Post Visit Materials

Post-trip Follow Up

• Conduct post-visit activities. Follow up the experience by building on student observations during the trip. Discuss what they saw and what they learned. Use their new knowledge in future lesson plans.
• Discuss overall trip impressions with your students. What were their favorite parts of the trip? What didn’t they enjoy? Discuss improvements for future trips. Keep a list of these suggestions and refer to them for next time.
• Share your experience with others. Typically, only a small percentage of students are able to participate in field trips. Those not fortunate enough to visit Big Bend can still learn from the experience. Have students present trip reports to classmates. Create a bulletin board at school with photos and trip highlights. Give awards at an assembly to recognize student efforts (best hiker, best cook, most helpful, etc.).
• Give thanks! Remember to thank parents and chaperones for their help with the trip. Praise your students for meeting mental and physical challenges successfully. Acknowledge the collective and individual rewards that come with outdoor adventures. Pat yourself on the back for a trip well done!!