Embarking on a travel tradition can be a life-changing experience for a student ensemble. It offers opportunities for personal growth, collaborative learning, and cultural immersion. Beyond that, it strengthens bonds within the school community, fostering camaraderie and trust. But how can you initiate this tradition? Whether you’re a newcomer to the staff or the longtime educator of the ensemble we wanted to share some ideas with you below.
Let’s talk Consistency.
Traveling consistently offers significant benefits to your program and students. By establishing a long-term tradition, you can attract and retain students who are drawn to the prospect of these experiences. This not only enriches student involvement but also positively impacts your program’s recruitment and retention efforts. Many schools find success with a biennial travel tradition.
For high school programs for example, your travel rotation could look like this:
- Year 1: Local – In state travel for school events and local opportunities.
- Year 2: Partner with MCI for an Out-of-state bus trip (Nashville, Boston, Washington D.C. perhaps a Parade!
- Year 3: Local or Out-of-state travel for a parade or festival opportunity.
- Year 4: Partner with MCI for a Major city trip (New York City, Washington D.C., or even an international city)
*For middle school programs, consider annual trips with eighth graders to a consistent destination*
This approach provides a balanced mix of destinations while ensuring manageable travel for students, parents, and the district.
Planning Tip: When organizing major travel experiences, early communication is key. Let your ensemble know about your international trip plans during this year’s local travel, this builds excitement and anticipation for the next year.”
Now that we have a plan setup it’s time to tackle navigating Trip Approvals.
To successfully establish a travel tradition, it’s essential to collaborate with a trusted administrator not only to know what to expect but to get feedback on your upcoming travel plans. We recommend asking these key questions:
- Paperwork requirements: What documents are needed for a trip approval?
- School board involvement: Is a presentation to the school board necessary?
- District guidelines: What are the district’s expectations regarding activities, supervision, and performance requirements?
These questions will help to further refine your travel plans before going to the district for approval.
Once approved from the district, it’s time to roll out your travel plans to your ensemble and their families. Below is what we recommend preparing for when announcing the trip.
Set Clear Goals and Expectations:
- Define the Purpose: Clearly articulate the goals of your ensemble’s travel experience. Are you seeking to perform, participate in workshops, or simply explore a new culture?
- Establish Expectations: Set clear expectations for student behavior, academic performance, and participation during the trip.
- Transparent Communication: Maintain open communication with parents and guardians regarding the costs of the trip and fundraising efforts.
By following these guidelines, we hope to help you navigate the tradition of traveling and create a memorable and transformative travel experience for your student ensemble. Not only will you enhance their musical skills and broaden their horizons, but you will also foster a sense of community, trust, and responsibility that will benefit them for years to come.
