Tips for Chaperones

For adults without a backround in teaching young children, the idea of leading an activity with a group of students in the outdoors can be somewhat daunting! Relax! It's not at difficult as you may expect. Here are some tips the Arlington Echo Staff has put together for our generous activity leaders, and chaperones!

Tips for Chaperones

1. Smile and introduce yourself.
2. Use a buddy system with younger students.
3. Review expectations with each group: walk, stay together, and follow instructions.
4. Praise good behavior whenever you see it.
5. Don’t hesitate to address unsafe or inappropriate student behavior when necessary. You are in charge! Address behavior in a positive and calm way.
6. Get involved with the students and the activity. Assist the instructor.
7. Make bathroom stops between activities.
8. If necessary, take students to health room or office for Band Aids or ice packs.
9. Students should have adult supervision at all times.
10. Try to stay on schedule.
11. Help students treat the environment and facilities with care.

Tips for Activity Leaders

For adults without a backround in teaching young children, the idea of leading an activity with a group of students in the outdoors can be somewhat daunting! Relax! It's not at difficult as you may expect. Here are some tips the Arlington Echo Staff has put together for our generous activity leaders, and chaperones!

 Tips for Activity Instructors 

1. Start by having students sit comfortably in a circle or around the picnic table so they can all easily see and hear the introduction.
2. Request their attention.
3. Smile, introduce yourself and the lesson according to the lesson plan.
4. Get students involved! Have them mix, measure, write on charts, etc. Give students jobs to assist with equipment clean-up, etc. (For example, “Who wants to collect the compasses?”)
5. Use questions to keep students thinking and to promote discussion (rather than lecture). Encourage all students to participate.
6. Pace the activity in order to stay on schedule.
7. When outdoors, speak clearly and at an appropriate volume. If possible, stand with your back to the wind so that it carries your voice to students.
8. Gather students in a small group (not in a line) to speak to them. Avoid walking and teaching at the same time.
9. Stand so that the sun is not in students’ eyes. Sunglasses prevent eye contact, so do not wear them while you are speaking to the students.
10. 1Use sun or shade to keep students comfortable.
11. Turn cell phone, pager or other electronic devices to “OFF” or “VIBRATE.”
12. Help students treat the environment and facilities with care.
13. Have fun and show enthusiasm. It’s contagious!

What to Bring

For Day trips, Make sure to check the weather and dress appropriately. Bring a reuseable water bottle, and a change of clothes (just in case!). Closed toe shoes are a requirement on site (that means no flip-flops or crocs!), and are for your own safety!

For overnight trips, make sure you and your child come prepared for the weather! Check out our sample checklists (warm weather and cold weather) by clicking the link below.

Equipment Checklist (Overnight)

Sample Schedule

Depending on which school your child addends, Trips to Arlington Echo are scheduled as day trips, or overnight trips. Not sure? Find out from your child's teacher prior to the date of your trip.

Day Trips typically run from the school's arrival at 10:00AM to departure at 5:00PM. Lunch and snack are included.

Overnight Trips typically run from the school's arrival on Day 1 at 10:00AM to departure on Day 2 at 2:00 PM. Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast, along with snack, are included each day.

SAMPLE Overnight Schedule

What to Expect

While at Arlington Echo, students will be challenged to put environmental ideals into action. During the day, the students will travel around campus while experiencing three different modules of activities involving Land, Water, and Habitat. While moving through activities, students will gather information in order to develop an educated and environmentally responsible answer to an overwhelming question: How can we help the Chesapeake Bay? Activities involving marsh mucking, canoeing, seining, stormwater investigation, along with many others will take place.

During meals, the students are challenged to be Waste Watchers by minimizing the amount of food waste created. By learning how to follow the "Take what you like, Eat what you take" philosophy and by participating in our on-site composting, the students become determined to have a "Zero Waste" meal.

Our main goal is "Enabling students and parents to respect and care for our natural environment even when no one is watching" and to take home the information learned, and practice it in their everyday lives.