Field Trip....Who Pays??

[LaLa1923]

I am planning a field trip to the pumpkin patch. My question is...who pays?

I got a group rate of $9.25 which includes admission, hayride, and a pumpkin!

What do you think?

[Blackcat31]

I do a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch too.

I always pay. I figure it's part of the services I offer.

If parents are required to pay, they should also have the option of NOT going/participating and yet still use child care so I would think you would have to have a back up provider available so that anyone NOT wanting to go/pay will still have child care to use....kwim?

Also if you pay for it all, it's tax deductible.

[itlw8]

I do a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch too.

I always pay. I figure it's part of the services I offer.

If parents are required to pay, they should also have the option of NOT going/participating and yet still use child care so I would think you would have to have a back up provider available so that anyone NOT wanting to go/pay will still have child care to use....kwim?

Also if you pay for it all, it's tax deductible.

I said they should pay because schools charge... but they have something for those who do not go to do.... so I agree you would need to pay for back up if any chose not to go .

[Leigh]

I can purchase a pass for the entire daycare at our local zoo for $100, so I pay for those trips. I'd probably pay for the pumpkin patch, too. A trip to the Children's Museum, the parents pay for admission, I provide food. It depends on the situation for me.

[Blackcat31]

I said they should pay because schools charge... but they have something for those who do not go to do.... so I agree you would need to pay for back up if any chose not to go .

plus the school teacher doesn't get to write off the expense as a deduction on her taxes...

[Blackcat31]

I am planning a field trip to the pumpkin patch. My question is...who pays?

I got a group rate of $9.25 which includes admission, hayride, and a pumpkin!

What do you think?

What is the plan if a family doesn't want to go/pay? Will there still be child care services available to them that day or would they need to go elsewhere since you wouldn't be home?

Would the parents still pay you for that day?

I guess those things ^^^ would be the deciding factors for me anyways.....

[originalkat]

First-- $9.25 PER KID!!!?? That is crazy high IMO, but I guess your COL must be higher. Our group rates are $4-5 per child including games, a snack, pumpkin, hayrack ride etc...

I never pay for field trips. We go on about 4 per year. I feel it is an extra that I offer to parents, but that doesn't mean I foot the bill. I have never had a parent think twice about paying for their own child to go on a field trip.

Also, I have in my parent handbook "If you do not wish for your child to participate in the field trip it is your responsibility to find alternate care." (and YES they still pay)

[Leigh]

What is the plan if a family doesn't want to go/pay? Will there still be child care services available to them that day or would they need to go elsewhere since you wouldn't be home?

Would the parents still pay you for that day?

I guess those things ^^^ would be the deciding factors for me anyways.....

I haven't had a parent decline yet, but my husband is available to watch kids in my absence, so I wouldn't have to leave someone without care. I tell parents when they enroll that I pay for MOST outings, but that they will be expected to contribute to some of the "special" ones. It's a $250+ trip to the museum (hiring a helper, transportation for the 100 mile round trip, admission for all and their expensive lunches)-having the parents pay part of it makes me more motivated to take them.

[snbauser]

I have always had the parents pay and no one has ever said a word.

[Leanna]

We only go on walking field trips but we are having a local farm set up a pumpkin patch in my backyard on the 22nd (they offer this service because so many daycares/schools lose transportation because of budget cuts). I am paying for it as part of the service I offer (which is what I do in all situations like this) BUT if the families want extra pumpkins, they can order them and will pay themselves.

[Lucy]

This is just me, but I'd probably talk about the trip and then casually throw in how proud you are of getting that group discount where it will only cost $9.25!! And then see if they say, "Oh, I'll send money with her that day", or something like that. Kind of leave it to their discretion. I feel like if I planned the trip, I should pay, but if they offer - I'm not turning it down!!!!

[LaLa1923]

What is the plan if a family doesn't want to go/pay? Will there still be child care services available to them that day or would they need to go elsewhere since you wouldn't be home?

Would the parents still pay you for that day?

I guess those things ^^^ would be the deciding factors for me anyways.....

First-- $9.25 PER KID!!!?? That is crazy high IMO, but I guess your COL must be higher. Our group rates are $4-5 per child including games, a snack, pumpkin, hayrack ride etc...

I never pay for field trips. We go on about 4 per year. I feel it is an extra that I offer to parents, but that doesn't mean I foot the bill. I have never had a parent think twice about paying for their own child to go on a field trip.

Also, I have in my parent handbook "If you do not wish for your child to participate in the field trip it is your responsibility to find alternate care." (and YES they still pay)

They pay me no matter what, they are not required to attend trips. Also, in my contract.

plus the school teacher doesn't get to write off the expense as a deduction on her taxes...

I know, but, I thought Tom said a $1 does not equal a dollar?



My parents would have no issue with paying, I just want to do the right thing.

[LaLa1923]

First-- $9.25 PER KID!!!?? That is crazy high IMO, but I guess your COL must be higher. Our group rates are $4-5 per child including games, a snack, pumpkin, hayrack ride etc...

I never pay for field trips. We go on about 4 per year. I feel it is an extra that I offer to parents, but that doesn't mean I foot the bill. I have never had a parent think twice about paying for their own child to go on a field trip.

Also, I have in my parent handbook "If you do not wish for your child to participate in the field trip it is your responsibility to find alternate care." (and YES they still pay)

I don't think that's high at all. A pumpkin price here for a small starts at $4-$5.

[sharlan]

It really all depends on the cost. Generally anything that costs less than $10, I will pay for. Anything above that, the parents pay.

I pay for all low cost things, plus I buy memberships wherever I can and don't charge the parents for those. We have the LA Zoo, Santa Ana Z00, and the Aquarium of the Pacific right now.

I have the parents pay for expensive passes like the local water park or Knott's Berry Farm tickets. I always give them advance notice so they have time to save up.

The parents always have the option of keeping the child home if they don't want to pay. I've never had a child stay home, though.

[mrsnj]

If I paid for everything out of pocket I wouldn't take the kids places. Why would I lose money for a field trip? Now sometimes its my decision if I want to treat. But most times I will require a payment if a cost is required.

In the summer we do a field trip once a wk for my sa kids. I pay for the aide and gas myself. Then I alternate between the pàrk(free) with bowling the next wk etc. This way they aren't always paying. If I has to cover them all, I wouldn't go at all.