As an activity director, organizing outdoor events for high school students can be challenging but rewarding. Outdoor activities provide opportunities for students to socialize, learn new skills, and enjoy the great outdoors. However, hosting safe and fun outdoor activities requires proper planning, preparation, and execution. In this guide, we'll provide you with tips and ideas to host safe and enjoyable outdoor activities for high school students.

Choose a Suitable Location

The location of your outdoor activity is crucial to its success. You'll need to select a place that is safe, accessible, and appropriate for your intended activities. Before deciding on a location, you'll need to consider factors such as weather conditions, available facilities, and proximity to emergency services.

For instance, if you're planning a camping trip, you'll need to ensure that the camping site has adequate facilities such as clean restrooms, running water, and first-aid services. You'll also need to check the weather forecast to avoid any unexpected weather conditions such as rain or strong winds.

Conduct a Risk Assessment

Once you've selected a suitable location, you'll need to conduct a risk assessment to identify potential hazards and take appropriate measures to mitigate them. Some of the risks you'll need to consider include weather conditions, terrain, and the activities planned.

For instance, if you're planning a hiking trip, you'll need to assess the trail's difficulty level, the distance, and the safety precautions required. You'll also need to ensure that students are adequately prepared with appropriate clothing, footwear, and supplies.

Establish Safety Guidelines

Establishing safety guidelines is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of students during the outdoor activity. You'll need to communicate the safety guidelines to students, parents, and staff before the event. Some of the safety guidelines you'll need to consider include:

Avoiding risky behavior such as alcohol or drug use

Staying within designated areas

Using appropriate safety gear such as helmets, life jackets, and sunscreen

Following the buddy system

Contacting emergency services in case of an emergency

Provide Adequate Supervision

Providing adequate supervision is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of students during the outdoor activity. You'll need to ensure that there are enough staff members to supervise the students throughout the event. The staff members should be adequately trained in outdoor safety, first-aid, and emergency response.

You'll also need to assign staff members to different areas of the event to ensure that all students are adequately supervised. For instance, if you're planning a water activity such as swimming, you'll need to assign staff members to the water area to ensure that students are safe while swimming.

Plan Fun Activities

Planning fun activities is essential to ensure that students enjoy the outdoor event. You'll need to select activities that are appropriate for the location, age group, and interests of the students. Some of the outdoor activities you can consider include:

Hiking

Camping

Swimming

Canoeing or kayaking

Biking

Zip-lining

Geocaching

You can also consider organizing outdoor games such as capture the flag, relay races, or scavenger hunts. These games are not only fun but also promote teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Encourage Student Involvement

Encouraging student involvement is crucial to ensure that they feel part of the event. You can involve students in the planning and execution of the event by assigning them specific roles such as:

Setting up equipment

Assisting with first-aid

Organizing games or activities

Documenting the event through photos or videos

By involving students, you'll not only enhance their leadership and organizational skills but also create a sense of ownership and pride in the event.

About Omella

With Omella, high school clubs can easily collect donations and raise funds. The platform alsooffers various tools to help set up a fundraiser, track donations, and share club campaigns with the community.

In addition to fundraising, Omella also makes it easy to manage club forms and collect digital signatures from club members. Whether it's permission slips, registration forms, or waivers, you can upload and share your forms with members, who can easily fill them out and sign them online.

One of the biggest benefits of Omella is its user-friendly interface, which is designed to be easy for both, club leaders and members. You can set up your account and start using the platform in minutes, without the need for any technical expertise or training.