2024/2025 Information, Dates and Paperwork
Field Trip Date: This year’s trip is scheduled for Wednesday September 25 – Friday September 27, 2024 at Yosemite National Park.
Information Night Date: An information night will be held on Monday August 26, 2024 at 6:30pm via ZOOM. If you missed the Parent Info Night, please email HillcrestMSFieldtrip@gmail.com for the recording.
Paperwork: Parents need to complete the required paperwork (will be sent electronically to each family) by August 30, 2024.
Donation: The cost of the field trip per student is $650. Families can make a tax deductible donation for any amount they are able to contribute. Specifics for the field trip donation drive will be live by September 2nd.
All students are invited to attend the trip regardless of family ability to donate. The above donations and other middle school fundraising will cover the cost of the trip for all students. We want everyone to enjoy this trip. Reminder that this is school for the week.
General Field Trip Overview
All Hillcrest Middle School students participate in an annual outdoor education excursion to destinations like the following:
- Big Sur State Park (2022/2023)
- Point Reyes National Seashore (2023/2024)
- Yosemite National Park (2024/2025)
This year our multi-night (3-day/2-night) trip is organized in partnership with NatureBridge, an outdoor education organization. The naturalists facilitate the student experience through daily activities depending on the field trip, such as hiking, team-building exercises, hands-on science, kayaking, rock climbing, star gazing, etc. In addition to delivering the multi-day curriculum, NatureBridge coordinates lodging in Curry Village for students and chaperones plus all food, including prep and cooking.
For each trip, students are split into small multi-grade groups. Each group is assigned a Naturalist as well as parent and teacher chaperones.
Chaperones
Hillcrest parents serve as chaperones and teachers roam among the groups. Generally, chaperones oversee groups of students and are responsible for their oversight and well being for the duration of the trip.
Selection process: Preference will be given to chaperones with a medical background or training. All chaperones must complete the process of attaining Unsupervised clearance through the Oakland Ed Fund including a background check and TB screening. Please see here for more information on the clearance application, or here to check your volunteer status.
Chaperone duties: Chaperones are responsible for the students in their groups from the time the students are dropped off to catch the bus until the moment that they are returned to their parents at the end of the week. Your child will not be in your group. Under no circumstances are chaperones allowed to leave the field trip early. Selected chaperones will need to spend at least one evening contacting parents of the students in their group to review the packing list, concerns, and allergies/medications. They will need to take the appropriate amount of time away from work and home obligations to cover the entire length of the trip.
We can help direct you on getting any or all of your outstanding OUSD clearance paperwork completed. Please reach out to us for more info at HillcrestMSFieldtrip@gmail.com.
Field Trip Logistics
Parents will receive more information about the field trip at Back-to-School Night as well as in specially scheduled meetings and communications throughout the year. During the year the Field Trip Coordinator will make multiple requests for paperwork, the family contribution and other information from your family. Please help us by filling out forms in a timely manner!
Packing List
Please click HERE for the packing list.
DO NOT ALLOW YOUR KIDS TO BRING: Pocketknives, personal music devices, radios, electronic games, gum, junk food, or cell phones (they likely will not have cell reception anyway and may be damaged or lost on program). If any electronics, including cameras are brought on the trip, please let your child know that they will need to accept responsibility if they are lost or broken. NATUREBRIDGE AND HILLCREST SCHOOL WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR DAMAGED PERSONAL BELONGINGS.
When packing, duffel bags are preferred to suitcases. Remind your child that they will be responsible for carrying their own gear. The campsite is a short walk from the bus drop-off, but rolling suitcases do not work well in this environment. Make sure to send a daypack as we’ll need them for hiking.
A bandana is also a good idea as it can be used as a placemat for food and/or as a way to cool people down when it’s really hot out.
Mark everything you bring! I can’t emphasize the importance of this enough. At the end of the trip, we inevitably have a very large lost and found. It is infinitely easier to return lost items if they are labeled.
We are requesting gear from families that are able to lend it. If you do not have gear, you do not need to purchase it for this trip!
Medications & Allergies
If you are sending medications of any kind, you will need to complete an OUSD Authorization for Medication form. This form will be sent out, along with the other paperwork well in advance of trip departure.
There are two things worth noting on the medications:
- We cannot administer ANY medications (including over-the-counter) to your child without written permission and a signed form from you AND your child’s physician.
- Chaperones must hold on to the medications. Other than an inhaler or insulin, all medications need to be in the hands of your child’s chaperone. They will give the medication to your child per your instructions.
Food allergies will be addressed through the intake paperwork. Please click here for the NatureBridge Procedures for Students with Serious Food Allergies and Dietary Needs.
Field Trip Coordinator
The MS Field Trip Coordinator is responsible for the overall organization of this annual event and serves on the MS Advisory Committee. A major duty for the Field Trip Coordinator includes communicating with families, Naturalists, MS teachers, and school administration throughout the entire year. Importantly, the Field Trip Coordinator organizes, distributes and collects all required documentation and payments from families and shares any pertinent trip details with parents, including emergency contact procedures, form submission dates, departure/arrival information, etc. Finally, the Field Trip Coordinator attends the trip as head chaperone and has a blast! Your 2024-25 Volunteers Heather Davis and Ruth Woodruff can be reached at HillcrestMSFieldtrip@gmail.com.
