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1610-10 | Field Trip Approval and Permissions Regulation

Date Approved: June 12 2013
Date Reviewed/Amended: December 12 2024

1610-10         Field Trip Approval and Permissions Regulation

Student trips of significant educational value are encouraged and student trips of recreational value are permitted subject to the rules established in this regulation.  Student safety is a primary consideration.

Students participating in field trips will behave in accordance with the school code of conduct and any special directions required to ensure student safety during the trip.

A curricular (educational) field trip relates specifically to a particular course or school program, and should generally be intended for all students in a class or program.  Planning for a curricular field trip should endeavour to enable all students in the class to participate in the field trip.

The following table provides a brief summary of the categories of field trips that may be approved:

Category

Duration

Location

Activity (examples)

Approval

Low Risk

Up to One Day

Prince Rupert/ Port Edward *

Museum; swimming pool; ice rink; Lester Centre

Principal

Medium Risk

 

To

 

High Risk

One Day or Overnight

Within B.C.

Outdoor skating or swimming; skiing; play days; band trip; sports tournaments

Superintendent

One Day or Overnight

Any Location

Wilderness activities, e.g. backpacking; kayaking, tournaments

Superintendent

Overnight

Out of Province (including international)

Tours, tournaments

Board of Education

* For Hartley Bay school, in the Hartley Bay area.

  1. Low Risk Activities
    1. Low risk field trips will have the following characteristics:
      1. One day or less in duration (i.e. not overnight).
      2. Take place within the Prince Rupert to Port Edward area (or, for the Hartley Bay School, within the Hartley Bay area).
      3. Provide for educational visits to local institutions for activities that do not fall within the medium or high risk definitions.
    2. Form 1610-20, Field Trip Approval Application Form, must be submitted by the teacher to the principal for approval a minimum of five (5) school days before the planned trip. 
    3. Approval from the Principal is required.  The principal will send a scanned copy of all approved forms to the Superintendent for information purposes.
    4. Procedures– the teacher shall:
      1. Obtain copies of Form 1610-30, Low Risk Field Trip Consent Form, signed by a parent/guardian for each student participating in the field trip.
      2. If parent/guardian approval has been obtained for all low risk field trips, Form 1610-35, Field Trip Information Form, should be provided to parents in advance of each individual field trip.
      3. With the principal, make alternate arrangements for any student who has not provided a signed permission form for the field trip.
      4. Take a copy of the form for each student on the field trip.
      5. Consider having male and female supervisors on co-ed field trips; this may involve the use of parent volunteers (see Regulation 5310-10, Volunteers in Schools).
  2. Medium Risk Activities
    1. Medium risk field trips will have the following characteristics:
      1. One day or longer in duration.
      2. Take place within the Province of British Columbia.
      3. Provide for educational or extra-curricular trips for activities that do not fall within the high risk definitions.
    2. Form 1610-20, Field Trip Approval Application Form, must be submitted by the teacher to the principal and the Superintendent for approval a minimum of ten (10) school days before the planned trip.
    3. Approval from the Superintendent is required.
    4. For an extra-curricular sports team with a schedule of play days in other communities, it is expected that approval will be asked for all of the scheduled games at the commencement of the season.
    5. Commercial transportation is recommended during winter driving months (October to April).
    6. Procedures– the teacher shall:
      1. Obtain copies of Form 1610-40, Medium to High Risk Activity Consent Form, signed by a parent/guardian for each student participating in the field trip; if the teacher believes Form 1610-30, Field Trip / Extracurricular Trip Consent Form is sufficient for the risks associated with the proposed field trip, the teacher can request use of this form on Form 1610-20, Field Trip Approval Application Form.
      2. If parent/guardian approval has been obtained for all of the scheduled games for an extra-curricular sports team, Form 1610-35, Field Trip Information Form, should be provided to parents in advance of each individual game.
      3. With the principal, make alternate arrangements for any student who has not provided a signed permission form for the field trip.
      4. Take on the field trip a copy of the form for each student.
      5. Consider having male and female supervisors on co-ed field trips; this may involve the use of parent volunteers (see Regulation 5310-10, Volunteers in Schools).
  3. High Risk – Wilderness Activities
    1. High risk field trips – wilderness activities – will have the following characteristics:
      1. One day or longer in duration.
      2. Normally take place within the Province of British Columbia.
      3. Provide for educational trips for wilderness activities with a high degree of risk, such as backpacking, rock climbing and kayaking.
    2. Form 1610-20, Field Trip Approval Application Form, must be submitted by the teacher to the principal and the Superintendent for approval a minimum of fifteen (15) school days before the planned trip.
    3. Approval from the Superintendent is required.
    4. Commercial transportation is recommended during winter driving months (October to April).
    5. Procedures– the teacher shall:
      1. Obtain copies of Form 1610-40, Medium to High Risk Activity Consent Form, signed by a parent/guardian for each student participating in the field trip.
      2. With the principal, make alternate arrangements for any student who has not provided a signed permission form for the field trip.
      3. Take on the field trip a copy of the form for each student.
      4. Consider having male and female supervisors on co-ed field trips; this may involve the use of parent volunteers (see Regulation 5310-10, Volunteers in Schools).
      5. Ensure at least one supervisor has a current first aid certificate.
      6. Ensure trip planning includes appropriate precautions for the nature of the risks inherent in the planned activity, including the use of necessary safety equipment.
      7. Ensure students have received appropriate instruction and training for the planned activity, and are aware of the risks involved in the activity.
      8. Inform parents, at a pre-trip meeting, of the specific nature of the activity, its inherent risks, precautions that will be taken, and the role of the activity in the school curriculum.
  4. High Risk Activities – Out of Province Travel
    1. High risk field trips – out of Province travel – will have the following characteristics:
      1. One day or longer in duration.
      2. Take place outside the Province of British Columbia.
      3. Provide for educational or extra-curricular trips.
    2. A sponsor teacher must not have any discussions with students, parents or the media prior to obtaining approval for the trip from the Board of Education.
    3. The plan submitted to the school administration must outline educational objectives, expected costs & funding, location, means of travel & duration of trip.
    4. If plan is approved by principal, Form 1610-20, Field Trip Approval Application Form, must be submitted by the teacher to the principal and the Superintendent for approval a minimum of four (4) months before the planned trip; if trip fundraising is expected to exceed $20,000 the form must be submitted a minimum of twelve (12) months before the planned trip. 
    5. Approval from the Board of Education is required. Fundraising must not take place before Board of Education approval for the trip is received.
    6. Commercial transportation is required.
    7. Procedures– the teacher shall:
      1. Obtain copies of Form 1610-40, Medium to High Risk Activity Consent Form, signed by a parent/guardian for each student participating in the field trip.
      2. With the principal, make alternate arrangements for any student who has not provided a signed permission form for the field trip.
      3. Take on the field trip a copy of the form for each student.
      4. Consider having male and female supervisors on co-ed field trips; this may involve the use of parent volunteers (see Regulation 5310-10, Volunteers in Schools).
      5. Ensure at least one supervisor has a current first aid certificate.
      6. Ensure trip planning includes appropriate precautions for the nature of the risks inherent in the planned activity, including medical insurance and the need for passports.
      7. Ensure students have received appropriate instruction and training for the planned activity, and are aware of the risks involved in the activity.
      8. Inform parents, at a pre-trip meeting, of the specific nature of the activity, its inherent risks, precautions that will be taken, and the role of the activity in the school curriculum.

