The benefits of school excursions - and why they’re so important

School Excursions have come a long way since I was a young lad.

I was pretty happy to just head to the creek in Yeoval to study the tadpoles and learn about the ecosystem. That’s about as exciting as things got for us,

And we generally walked wherever we were going - none of this air conditioned transport kids get today!

I’m not suggesting the big, exciting interstate school excursions aren’t important - I think the kids are so lucky they get to experience this. 

But after working in the transport industry for as long as I have - and helping so many schools organise their excursions - I’m seeing the pressure teachers are under, to come up with the next great idea. The next excursion bonanza.

We all know that first-hand experiences are not only the best way to learn - but the most enjoyable way to learn.

But let’s go back to basics, and remember the benefits of school excursions. Because enriching experiences don’t have to be stressful to organise - or break the budget.  

Change of Environment

There’s nothing like the buzz of excitement from a group of school kids, leaving the classroom, hopping on the bus and heading on an excursion. It’s one of my favourite parts of this job.

It’s a change of pace and a way to mix up the way the curriculum is delivered. 

And when kids are learning in an environment where they’re energised and engaged, they will retain more!

Developing Social Skills

School excursions often require students to spend time in small groups, observing, chatting and learning.

Kids get divided into groups with people they might not usually mix with - and sometimes even students from other schools. 

Throw in team building exercises, problem solving tasks and the additional stimulation from the natural environment - or wherever the excursion is - and it’s a fantastic opportunity for growth. 

Enhancing the Student/Teacher dynamic

School excursions help the students see their teacher out of the school environment - yet still in a professional setting.

The teacher and the group create shared memories, spending far more time together than they would on an average school day.

Teachers are also able to get to know students outside the classroom, getting a better idea of their interests and how they learn. 

New Cultural Experiences

Excursions allow the kids to have new experiences and observe new things that are not available at school - things like rare and exotic wildlife and plants, different cultures and the stories of our history. 

This personal involvement and the memories created leads to a deeper understanding of the learning subject.

The students can witness and understand the hardships faced by others, both now and throughout history. 

It helps to develop their understanding of different cultures, races and religions - and learn to value them.

A Langley’s Excursion

Teachers understand, better than anyone, the benefits of school excursions. 

They are always working to give their students the best possible learning experience in the classroom.

We can step in and help, when it comes to giving them the best - outside the classroom. 

And not just with transport! Though I will say, our bus drivers are the absolute best. You won’t find anyone else with their knowledge and enthusiasm.

But it’s our itinerary planning skills that can be best utilised. We can handle all the logistics for you. Because of our connections in the travel industry, we know the best places to stay.

And because of our long history of planning school trips - we know the best learning experiences too. 

And this great country of ours is a gold mine! Every town, every community has a story to tell.

We can organise your school excursion from start to finish - the activities, the accomodation and the transport. 

Just think of us as your school excursion fairy godmother! 

If you, or someone you know, could do with some help planning a school excursion, give us a call. We would love to assist!

We’ve also written a blog filled with ideas for school excursions - have a read for some inspiration.