If you have the luxury of going off campus for community-based instruction (CBI) for your program, you know that this can be a really fun and educational time, but it can also be very stressful!  Being in an unstructured environment with little to no support can be a daunting task.  My classroom typically goes off campus a minimum of once a week, so here are some of the tips I have learned on what to pack to better prepare yourself and your class for your outing!

BACKPACK

I personally like to use a backpack to put everything in.  I like being hands-free unlike a shoulder bag, and backpacks can usually hold a good amount of items.

School business cards/ID

It’s inevitable, it is a possibility that behavior incidents might happen while you are off campus.  Depending on the scenario, sometimes things get damaged, people get upset…etc.  Having your ID on (visibly attached you is ideal) will first help identify you as a school staff – this sometimes help alleviate some issues as people will have more of an understanding for what is happening.  Having a school/admin business card on hand for a manager or upset person to contact your admin can be helpful as well if the issue is beyond what you are able to do or explain – if you’re in the middle of dealing with a behavior, you’ll want all of your attention on the safety of the student.

BINDER CONTAINING:

Student emergency forms

This will include forms that have parent/caregiver contact info, seizure action plans, allergies and so on.  If god forbid you have to call emergency responders for an emergency, having all of this information on hand can be the difference in saving a life.

Receipt or Confirmation

If you have a reservation to a museum or someplace that requires admission, it’s always a good idea to have a printed receipt on hand!  Last thing you want to happen is ruin your trip when you show up and get turned away because they “can’t find you in the system”.

Map/Directions

Depending on your situation – if you have a bus driver – it’s helpful to have a map or directions printed out (or on your phone) in case of emergency.

Student/staff list

Even if you have all of the names of your staff and students memorized, going off campus can be chaotic and you’ll have a ton of other things on your mind.  If you have a list of staff and student names readily available, this will come in handy for keeping track of everyone and making sure no one is lost.  Do a roll call every so often and especially before you leave your destination to go back to school.

Timeline of events/locations

As I had mentioned earlier, going off campus can be chaotic.  Keep your group in check by having a timeline.  It is also a great idea to print extra lists for your staff as well in case you get split apart or they can help stay on schedule.  Some students also like to be frontloaded and see what is next, so a schedule will be a great visual for these students.

CLIPBOARD

Student IEP goals & data sheets

If your students have goals like finding items on a shopping list, waiting in line, shopping etiquette, making a transaction, identifying community signs…etc it’s a good idea to bring a list of what those goals are and data sheets to collect data.  Here are some community goal ideas you can download for free!

If you don’t already know, check out how to use QR codes to take data on Google Forms, this is a super convenient way to collect data without the hassle of carrying around a clipboard. Click HERE to learn more.

Shopping List

If you go grocery shopping, bring a grocery list!  Even if you personally have that list memorized, this is a great opportunity to have students practice finding items on the list.  Also, nothing worse than forgetting to get something because you didn’t have a list!  Check out this visual grocery shopping list:

MEDICAL ITEMS:

• Basic first aide supplies
• Medications you are approved to administer
• Epi-pen
• Wipes & sanitary items
• Hand sanitizer
• Gloves

EXTRAS:

• Water/Snacks
• Fidgets or Reinforcing items
• Hat/Sun Glasses depending on the trip
• Wallet or Money bag if you are grocery shopping or holding students’ lunch money etc.

Community-Based Instruction Resources You Might Enjoy:

Thanks for reading!