REFERENCES

  • Policy 1410 – District Code of Conduct Policy
  • Policy 1610 – Field Trip Policy
  • Regulation 1611 – Field Trip Transportation Regulation
  • Regulation 1612 – Field Trip Supervision Regulation
  • Regulation 1613 – Field Trip Risk Management Regulation
  • Regulation 1614 – Field Trip – Unescorted Travel –  Regulation
  • Regulation 1615 – Field Trip Budget Regulation
  • Form 1610-20 – Field Trip Approval Application Form
  • Form 1610-30 – Field Trip / Extracurricular Trip Consent Form
  • Form 1610-35 - Field Trip / Extracurricular Trip Information Form
  • Form 1610-40 – High Risk Activity Consent Form
  • Regulation 5310 – Volunteers in Schools

Field Trip Decision Tree

 

 

 

 

Will the field trip be outside of British Columbia

í                                    

 

 

 

 

YES

High Risk – Board of Education Approval

 

 

 

NO

Will the trip involve wilderness or other high-risk activities?

í

 

YES

High Risk – Superintendent Approval

 

 

 

NO

Will the field trip be outside of
Prince Rupert / Port Edward

í

 

YES

Medium Risk – Superintendent Approval

 

 

 

NO

Will the trip include outdoor activities such as skating or swimming?

í

 

YES

Medium Risk – Superintendent Approval

 

 

 

NO

Low Risk – Principal Approval

 

REFERENCES
1410 - Policy - District Code of Conduct and Anti-Racism Policy
1610 - Policy - Field Trip Policy
5310-10 - Regulation - Volunteers in Schools
1610-11 - - Field Trip Transportation Regulation
1610-12 - - Field Trip Supervision Regulation
1610-13 - - Field Trip Risk Management Regulation
1610-14 - - Field Trip - Unescorted Travel Regulation
1610-15 - - Field Trip - Budget Regulation
1610-20A - Form - Field Trip Approval - Application Form
1610-30A - Form - Field Trip -  Consent Form
1610-35A - Form - Field Trip - Information Form
1610-40A - Form - Field Trip - High Risk Consent Form