Student Foreign Group Travel
Safety, Experience, & Company Reputation Enhances Student Travel
Every years thousands of school groups travel abroad on educational tours. Although most groups return home without event and are richer for the experience, parents need to explore safety and security issues before they enroll their children and pay non-refundable deposits. Concerns about school sponsorship, teacher group leaders, and other chaperons should top the list of initial questions.
Teacher Group Leaders and Tour Chaperons
Student group tours are usually led and facilitated by teachers. While some teachers are veterans leading tours, others are not. Because student tour companies competing for the market are aggressive solicitors, the lure to take students abroad is great. Some group leaders see the experience as a “vacation.” All of the large student travel companies advertise that “teachers travel free.” Typically, companies offer one “free spot” for every six paying participants, although, to entice new business, first time teacher leaders may qualify with as few as four paying participants. Every additional “free spot” allows the group leader to add free traveling chaperons or receive a stipend from the company.
Other incentives usually involve a points systems that encourages loyalty by qualifying teachers for gifts ranging from luggage to computers. Because the rewards are great, key questions need to be answered.
- How experienced is the teacher group leader?
- Are the other chaperons educators with knowledge of student behavior?
- Is the group leader organized and can they answer all of your questions?
- Are chaperon to student ratios gender specific?
School Sponsorship of Group Travel
Some school systems do not allow tour advertisement on school property. Other systems deem foreign trips as “school related” but not necessarily school sponsored. Systems are often reluctant to endorse such trips due to liability issues. In some Canadian systems, teacher group leaders are prohibited from receiving incentives for leading tours given by student tour companies. It is important to investigate the role of the school system.
- Is the trip supported by the school? Why or why not?
- Has the school experienced problems in the past with student tours?
- Will the school give curricular credit for participation?
Security and Safety While on Tour
Parents want peace of mind when enrolling their children on foreign tours. In April 2007, a Greek cruise ship evacuated 1600 passengers and crew before sinking at Santorini. Among the 731 Americans on board were several student tours groups including middle school students. Three persons died. Parents need to be concerned with security issues and ask the right questions.
- Where are the hotels being used on the tour located?
- Are students supervised during free time?
- How reputable are the modes of transport on tour?
- Is there an alcohol policy?
Reputation of the Student Tour Group
Before enrolling a student and depositing funds, parents should read all of the fine print. The tour “application” is essentially a contract that binds both parties to certain actions and provides specific services. To what extent will the tour operator deliver those services and how are they detailed? Not all student tour companies are the same. When comparing tour prices, some companies are far less expensive than their competitors.
- How long has the company been in business?
- How many students travel with the company on a yearly basis?
- How does the company select on-site tour directors?
- What kinds of insurance are offered travelers?
- Are there independent testimonials on the reputation of the company?
Ideally, parents and teachers should plan foreign tours together. Schools that sponsor tours should have a trip committee in place to organize all aspects of a student tour. This may eliminate any future problems and alleviate parental concerns.
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