Exploring the McKenzie Watershed

Visit all the field trip stops in advance of the trip. Contact the site manager if you have additional questions such as the McKenzie Ranger Station or the U.S. Forest Service campgrounds.

Note Any Hazards

Check on the hazards listed for each study site and any others you might observe during your visit.

Make sure you know how to identify poison oak and stinging nettle because some of the sites have these plants.

Adequate Supervision

Recruit one responsible adult member for every five students in your field trip group and give them a copy from this guide of each stop you plan to visit. Provide each adult with a student name list. Other adults can lead small study groups through the day's activities and help insure all students have a safe trip.

Special Student Needs?

Check to see what special medical needs some students may have and inform the adult helpers in advance of the trip.

Check District Policies

Make sure your field trip follows district policy for field excursions.

Emergency Telephones

The matrix provides you with a number of places for telephones for emergency calls. Spot check these locations as you visit your field trip stops and point them out to your adult leaders. Knowing where the nearest telephone is can save lives.

Plan for Emergencies with Leaders

Review the following "What if...?" questions and determine procedures you and other adult leaders should follow in the event of an emergency:

• What if a student is missing?
• What if a student is stung by an insect?
• What if a student falls and is injured?
• What if a student falls into the river's swift water?

Discuss Field Trip Expectations

Discuss expected field trip behaviors with your students prior to taking the field trip.

A safe trip will have:

• Walking students.
• Students in small groups with an adult leader.
• Students who have minimal impact on the environment they visit.
• Students who throw nothing during the field trip.
• Students who recognize poison oak and stinging nettle.