District Use

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** If Prompted for Password Click 'Cancel' ** ------------- TOP REQUESTS ----------------- Teacher Preparation Checklist -Overnight Personal Equipment List - Overnight Personal Equipment List - Day Group Equipment List - Overnight Cabin Group Template Phone Numbers to Know Letter to Parents - Day Letter to Parents - Overnight Letter to Parent Helpers - Overnight ---------------------- FOOD ------------------------- Shopping List - Sample1 Menu - Sample1 Shopping List - Sample2 Menu - Sample2 --------- STUDENT/LEADER/TEACHER WORKBOOKS ----------- Overnight-Template --------- SCHEDULES / ITINERARIES ----------- Overnight-Grade 5-Nov Overnight-Grade 6-May Overnight-Grade 6-7-Nov

A Survival Guide for Teachers	Get A Teacher's Handbook Send Me One
Just the Basics Please! The Essentials Booking Procedures Planning Overview Using High School Leaders and Adopted Foresters

How do Schools use the McQueen Lake Facilities?

The McQueen Lake facilities are used by all grades and with many different objectives. However, generally speaking, this is how the facilities are used:

Grades
• The overnight centre is generally used by grades 4-7, while most of the day-centre groups (McQueen Day Centre or Isobel Lake Day Centre) tend to be used by K-3.
  
  Season
• The overnight centre is utilized throughout the school year whereas the day centres get most of their use in May-June. More people should use them in the fall!
  
  Time of Week
• Groups usually go to the overnight centre from either Monday-Wednesday, or Wednesday-Friday. The day centres are used throughout the week.

What About Food and Other Supplies

Generally speaking, groups have to take care of themselves. Although there is a kitchen and basic cooking utensils, groups need to provide their own food and dishes. See the equipment list in the Teacher's Handbook or view it in the list of common docs at the top of this page.

Although the cabins have bunks and are heated, each student needs to bring a sleeping bag and foamy.

What are the Costs?

Each school is given a certain number of paid trips (bussing only) based on their student numbers. The only additional costs are:

• Food on overnight trips - generally $25.00/ student will cover this.
• Rental of skis or snowshoes $5/student/trip
• Lost compasses,whistles,etc. - $ varies.

Transportation?

Most groups book a district bus for either the day or overnight centres (see Booking Procedures). Some groups provide their own transportation by pooling parent vehicles. Please check with your administrator in regards to district and school policies and procedures.

How do I Book a Trip?

Refer to the Booking Procedures portion of this page.

Supervision?

Overnight Centre - It is recommended that a ratio of 1 supervisor (parent/teacher/high school leader) be present for every 6 students. Having too many parents can also cause problems with the overall management of the trip.

Day Centres - A ratio of 1 supervisor for every 10 students is recommended.

More Help?

• The Site - Book a site orientation for yourself.
• Pre-Trip - Get the Resource Teacher to visit your class and do a pre-trip orientation with them. This really helps to prepare the group and reinforce expectations for a safe and enjoyable stay.

• McQueen Lake Resource Teacher - activities and curriculum.
• High School Leaders and Adopted Foresters

-CONTACT US- See bottom of page.

General

Careful pre-planning is essential for a safe trip. If potential problems are thought out in advance, precious time may be saved in the event of an emergency, and much panic and confusion avoided.
Preventative pre-planning should consist of:

• being knowledgeable of on-site resource people,emergency communication equipment, and safety equipment.
• assessing probable weather conditions and appropriate equipment required to deal with conditions.
• assessing potential hazards, e.g. lakes, ice, cooking facilities, fires
• drawing up comprehensive timetables, maps and rules of conduct.
• ensuring that both parents/helpers and children are familiar with the above.

Seasonal

Safety requirements change with the season.
Many potential dangerous situations may be avoided by:

• ensuring that children are properly dressed.
• providing proper supervision--additional parents/helpers may be needed in winter.
• preventing overexertion and dehydration, which is a common cause of headache and nausea.
• being alert to first signs of hypothermia, frostbite and hyperthermia.
• considering appropriate equipment for the season.
• checking with McQueen Lake staff regarding ice and snow conditions in winter.

Safety Checklist

• At least one vehicle on site for emergencies
• Mcqueen Lake phone number posted in school office: 320-0797
• Spare first aid kit. First aid kit located in the caretaker's residence, the stretcher is in the pumphouse (at overnight center). The caretaker (Dan Sargent) is a qualified first aid attendant.
• list of children drawn up (note medic alerts and allergies)
• establish a buddy system and/or other means by which to effectively monitor individuals in your group.
• concept established that students have a responsibility for their own physical safety and condition.
• code of conduct established
• appropriateness of clothing and equipment checked prior to departure from school
• potential hazards assessed (fires, ice, weather
• special equipment needs (insect repellant-June, extra sleeping bags)
• students given clear instructions on what to do if lost

General

In order to assist with booking of the site
the following procedures are outlined:

