WHAT TO WEAR

Our programs run rain or shine, so students should arrive with clothing that will keep them happy and successful throughout the day. If possible, each student should have the following:

• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes

• Long pants

• Raincoat (please discourage umbrellas)

• Sweatshirt

STUDENT GROUPS

You should arrive with your students already divided into the number of groups indicated on your field trip confirmation documents and reminder emails.  Typically, the number of groups are equal to the total students attending divided by 10 and rounded up. Please number or color-code groups for easy identification on field trip day. 

Groups should be arranged in a way that will help all students be successful in a hands-on learning environment. If you have concerns about specific student’s ability to participate in the field trip, please don’t hesitate to contact us prior to your trip; we do our best to accommodate students with differing physical, behavioral, or academic needs.

CHAPERONES

You should plan on having at least one adult chaperone per group (with the ideal ratio being two-three per group). Many teachers appreciate being separate from the assigned chaperones so they can travel between groups, enjoy watching their students learn, and be available in case any issues arise; feel free to do this if your ratio allows. Groups in need of extra support may have additional chaperones assigned as necessary. We will provide letters describing the role of a chaperone for you to distribute before your trip, or you can click the link to access that information now.

Please provide large, clearly printed name tags for each of your students and chaperones, preferably with their group number or color identified on the front.

SAFETY AND STEWARDSHIP

Before your scheduled field trip, you will receive a copy of our Expectations for Success. Please find time to share these ideas with your class before they arrive to ensure the safety of your students as well as the Tryon Creek ecosystem.

You will also receive a copy of Our Unique Urban Forest that provides additional information about our park and our program. This would be an excellent thing to send home with your permission slips, so all families have a chance to get to know our park.

GETTING TO THE PARK

Please read our directions to Tryon, parking instructions and a map of the park. Be sure to note relevant road closures and traffic patterns well before your trip so you can accurately plan your day.

Your start time should be scheduled to give you plenty of time to gather students, coordinate with chaperones, and travel to the park through unpredictable traffic. Because we cannot extend program times to accommodate late arrivals, it is wise to allow yourself an extra 5-10 minutes to get students on the bus and to the park.

We will begin each field trip in the Jackson Shelter, located down the path to the right as you walk towards the Nature Center. Feel free to gather in that space until your scheduled start time if you arrive at the park early, otherwise Friends of Tryon Creek staff will meet you in the parking lot to welcome your class and give some instructions before you unload.

LUNCH AND SNACKS

We have a large covered open-air shelter (Jackson Shelter) with benches that is available for you and your class to eat lunch in the park.

Because the woods can be a hungry place and our lunch breaks are often scheduled outside of the times students would normally eat at school, it may be wise to either have a quick snack in class before coming to the park or plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early so students can eat before the program. Please note that we do not encourage snacks during the field trip, as it can be distracting to the students’ ability to learn successfully.