a chaperone. The chaperones are required to participate in all activities. As well, they are required to sleep in the dormitories with the students and are responsible for all discipline.

Establishing Objectives for your Field Trip: Communicate clearly to your group members, your students and us, why it is that you are coming to Bamfield and what it is that you hope to get out of it. We pride ourselves on the flexibility of the program. We want to build your itinerary around what most excites you and your group.

Prepare the Participants: Groups who are prepared and aware of the expectations placed on them as well as the opportunities presented will get the most out of their experiences. We recommend some sort of screening process. Many schools also have the students sign a code of conduct as well as having the usual parental consent (we are not responsible for waivers).

What to bring

Field trip participants can expect generally cool west coast weather with some likelihood of rain. (Average annual rainfall in Bamfield is over 3m per year!) The following list covers the essentials for all field trips:

• Good rain gear - jacket, pants, and rubber boots
• Flashlight
• Clothing suitable for cool, moist climate (including a hat and gloves) with at least one change
• Sleeping bag (unless linen is requested)
• Snacks and beverages if desired outside normal meals

In general, participants find that the program takes up most of their time. A stereo is available in the lounge and cassettes or musical instruments are often brought along for leisure and social time. Cameras and/or binoculars are brought along by many visitors. We also suggest bringing pen and paper for note taking, sketch books, and journals.

Click here to download an equipment list (.pdf)

Physicality and Safety

Safety is the number one priority of all BMSC field trips. Several school districts have conducted safety audits of our programme and we have passed all audits with flying colours. We also have a student-centered safety committee that meets regularly and a safety officer, Siobhan Gray, on-site. All Public Education staff are trained in first aid and carry safety packs and VHF radios on all field trips. BMSC has a strictly enforced boating policy. Staff complete training with the Canadian Coast Guard including in the water rescue training as well as in-house safety training. All of our staff are Transport Canada trained in Marine Emergency Duties.

Field trips often involve walking and a certain amount of travel over slippery rocks in the intertidal zone. Rain and sea spray are common elements of field trips - they add an exciting dimension - but participants should be prepared with proper foul weather gear. It is the responsibility of the group leader to be aware of the physical conditions and medical needs of participants in the group that might limit their activities in any way. PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) or life jackets (provided by BMSC) must be worn at all times while on boats and on shore. Participants are requested to use special caution when traveling on slippery rocks, ramps, and docks.

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Teacher and Chaperone roles and responsibilities at BMSC

Overview:

Students are expected to be on time for lessons, labs and field trips. If more preparation or relaxation time is needed, please indicate this to instructors and we will be more than happy to accommodate you.

We would appreciate being advised of any ongoing assignments that you have set for your students based on BMSC content. This will help us to modify our programming to best suit your needs.

Feel free to discipline your students as you normally would at school. If student behavior is unacceptable, we appreciate your expertise and knowledge of your own students in dealing with these behaviors.

Also, feel free to jump in to any instruction situation to help clarify instruction to your students, add applicable information, etc. We love to team teach and encourage you to take an active role in instruction.

You are the expert on your students and know their level of understanding. We appreciate any help you can give us to ensure that your students are getting as much as possible out of their Bamfield experience.

If small groups are needed for any activities, please have your students divided into groups prior to the activity. Refer to your itinerary for information regarding group divisions.

We encourage all students to keep an ongoing species list while at Bamfield. This is an excellent way to keep track of the plants and animals that you have seen.

Planning for Field Trips and Labs

Field Trips: click here for field trip details

Field trips include all beach walks, boat trips and hikes.

1. Students should bring a waterproofed (garbage bag?) field bag containing:
   • Pencils (preferable to pens)
   • Field Notebook or clipboard with paper
   • All rain gear - pants, coat, hat and rubber boots that are comfortable enough to walk in (boots should be worn on all field trips).
   • Flashlight!
   • Binoculars and camera (optional)
   • An extra sweater OR dress warmly at the beginning of the day. You can always take off extra layers if you are too warm.
   
   
2. A head count needs to be taken at the beginning of each field trip upon arrival at the beach, and at the end of each field trip or as the group leaves the beach.

3. Please ensure that students do not climb on the rocks, or wander off on their own. Students should never be out of sight of an adult.

4. Collecting of shells and animals is always tempting for everyone, especially when the scenery and discoveries are as spectacular as they are here in Barkley Sound. Remember, pictures are always preferable to collections and we do not allow collecting on any of our beaches.

5. We keep a limited supply of extra rain gear, rubber boots, and waterproof field bags on hand. If any of your students are in need of gear, please ask an instructor and we will try to outfit you as well as we can. It is very important to us that your students are warm and dry and are enjoying their stay.

Labs and Lectures: click here for lab and lecture detials

Seaweeds, Reproduction Lab, Marine Mammals, Oceanography, Microscopy, etc.

1. Students need to come prepared with paper and pens or pencils. These will be used to record data, make scientific drawings, take notes, etc.
2. There is to be no food or drink in any lab or lecture hall on station. Snacks can be eaten in dorms, lounges, the cafeteria, or anywhere outside.
3. If Microscopes are being used, please circulate around the classroom to help students set up and focus their microscopes as well as to help in slide preparation.
4. As many of the labs and activities are ongoing, we would suggest that students keep all of their notes with them until the end of their trip at which time they can hand them in for evaluation.
5. It is important that there be follow up at school upon your return from Bamfield. We strongly suggest that students be responsible for their learning while at the station. Testing, group projects, presentations, journals, marking drawings, notes, etc., all help students to take their learning seriously and enhance their learning while at the station.

Enjoy your stay!!

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