Pre-trip “training” for students, parents and chaperones

Your group’s next adventure will be here before you know it and there’s a lot to do beyond packing lists and room assignments. To make your trip a safe and memorable experience for everyone, we recommend a bit of “training” before you hit the road.

Students

Teaching students how to explore the wide world is such a privilege for us here at BRT. We know many of the students joining us will be traveling beyond their hometown or home state for the first time. With that in mind, we suggest talking to your students early and often about the difference between travelers and tourists. Before they step foot on a bus, plane or train, students should understand the basics of travel safety, responsibility on the road and respect for those around them. Equip your students with some travel etiquette do’s and don’ts before the big trip – it’s amazing to see how much they’ll apply that wisdom once they set foot in a new place.    

Parents

Enthusiastic parents make all the difference when it comes to your music program. When these hardworking, supportive moms and dads rally around a performance tour, great things happen. Ideally, you’ve already got some awesome parents in your corner after a successful parent meeting. As the trip draws nearer, make sure you communicate with parents as much as possible about trip payments, fundraising and safety. Hold additional trip meetings to give parents opportunities to ask questions. Make sure they know about all the ways to communicate before, during and after the trip. The more information they have, they more excited and comfortable they’ll feel about putting their kids on the bus. 

Chaperones

We love chaperones! Great chaperones make a trip even more fun, but a challenging chaperone can seriously rain on your parade. Once you’ve chosen your chaperones (and here’s how!), take the time to meet with them and clearly communicate your expectations and assign roles/responsibilities for each person. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on choosing and training great chaperones for your next trip – check it out! 

A little bit of pre-trip training goes a long way towards an incredible travel experience. In our nearly 40 years of travel planning experience, we’ve learned a lot about what to do AND what not to do on tour. We love sharing that hard-earned wisdom with you in hopes that your travel experiences will be seamless, rewarding and full of moments that matter. See you on the road!