Field Trip Question

[DBug]

For those of you who do field trips and/or transporting in a vehicle with the dc kids, how far away do you take them? I've done a few tried & true trips, but they were within a half-hour of home. There's a great place I'd like to take them, the price is right, BUT it will be an hour and 15 minute drive.

I don't have an issue with going that far, I'm just not sure if the parents will be okay with it. Has anyone else had any parents take issue with taking the kids too far away?

[melskids]

Where I live, you have to travel for everything. Most places are 45 minutes to an hour and a half away.

For the long trips, I always give the parents enough notice, so if they are not comfortable with it, they can make other arrangements. I've actually never had a parent say no.

We are headed to the lake today, about 1/2 hour from here.

We're going to the zoo and the end of the month, and that's about 1 1/2 hrs away.

[Sprouts]

Do u have to have business and special car insurance that will cover this? I think my current daycare insurance does not cover field trips...:confused:

[DBug]

Do u have to have business and special car insurance that will cover this? I think my current daycare insurance does not cover field trips...:confused:

I'm guessing it depends where you're located. I'm legally unlicensed, so I technically don't have to have "daycare" insurance for anything (although I do have it included in my home insurance). Our vehicle insurance covers whoever is in it at the time, so that's all good .

I'm sure there's someone else here who would know what the regs are for your state though ...

[DBug]

Where I live, you have to travel for everything. Most places are 45 minutes to an hour and a half away.

Yep, that's like where I am. Out in the middle of nowhere! Anything other than the playground is at least 30 minutes away ...

[My Lil' Monkeys]

Do u have to have business and special car insurance that will cover this? I think my current daycare insurance does not cover field trips...:confused:

My insurance policy covers my kids in my van. I called and checked before putting them in my van and they said it covers mine. Now, I know someone posted (not this tread) in the same state as me and her insurance didn't cover it. So, I think it just depends on who you have for your insurance company.

[My Lil' Monkeys]

Yep, that's like where I am. Out in the middle of nowhere! Anything other than the playground is at least 30 minutes away ...

I'm in the same position. I live 30 + mins from anything. Today we are taking a field trip and it's 45 mins away. Parent were notified last week and none of them care and really like that I take them out to experience new things But I made it very clear at the interview that we travel a lot!!

[Blackcat31]

My insurance policy covers my kids in my van. I called and checked before putting them in my van and they said it covers mine. Now, I know someone posted (not this tread) in the same state as me and her insurance didn't cover it. So, I think it just depends on who you have for your insurance company.

Here (MN) we aren't required to have any type of "special" or commercialiZed insurance, just a higher coverage amounts compared to what most individual families/people have.

For example instead of $100,000 liability coverage per incident/person, we have to have $300,000 per incident/person.

I am not sure of the exact numbers though as I do NOT transport children.

We do take 1-2 field trips per year that require travel time but in those situations, I partner up with a near-by provider and we rent a city bus to take us all.

[My Lil' Monkeys]

Here (MN) we aren't required to have any type of "special" or commercialiZed insurance, just a higher coverage amounts compared to what most individual families/people have.

For example instead of $100,000 liability coverage per incident/person, we have to have $300,000 per incident/person.

I am not sure of the exact numbers though as I do NOT transport children.

We do take 1-2 field trips per year that require travel time but in those situations, I partner up with a near-by provider and we rent a city bus to take us all.

I had to buy more liability insurance for my house but not for my vehicle. The daycare kids are covered and we do go out quite a bit for trips. Like today we hit an awesome museum with dino bones. Next week it's a farm and next month I will take them to the zoo. But I have a very small group of kids and I live in a town that there is nothing around so we have to travel. Sometimes I wish I lived closer to the city, if I did we would never have to use the van.

[sharlan]

Most of our field trips are within an hour's drive. Going to the LA Zoo takes a bit longer. Sea World and Legoland are close to 2 hours.

Next Monday we are going whale watching. It's late in the season and probably won't see any, but the price was right. The dock is about an hour's drive from here, but then it's a two hour boat ride.

I always give the parents a week's notice on long trips. Closer trips, I may tell them that day.

[My Lil' Monkeys]

Most of our field trips are within an hour's drive. Going to the LA Zoo takes a bit longer. Sea World and Legoland are close to 2 hours.

Next Monday we are going whale watching. It's late in the season and probably won't see any, but the price was right. The dock is about an hour's drive from here, but then it's a two hour boat ride.

I always give the parents a week's notice on long trips. Closer trips, I may tell them that day.

So jealous!!! I so wish I could take my own kids to Legoland/ Sea World/ or Whale watching!!

That's so awesome!!

[Sprouts]

I need to get out more! We haven't done anything yet and I only watch two! Is there any special forms I should have besides the usual trip form?

[countrymom]

I totally know what you mean. I live in the middle of everything so it takes about a half hour away. I just let them know where we are going and its their choice. Most parents are so thrilled for me to take them places because many don't have time so I do it. I need to ask dh about the coverage but I think we have the same as you because we seem to be the parents who always have to drive all the friends. So where are you going. I want to go to greenview averies, but it would be about almost 2 hours.

[Countrygal]

While we are very rural, there is a lot to do within an hour's drive of here - zoos, museums, lakes, state parks, a wildlife refuge, indian mounds. Just tons of stuff to see. I have gone on one longer field trip (actually only about an hour's drive, but we went several different places and took the better part of the day). I ALWAYS get the parent's permission as far ahead as I am able. I'm not able to transport when I'm full, so often times fts are when someone is out sick and notice is asking the parent at drop off. But I do plan one field trip a month, families are welcome to come, and I get someone to help drive. Now that I'm not full we haven't been doing those, just the little ones.

[DBug]

I totally know what you mean. I live in the middle of everything so it takes about a half hour away. I just let them know where we are going and its their choice. Most parents are so thrilled for me to take them places because many don't have time so I do it. I need to ask dh about the coverage but I think we have the same as you because we seem to be the parents who always have to drive all the friends. So where are you going. I want to go to greenview averies, but it would be about almost 2 hours.

I'm near Barrie, so we've been to the Simcoe County Museum (small pioneer village, etc) and Springwater Prov. Park (they have a bunch of animals that they care for, so it's like a small zoo). I've done those places several years now, and I'm ready to branch out . I'd like to go to Discovery Harbour because the price is so reasonable, but it's over an hour from me. I think I may try it and see how it goes.

You must be somewhere in the vicinity of London, right? Have you ever taken your dc kids to the Children's Museum? We took our own kids there several years ago and they STILL talk about it! So much fun!