Planning a trip

When planning a GS trip it is important to be mindful and thoroughly plan. Before actual travel, complete these steps to help come up with a trip fit for you.

Step 1: Build Your team/troop

Determine who would be interested in traveling. Determine the safety Activity Checkpoint number or registered and background checked adults needed. Figure out whose parents are coming along. Only when you build your team can you discuss travel as it is important to include everyone's opinion when deciding where to travel to.

Step 2: Reflect on Budget

Think about whether you would be able to raise enough money for overseas travel or localized travel. You cannot chose a destination until you reflect on how much money you will have to work with.

Step 3: Chose a destination

Decide based off budget where it is possible to travel. Are you traveling local or abroad? Listen to everyone's opinion. Build a list of possible options. Research each location to determine if the location is safe for Girl Scouts. Then vote on the possible options. This should be a generalized location. For example if traveling to London, say London, not go to the London Eye.

Step 4: Make Time frame

Determine if you are traveling there in a year or two weeks. This just needs to be loose. Instead of saying on July 20th 2020 we are traveling instead say in Summer of the year 2020.

Be realistic with the time frame to find out if you will have enough money to travel there by then or if it will take longer. Decide if you will stay there for a weekend or two weeks? Check with your council on paperwork and timeframes. This guide can help https://www.gscm.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gscm/documents/ResourcePacket_TripsTravel.pdf ( see page three)

Step 5: Build a plan for money earning

Figure out how you will raise money. It is key to stay connected with your team. Decide how you will stay connected with your troop. Will you have meetings once a month or once a week to discuss the trip and plan for money earning?

Step 6: Begin to earn money

Start to money earn. See if you are on own the right track to earn enough money in time. Will you need to add more or less money earners to arrive at enough money for the trip? Throughout the time money earning, up until the date you travel, be aware of your money. Keep tabs on how much money you still need to travel and be aware if it is still possible to travel. Make adjustments to money earning as needed.

Step 7: Chose exact date

Coordinate with your troop/team to decide an exact date or dates that work best for everyone. Make sure that the place you are going to is available during that time. For example, if you are going to stay at a camp make sure the camp is available during that time.

Step 8: Book transportation

If you are flying, taking the bus, taking a train... make sure you have the reservation in advance.

Step 9: Research things to do

Have everyone in the group chose a list of things they would like to do. Share the ideas with the entire group. Vote on everyone's favorites. Research the ideas and the proximity between each location you want to visit. Chose a reasonable amount of activities keeping in mind if you have downtime you can always go to a few others or cut one out if not enough time. Keep everyone opinion equal. Make sure everyone has at least one thing they want to do.

Step 10: Outline trip

Decide on which days everything is gonna occur. Create a loose itinerary that has flexibility. Keep in mind time to eat meals, transport, arrive, check bags... Reserve any necessary hotels, campsites, tours, tickets...

Step 11: Last minute checks and packing

Make sure everyone is prepared , packed with everything that could be needed, and that everyone knows the plan. Make sure you have enough money earned and that everyone has extra money to spend on the trip for souvenirs and food. Check safety activity check points to make sure the activities are GS approved.

Step 12: Travel

Remember to have fun and don't worry about the little details. Not everything will go to plan and if you miss one or two things because of time that is okay. Even the most experienced travelers make mistakes and it is important to keep this in mind.