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Helping you plan

your Big Trip

 
 
   
 
 

Getting Started

 

In the beginning….. there are the questions?

 

 

The usual questions: When, Where, Who, How & Why?

WHERE?

Where do you want to go? The possibilities are endless it just depends on your group.

WHY?

Why do you want to do this trip? What is the reason for your trip?  Is it to learn something? See our beautiful country? Just have fun? Get away from civilization? (there are lots of back country experiences out there) Go to the country? Go to a city?  It is your trip figure out what your group wants, I have more on how to figure this out later on in the guide book.

WHEN?

When do you want to go?  Is your trip a winter trip? Summer trip? Spring or Fall?  Will it work around school vacations?

HOW?

The How’s -  How will you get it done? How will you pay for it? How will you get there?  Lot’s of how’s and that is what this guide will help you plan for.

WHO?

Who is going?  Obviously your group but is it just for leaders and members or is it open to family members?  Just adult family members or are siblings allowed?  This is your group and your trip it ultimately is the leaderships decision also make sure it works with your groups rules (like the Boy Scouts have, to clear the troops plan by the Council above the troop).

 

 

Planning Team

 

You need one!


What is the benefit of the planning team?  They can help take the pressure off the regular leaders of the group.

Who can be in the planning team?  That is up to you, it should be made up of people with some expertise in the area (even if they are not going on the trip), people going on the trip, people with travel expertise, people who have been on a similar trip in the past anybody who thinks they can help!

What is the goal of the team? To plan your trip!, including itineraries, gear, food, prep work, transportation, etc…

What is the teams responsibilities?  How much of the trip is your group planning? How much will you do and how much will you “subcontract” out to a planner? 

What choices will be done as a group?  Will decisions be solo and not require the group?  You have the power, our philosophy was to have as much of it be group choices and if possible it should be the decision of the entire group.  Of course the majority of the little details don’t work for a large group to make figure it out but this is ultimately up to you and your team.

Who will lead the team?  Maybe the head of the organization but it doesn’t have to be maybe someone who just wants to dedicate to making the trip happen.

 

 

 

How long do you need to plan and raise money?

 

Planning Time Frame – How Big of trip is it?  How many days? How Many People?  How many miles are you covering? How many areas are you visiting? – These are all factors in planning time; the more areas, the bigger the trip the more time you will need to plan it out.

Fundraising Timing - How much money do you need?  How many people are helping?  How ambitious is your group?  These are all questions that need to be asked when talking about your fundraising plan.  Fundraisers and ideas for fundraisers will be talked about in a later point of the guide but your timing needs to be planned so you know how long you have to earn your money.

Some things to consider when looking at the fundraising and timing – it affects how much you will be asking participants to give and when they give.  What happens if you don’t make your goal?  Set your goal very conservative and if you go over it will only help lower costs or give you a reserve for the “unexpected” expenses.

 

 

 

 
       
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