Successful school ski trips don’t just happen. Any teacher who’s taken on the task knows it takes planning and commitment to ensure everyone has a snowy good time! Success rests squarely on the shoulders of those charged with the organisation and, for the itinerary to run smoothly as well as offer an appealing prospect, the devil is most definitely in the details.
Experts recommend an early start and a systematic approach to facilitating the logistics of school ski trips, to ensure that the slippery slopes of organisation are navigated with ease.
Establish the Budget
Establishing a budget is vital to creating the framework of the itinerary, and almost every other aspect depends on this. Working backwards is a foolproof way of determining an appropriate budget: just how much would parents or guardians be in a position to spend for their child’s trip? This will depend, of course, on the demographic and catchment area of the school, but having a realistic figure to work with is the most accurate way of managing expenses from the outset. Once a budget is set it’s also a wise idea to consult with the Senior Leadership Team, as they may be able to share some valuable past experience and advice.
Get Students Involved
Engaging students in the early stages of planning is a sure way of firing up enthusiasm, but sustaining it in the lead up to departure can be a challenge. Keep up the pace with updates on the resort’s conditions and facilities (both on and off the snow), show videos and images of local region, make regular social media posts during the countdown (if school guidelines permit), or create a PowerPoint presentation to give a detailed overview of the resort and its activities. And go heavy on the fun aspects!
Keep Everyone in the Loop
Once the sign-ups begin to roll in it’s hugely important that pupils, colleagues and parents or guardians are keep informed. Hosting an information evening is an excellent tactic to ensure the lines of communication are opened, and also a good time to show any presentations and go through the itinerary.
Enlist Help
There’s no denying that planning school ski trips is a time-consuming exercise for even the most organised teacher; enlisting the assistance of a specialised tour operator is one way of making life easier. Not only can they ease the pressure by taking on the practicalities of itineraries, transport and accommodation, they also have the skills and resources to manage budgetary and administrative tasks.
John Gardiner is the Managing Director of The School Travel Company, a tour operator specialising in itineraries for school ski trips and educational tours for school and youth groups to the UK, Europe and beyond. As a father and avid traveller, John is very passionate about providing students with valuable and engaging learning experiences outside of the classroom. By sharing his expert advice with teachers, he allows them to inspire their students and bring their studies to life.
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