Physical/Health/Outdoor
Education
Physical/Health/Outdoor
Education
FAQ's
Outdoor Education Subsidized Excursions
HOW OFTEN CAN I EXPECT TO BE OFFERED A SUBSIDIZED EXCURSION?
WHAT CENTRES ARE USED FOR THE TCDSB OUTDOOR EDUCATION SUBSIDIZED EXCURSIONS?
There are a number of ways:
At the start of the booking process (usually in March) an e-mail is sent from the Outdoor Education Department to the principal of each elementary school. The principal indicates whether she/he would like to be contacted regarding a booking for a subsidized outdoor education excursion. If the e-mail is NOT ANSWERED, it is assumed the school is not interested in taking part in a subsidized excursion.
When all the pre-arranged dates are booked then principals or teachers can have their names placed on a "waiting list". When a cancellation occurs the people on the waiting list are contacted first.
If no one from the waiting list indicates an interest in the excursion then a board-wide e-mail is sent to all elementary school principals offering the excursion on a first come first served basis.
Schools who indicate an interest in booking a subsidized outdoor education excursion are contacted in the following order:
Schools who have not been on a subsidized excursion for two years or more are contacted first for placement at a centre. They are given a period to indicate a preference, usually one week, and then;
Schools who did not take part in a subsidized excursion in the present school year are contacted after the schools in (a). They are given a period to indicate a preference, usually one week, and then;
Schools who received a subsidized excursion in the present school year are contacted after the schools in (a) and (b).
Special Note: The excursions planned for the weeks preceding Thanksgiving are usually booked first. The procedures outlined above are followed. Once all pre-Thanksgiving dates are booked schools are offered dates for the rest of the school year.
HOW OFTEN CAN I EXPECT TO BE OFFERED A SUBSIDIZED EXCURSION?
At present, there are 169 elementary schools in the TCDSB family. Since approximately 80 schools a year receive a subsidized excursion (sometimes schools elect to go for a half-week, in this way more than 80 schools can be dealt with), then schools can expect to receive a subsidized excursion approximately every 2 years. However this is not always the case as some schools elect not to take part in a subsidized excursion while others are able to take a subsidized excursion almost every year.
HOW DO I GET AN EXCURSION EVERY YEAR?
Schools who wish to take part in a subsidized excursion as often as possible should take excursions as they are offered. This may result in being offered the less favourable weeks or taking a cancellation (with 4‑6 weeks notice). Some schools are able to attend subsidized excursions on a regular basis due to their willingness to take "anything".
Special Note: : The Outdoor Education Department also offers excursions on a "short notice” basis (i.e. the availability of an excursion is advertised within a few weeks of the date of the excursion). Short notice excursions are usually advertised on the intranet.
WHAT CENTRES ARE USED FOR THE TCDSB OUTDOOR EDUCATION SUBSIDIZED EXCURSIONS?
The five centres used for the Outdoor Education Excursions are:
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Field Centres
HOW DO I GET AN EXCURSION TO A CENTRE OR A DATE OF MY CHOICE?
The best way for a school who wishes a specific centre or date for an excursion should plan to receive a subsidized excursion every two years and refuse placement on the "Waiting List".
HOW MUCH WILL AN EXCURSION COST?
The Outdoor Education Department provides a subsidy to help reduce the cost of these outdoor education excursions. Since the outdoor education centres have different pricing structures the subsidy is set to create a situation where the cost per student is the same at all centres. The subsidy is based on a minimum number of students (approximately 30). If a school elects to send less than the minimum the cost per student rises.
At Claremont and Teen Ranch and Lake St. George more than 40 students can be accommodated. If a school elects to send more than the minimum, the cost per student remains the same. The Outdoor Education Department can provide schools with a spreadsheet showing the exact cost of the excursion.
Special Note: The Outdoor Education Department’s budget is usually determined in the fall of each year. Unfortunately excursions are booked in the spring of the year. The preceding year is used as a basis to plan the size of the subsidy each school may receive and thus the per student cost for the excursion. Once the budget has been finalized schools are notified of any changes in the per student cost. Usually the pre-Thanksgiving subsidy is guaranteed not to be reduced.
WHAT IF I CHOOSE A TRIP AND HAVE TO CANCEL?
The reality of the situation is that TCDSB is committed to the bookings and just like in any business venture if a booking is cancelled and no replacement can be found the centre in question is guaranteed a monetary penalty. If a school cancels an excursion less than six weeks before the date of the excursion and a replacement cannot be found the school will be required to pay a financial penalty. Through some additional incentives and the ability of many of our schools to organize an excursion quickly a replacement is usually found.
Special Note: To avoid any financial penalties schools that elect to book an excursion should find some way to determine fairly early in the planning process if there is enough interest in the school to take part in the excursion.