Chaperoning a trip to Hershey Park

[Anonymous]

I'm chaperoning a group of 5th graders on a trip to Hershey Park. Does anyone have any tips on managing them,m and what rides they all want to do, what to bring, anything else? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Get their cell phone numbers.

[Anonymous]

Duck tape and velcro.

[Anonymous]

How many kids?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't leave them. I'd make them all go on the same rides. Having their cell numbers is good, too, just in case one runs off.

And I'd start a text thread before setting foot in Hershey Park.

It's not worth the headache of having to set times and places to meet. The last time we chaperoned seniors at King's Dominion, we caught one drinking a beer.

[Anonymous]

Are these kids all going to have cell phones? Unless it was a requirement, it never would have occurred to me to send my 5th grader with one.

I think that you take them around in a group. Do the ride, then move in a pack to the next ride. Anyone who doesn't want to ride that one sits at the bottom. Some things are close enough together that you could wait in the middle of two rides while kids split up and did two different things.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I'm not sure how many yet. I think 8-10 all boys. Yikes! I hope they have cell phones. Mine doesn't but that why I'm going. Hershey has an app.

[Anonymous]

Bring a roadie.

[Anonymous]

My HIGH SCHOOLER just went on a trip to Hershey and they made all the kids stay with the chaperone! I was surprised when my son told me.
My son's chaperone was the college age older sibling of one of the other kids, which I'm sure was a lot more fun than the kids with a 50 year old mom as the chaperone.

[Anonymous]

Set ground rules ahead of time. No slipping away, no monkey business, respect the other park goers.

Then remind them about sunscreen and water. I would keep a small first aid kit in my bag and extra granola bars to hand out if need be. Kids don't always remember to take care of themselves and refuel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get their cell phone numbers.

For 5th graders? My DC is in 5th and and he and none of his friends have cell phones.

[Anonymous]

Make them stay with you at that age. If there are two rides near each other, some can go on one and some can go on the other. I wouldn't send me 5th grader with my phone and he doesn't have his own. Bring a backpack with mini water bottles that they can refill. Bring sunscreen. Make a plan for what to do if one of the kids gets lost. I am a teacher and I think a group of 8-10 boys (kids in general) is too much for just one chaperone.

[Anonymous]

Hershey Park is very family friendly. The plan would be to go on Fahrenheit first as it is by far the slowest line in the park. After that we usually go to Skyrush, Super Dooper Looper, Great Bear, and the back of the park. Then we do the water park in the middle of the day. Then we do the wooden roller coasters, the mouse, etc...

What you need to find out first is that all the kids are going to go on the rides. The biggest problem you will have is a few kids who wimp out on rides. Also, the water park is insanely crowded and the kids will be all over. I would set a meeting place and hang out there.

[Anonymous]

I am surprised by the amount of supervision other posters have in mind. I would exchange cell numbers, plant myself in a couple places and let them know where I am at the time, meet up for lunch, and turn them loose. A place like Hershey is family friendly and all the rides should be enough to keep them from
doing something really silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get their cell phone numbers.

For 5th graders? My DC is in 5th and and he and none of his friends have cell phones.

Mine either. Although we do have an extra "go phone" that we give to visiting relatives from overseas. $2 a day only when used. I'd charge it up and give it to my son for this trip. Maybe other parents do the same thing. I'd at least ask for cell phone numbers, if they have them.