53.0 Overview
Field trips are when volunteers accompany children on outings or excursions to support supervision, engagement, and participation. If an outing requires extra planning and/or transport, it is considered a field trip.
53.1 Purpose
The purpose of field trips is to:
• Support children through attentive and caring adult presence
• Encourage participation, engagement, and positive social interaction
• Provide meaningful experiences outside of the normal routine
• Help children feel included, supported, and safe during outings
• Strengthen relationships through shared experiences and activities
53.2 Coordination and Planning
All field trips are coordinated through the Operations Coordinator (OC).
Because every outing is different, the Operations Coordinator is responsible for organizing and communicating details such as:
• Transportation arrangements
• Who will attend
• Volunteer assignments
• Scheduling and timing
• Supplies or materials needed
• Food, hydration, or weather considerations
• Site-specific instructions or expectations
• Safety considerations and logistics
Volunteers should not independently organize field trips or make separate arrangements involving children outside of approved OSSO and orphanage coordination.
Field trips should only move forward once plans have been communicated and approved through the appropriate leadership structure.
53.4 Orphanage Staff Presence
OSSO volunteers do not take children on field trips independently.
Members of the orphanage or partner-site staff must always accompany the group during field trips and outings involving children. Orphanage staff maintain responsibility for the children throughout the outing, while volunteers serve in a supportive role.
Volunteers should:
• Follow the direction of orphanage staff and OSSO leadership during outings
• Communicate concerns or questions directly to supervising staff
• Work collaboratively with staff to support supervision and engagement
If a situation arises where volunteers are unexpectedly left alone with children, volunteers should immediately contact leadership for guidance.
53.5 Volunteer Expectations During Field Trips
Field trips are considered active service responsibilities, not personal recreation time.
• Volunteers are expected to:
• Remain attentive and engaged throughout the outing
• Stay with the assigned group unless directed otherwise
• Prioritize child supervision and safety
• Participate actively with the children
• Help children feel included and supported
• Maintain awareness of schedules, meeting points, and transportation logistics
• Model respectful and appropriate public behavior
• Dress appropriately for the activity, environment, and cultural expectations
Volunteers should avoid:
• Excessive phone use or distractions
• Wandering away from the group
• Treating the outing primarily as sightseeing or personal free time
• Purchasing gifts or special items for individual children
• Sharing photos or videos that violate OSSO media or privacy policies
53.6 Volunteer Expectations During Field Trips
Safety during transportation and public outings is a priority.
Volunteers must:
• Follow transportation instructions provided by leadership
• Help children safely load, unload, and transition between locations
• Remain aware of assigned children at all times
• Use seatbelts whenever available
• Immediately report concerns, injuries, incidents, or emergencies to leadership
When walking in public spaces, volunteers should:
• Stay together as a group
• Keep children within visible range
• Exercise heightened awareness in crowded or unfamiliar environments
Volunteers should never independently transport children.
53.7 Volunteer Expectations During Field Trips
Field trips often place children in exciting or overstimulating environments. Volunteers should help create a calm, positive, and supportive atmosphere throughout the outing.
Volunteers should:
• Encourage inclusion and participation
• Be patient with emotional or behavioral challenges
• Redirect behavior calmly and respectfully
• Support children in following instructions and expectations
• Help children feel emotionally safe and included
Volunteers represent OSSO during all outings and are expected to conduct themselves professionally and responsibly.
53.8 Volunteer Expectations During Field Trips
Any injury, illness, safety concern, behavioral issue, transportation problem, or emergency should be reported immediately to the orphanage staff member, Operations Coordinator, or DOVE supervising the outing.
If an emergency occurs:
1. Prioritize immediate child safety
2. Notify leadership immediately
3. Follow instructions from orphanage staff and OSSO leadership
4. Complete any required incident reporting afterward
Volunteers should not make independent medical, disciplinary, or transportation decisions beyond immediate safety intervention unless directed by leadership.