1. The decision as to which classes or groups of students go to McQueen Lake is a school-based decision and should be approved by the Principal.
2. If your school has already used their yearly trip allowance, have a budget code ready (usually the field-trip budget code).
3. Schools should submit booking requests before September but not before May 12th. There are trip allocation restrictions in effect to ensure that all schools get a fair chance at booking a trip. Additional trips can be booked after September, if space is available and a school budget code accompanies the request.
4. Bookings will be processed as they are received. Schools should indicate a preference by season, in case their first choice can not be satisfied. Teachers should indicate at time of booking if they want to employ high school leaders.
5. Every effort will be made to satisfy requests for special times. A waiting list will be maintained, if a preferred time is unavailable.
6. The Overnight Centre can accommodate more than one class per booking, but additional transportation for supplies and students will be required. Transportation regulations restrict seating to 70 passengers per bus and luggage height can not exceed the height of the back of the seats. Skis and skates involve special transportation requirements.
7. Please contact the McQueen Lake office if you are considering a double booking so we can assist with the arrangements.
8. Cancellations: Each year cancellations for the Overnight Centre occur for various reasons. When this happens with less than three weeks notice, it is difficult to book another class into the vacancy. This becomes even more problematic when High School Leaders are involved. Please give at least three weeks notice of a cancellation.
9. Bookings should be made through the Henry Grube Education Centre booking office. Contact Barbie Davies at 376-2266. She will want to collect general information such as the preferred trip date, center being used, school, grade, and class size. In addition, it is helpful to know the approximate number of parent helpers and whether you would like to request the assistance of high school leaders.

This section is designed to give an overview of the planning process for a McQueen Lake field trip.

• Setting Objectives
  • for students
  • for parents/helpers
  • for teacher

• Student Preparation
  • knowledge base
  • knowledge of site regulations and facilities
  • knowledge of behaviour standards

• Parent Communication
  • information sent
  • permission slips

• In-school arrangements
  • principal support/approval
  • arrangements made for students unable to attend

• Booking
  • site
  • transportation (at least one vehicle on site for emergency transportation)
  • inservice (recommended for those new to McQueen)

• Orientation to site
  • teacher
  • students (book a pre-trip orientation with the resource teacher (see bottom of page))
  • parents/helpers

• Resources
  • McQueen Lake Handbook (philosophy, regulations, lesson samples)
  • McQueen Lake staff (school visit, planning assistance, on site assistance)
  • HGEC catalog (support information and equipment)

• Equipment
  • ordered, familiar with usage
  • check-list for students/parents
  • arrangements made for students unable to provide basics
  • group equipment planned for (matches, maps, chart paper, pencils...)
  • additional cooking equipment if required (lodge has basics)
  • cleanup supplies (dish towels, soap...)

• Food Arrangements
  • menu planning
  • tools and utensils
  • organization for preparation of food
  • shopping
  • costs (usually $25.00/student is sufficient)

• Parents/helpers
  • orientation
  • information (background, philosophy, student and leader expectations, site regulations, timetables, maps)
  • responsibilities
  • meeting(s) and/or letter(s)
  • groups assigned
  • ratio for supervision (primary 6:1, 8:1 grade 4 and up)
  • parents with special skills noted

• On-site plans
  • teacher's role (ideally to coordinate and oversee)
  • programme (activities, assignments, journals)
  • itinerary
  • groups (duties and responsibilities
  • background info (maps, concepts to be explored)

• Follow-up
  • student activities
  • evaluation (teacher, students, high school leaders)
  • acknowledgements
  • return materials and equipment
• For more detailed planning information, please see
  The Teacher's Handbook

An Overview

• Contact the student(s) well in advance of your trip and have them agree to confirm with you again at a time closer to your departure.
• Discuss where they will meet you in order to get to the center. Usually, either the school or at the base of Lac duBois road are the best arrangements.
• Students have a leader manual with basic activities, games, as well as a basic campfire/evening program. Discuss their assistance with these programs.
• Students are trained to support your program. They are not teachers, but are expected to have enough initiative to assist students during a lesson and to help with clean-up etc. Expect this from them.
  
• Students are completely aware of their responsibilities while in the cabins with the children. Their training focused heavily on their conduct as a role model and the well being of the children. Expect nothing less than excellence in this area.
  
• Leaders are especially well used during transition times (meal prep & clean-up). Again, their manual contains basic activities that they can do with the students during these times.
  
• Please ensure that you fill out their "EMPLOYER" evaluation forms. This is how they get credit for their time. A lengthy evaluation is not necessary. Do the basics and comment where appropriate.
• Please visit the high school leader page for more details if you plan on using these students.

Adopt a Forester Program

Each school in the district has professional foresters assigned to them. If you make arrangements with prior to your trip, they will meet you at McQueen and assist you with forest environment related programs. Go to the Adopt a Forester main page to find out more.