Need something done? Ask a busy person

Leaders of group travel for young people tend to be busy people. Try and find other people in your group who can take some of the responsibilities from you. Young people when given responsibilities can rise to the occasion and it gives them the opportunity to contribute to the trip. Find an easy chair and think through your tour or camp. What can you delegate? Perhaps create some responsibilities for teams. Try and ensure the responsibilities are written down, that way there is no confusion. Your role on tour then becomes one of monitoring others rather than doing everything yourself.

Providing Free Time on Tour or Camp

We all like to have the freedom to do our own thing. However when it comes to teenagers, they often don't know how to manage their own free time, resulting in something broken or damaged (and sometimes that's a person). A good approach is to tell your group of students it is free time until dinner, that means you can do any of these three options. The young people think they have had freedom, yet it is structured within boundaries.

Functional English Exercises In each issue of "Splashing Down"we will endeavour to provide a functional English exercise for those of you working in language training. English used in real life experiences put language learning into a more meaningful context. Take a cruise around Sydney Harbour, a tram ride in Melbourne or a bus ride in Suva. Rather than buying the tickets yourself, allow a little extra time. Get the students to purchase their own ticket (or for a small group if you have large numbers). Stand near them when they approach the ticketmaster in case they have difficulties. A simple exercise like this may give them the confidence they need to see that language learning is more than an academic exercise.

An introduction to Australian and Fijian Splash Down

Any where, any size any budget. That's the mandate of Australian Splash Down and its Fijian counterpart. We recognize the complex management that travel presents for the organizer of a group of young people and aim to ensure your logistics are as carefree as possible. The Splash Down companies take flexible approaches so you can focus on building group dynamics rather than the day's itinerary. One of these flexible approaches involves developing automated e-processes. Try designing your own tour at the ozsplashdown web site. So, whether it's for education or recreation - we'll make sure your "splash down" meets your expectations.

If you'd like to know more about the Splash Down companies, please contact us.   Mark Laraghy (Master of Education, Administration) Director