What do I need to put in my teacher field trip bag for a zoo field trip?
Going to the zoo may be my most FAVORITE field trip of the whole year. It combines the glory of kids being able to be outside, in the sunshine, around animals, and a little less structured environment.
When prepping for a zoo field trip, there are definitely some things that a teacher will want to not forget to avoid zoo field trip disaster!
What do I need to pack in my teacher field trip bag?
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Teacher Field Trip Bag Checklist:
Bag: TRUST ME WHEN I SAY BACKPACKS ARE THE WAY TO GO. They keep you handsfree and prevent your shoulder from screaming at the end of the long day. I also prefer to not use my school work backpack but instead have a less expensive one that I don’t mind getting dirty. (Here’s a simple backpack that is water resistant, has a wide opening, and all the pockets you could ever need… oh, and plenty of 5 star reviews while staying affordable!)
Folder with Paperwork (love this accordion style folder to keep me organized - CUTE and under $10!)
Parent Contact Information - I like to have multiple contact information options for each student in case the first was not reachable.
Staff/School Contacts (Nurse, Principal, Secretary, Teammates, Bus Driver etc)
Chaperone Contact Information
Permissions Slips, Waivers
Trip Schedule
Medical Supplies
First Aid Kit with materials like bandaids, wipes, gloves, tissues, hand sanitizer, bags for dirty clothes, etc.
Medications and Allergy List from the Nurse. (Make sure you touch base with the Nurse ahead of time so you can get any pertinent information needed for the day.)
For Students
Name tags and Sharpies (I go with colorful name tags so I can use one color per small group - helps the kids, tour guides, chaperones, AND me!) **P.S. Always bring a few backups
Sensory Support Tools - Think about what helps your students be successful in the classroom and pack a travel version (headphones, fidgets, visual schedule for the day, etc)
Snacks - Something small like granola bars or fruits snacks can go a long way, especially if students are off their schedule. I sometimes even brought some candy incentives.
For YOU (THIS IS THE CRUCIAL SECTION)
Wallet (including $10-15 in cash just in case)
Cell Phone (and maybe a charger)
YOUR lunch (easy, one handed options only - think sandwich, apple, granola bar, etc)
Water Bottle (this one from Owala is leak proof which is a MUST)
Pens and small notebook (I used this to record any stellar behavior I noticed, things I needed to address upon return to school, or general notes.)
Claw clip or Hair ties or a Hat or allllll of the above
Jacket (I have been caught in a torrential downpour that was NOT in the weather forecast so I will never go to the zoo without a rain jacket now)
Change of clothes (see: downpour example above). I do sometimes leave these back at school and risk it if my backpack is too overloaded but I ALWAYS bring a change of clothes and shoes on field trip days.
Mints or cough drops for those inevitable worst-possible-moment-coughing-fits (bonus: peppermints help with bus motion sickness for adults and kids alike)
SUNSCREEN AND SUNGLASSES and maybe a small mister fan if you’re feeling extra
This list has grown and evolved over the years with each new field trip experience but hopefully this gets your wheels turning to help you feel prepared for a fun day! Feel free to copy and paste into your notes app to make it your own!
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Looking for more Field Trip tips? Check out these posts!
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