Field Trip Student Rules

groups of 3 means:

• always be in a group of 3 or more. 

• Escorted by a chaperone is allowed for some situations.

• when at bathroom, the other 2 should wait within eyesight of the bathroom door.

• when outside, you must be in a group of 3 or more, within 30 yards (you can see them and you could get to them within a few seconds).

• When in the dining hall, you can get up for food, putting away dishes or go to the bathroom by yourself.

• When in cabin areas you may be by yourself or in a group of 2 if:

  • you are in your own cabin (if 2, both people have to be from that cabin)

  • you are in route to a common space like a balcony or your own cabin, and moving deliberately, not doddeling.  

  • If you are the only 2 people on a balcony, there must be at least 4 people inside that cabin, or you need to find another balcony.

In the Cabins:

• Students are only allowed in the cabins from campfire until breakfast and during initial setup time on Friday when we arrive.   Any time after the talent share out on Friday, or after the 'night activity' on Saturday, students may go into the cabins in groups of 3 or more.

• Once the campfire is over, students must remain in the cabin area until breakfast.  You may go down to breakfast starting at 8am.  If you have to leave the cabins area, you must get permission from a chaperone, and you must be in groups of 3 or more and/or with a chaperone.

• Students are allowed to get items from the cabin at breaks during the day, but just in and back out, do not linger in the cabins.  

• Students are definitely not allowed in the cabins during any planned activities including Activity rotations, games, rehearsals, etc.

• Students should be with the large group for all major events like rehearsals, games, skits, talent share-out.  

No romantic moves

• Don't break up or propose to anyone at the retreat

• if you think things are heading in that direction, SAVE IT, you must wait until you are no longer at a group event!

• No Public Display of Affection beyond what you would do with a close friend.

Lights out means:

• "create an environment where anyone else could sleep even if they don't want to".

• large overhead lights are out, but a small light in your bunk is OK

• no noise- no broadcasting music.

• in own bunk by yourself

• no talking - that other person isn't sleeping, and even if they don't want to sleep, its not an enviroment in which they could if they did want to and you could be encouraging them (and yourself) to head towards sleep.

• you can finish taking shower/brushing teeth/ washing up for a few minutes after lights out, BUT NO TALKING!

Here is the full Behavior Agreement

some highpoints are:

All school rules apply to all choir field trips.

No illegal substances are allowed, no-brainer, right?

For all school trips, do not wander off by yourself or in a pair: students must remain in groups of 3 or more with a working phone in the group and the chaperone phone number at hand (408-475-5570).  You must adhere to any geographic boundaries set by the chaperones. 

Once we arrive at a hotel, you may not leave the hotel without permission. Students are allowed in each other's rooms under the following conditions: the door must be ajar, there must be at least 3 people in the room, and it must be before the time designated for bed-check.  We try to select hotels that have public spaces available where students can visit with each other.  Those locations and hours for their use will be specified upon arrival to the hotel. Each night ends with a bed-check and announcements, after which students may not leave their room until the scheduled breakfast time the following day.   

Unless otherwise specified, you must be in groups of 3 or more even in the hotel.  Some hotels (Embassy Suites for the Disneyland trip, for example) have more visibility, in which case going to breakfast by yourself or with just one person may be allowed if you can see Homestead people in the breakfast area from your balcony and you have been told by a chaperone or Dr Morton that it is OK.  Even in these situations, you must be in route to a group of other students (3 or more), you can't stop and be alone along the way.

Do not use any form of transportation other than that of the group. This usually means taking the bus for the trip and walking when off the bus. Never take a ride share, any public transportation, or any special transport such as but not limited to rental bikes, rental scooters, friend’s car, stranger’s car, trollies, subways, trains, etc.

Lights out means:

• "create an environment where anyone else could sleep even if they don't want to".

• no noise- no broadcasting music.

• you must be in your own room.

• no talking - if that other person isn't sleeping, and even if they don't want to sleep, its not an enviroment in which they could if they did want to and you could be encouraging them (and yourself) to head towards sleep. 

• you can finish taking shower/brushing teeth/ washing up for a few minutes after lights out, but no talking.

No romantic moves

• Don't break up or propose to anyone on a choir trip.  

• if you think things are heading in that direction, SAVE IT, you must wait until you are no longer at a group event!

• No Public Display of Affection beyond what you would do with a close friend.

• Romantically involved students, or even romantically hopeful or exploring students, are not allowed to share a room.  Be sure to let leadership or Dr Morton know of any issues when we collect information for assigning rooms.  If anything changes after we make room assignments or during the trip, tell Dr Morton right away so we can find you a new room assignment and handle it as discretely as possible. :)

Family Members Shadowing A Trip

Anytime we perform in public, family members and friends are invited to watch.  However, sometimes family members want take custody of the student either temporarily during the trip or at the end of the trip.   This can lead to a variety of issues, and the below rules are intended to minimize problematic issues.These rules may vary for different types of trips.  Below are specific for our trip to Disneyland. 

If a student shifts to their family instead of their student group:

• 'the family'  even if including more people, must have at least one  legal guardian of the student who bears responsibility of their safety while with them. *  

• The  have to let me or a chaperone know both at point of handing off and the point of return

• The student group left behind must still have 3 or more people in it.

• The student and their family must remain in the same geographic boundaries as the students.  For Disneyland, that will be only the two theme parks plus Downtown Disney... You are not allowed to go off to some other part of Anaheim or neighboring communities.

• Joining the trip late/ leaving separately:   the legal guardian* of the student can bring them separately or leave early, but once arrived they must adhere to the group and once fully, checked out, they may not rejoin the group.  In both cases, the legal guardian must check in/out with me or a chaperone in person.  

• anything outside of these guidelines must be approved and arranged with the director at his discretion.

Special Case Shadowing

• Students in need of extra attention (medical, emotional, behavioral) may have a guardian as a chaperone whose primary purpose is to ensure the safety and well being of their individual child.   Their specific role, purpose, guidelines and liberties must be arranged with the director on a case by case basis.

* Having anyone other than the legal guardian responsible for the student requires a contract signed by the legal guardian and other requirements regarding who is legally responsible for the student, for example, they must be at least 25 years old, etc.