Educational Excursion Facilitator in Virginia Career Overview
As an Educational Excursion Facilitator, you play a significant role in the educational landscape by designing and orchestrating experiential learning opportunities outside the traditional classroom setting. This position is essential for fostering curiosity, enhancing knowledge retention, and promoting social skills among students.
Key responsibilities and aspects of your role include:
Planning and Coordination: You collaborate with educators to identify learning objectives and create educational excursions that align with curriculum standards. This involves selecting appropriate venues, coordinating transportation, and ensuring all logistical details are addressed.
Facilitating Learning Experiences: During excursions, you guide participants in engaging activities and discussions, helping them connect theoretical knowledge to real-world applications. You act as a bridge between academic content and practical experiences, enriching the overall learning process.
Safety and Compliance: Ensuring the safety of students is paramount. You are responsible for implementing safety protocols, managing risk assessments, and complying with local regulations and guidelines. This ensures a secure environment for all participants.
Evaluation and Feedback: After each excursion, you gather feedback from participants and educators to assess the effectiveness of the experience and make necessary improvements for future outings. This evaluation process ensures that the excursions continually meet educational goals.
Your role as an Educational Excursion Facilitator is vital in expanding educational opportunities, making learning more dynamic and engaging, and helping students develop a deeper appreciation for their studies through hands-on experiences.
Educational Excursion Facilitator Salary in Virginia
Data sourced from Career One Stop, provided by the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics wage estimates.
Required Education To Become an Educational Excursion Facilitator in Virginia
To become an Educational Excursion Facilitator in Virginia, you will need to pursue relevant educational qualifications and training. Here are the programs that can adequately prepare you for this role:
Community Health and Preventive Medicine
- This program provides a foundation in public health principles and practices, equipping you with knowledge on health promotion, disease prevention, and community well-being.
Community Health Counseling and Liaison Services
- This degree enables you to develop skills in counseling and coordinating health services within a community context, which is beneficial for facilitating educational excursions that focus on health and wellness.
Education of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances
- Completing this program prepares you to support and educate individuals with emotional challenges, ensuring that educational excursions are inclusive and considerate of diverse needs.
Elementary Education and Teaching
- A degree in this field will help you understand child development and effective teaching strategies, vital for facilitating educational experiences for younger audiences.
Environmental Education
- This program specifically focuses on teaching principles related to the environment, equipping you with the knowledge to effectively guide excursions that highlight ecological topics and sustainability practices.
Pursuing any of these degree programs will provide you with essential knowledge and training pertinent to the role of an Educational Excursion Facilitator.
Best Schools to become a Educational Excursion Facilitator in Virginia 2024
Western Governors University
Grand Canyon University
Liberty University
James Madison University
Northern Arizona University
University of West Georgia
- Escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.
Educational Excursion Facilitator Required Skills and Competencies in Virginia
Communication Skills: You must possess strong verbal and written communication abilities to convey information clearly to diverse audiences, including students, parents, and educators.
Organizational Skills: Effective planning and organization are essential to coordinate logistics for excursions, manage schedules, and ensure that activities run smoothly.
Interpersonal Skills: Building rapport with participants and stakeholders is vital, as you will work closely with various groups and need to foster a positive environment.
Problem-Solving Skills: You should be able to think on your feet and address challenges as they arise during excursions, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all participants.
Adaptability: Flexibility is important as you encounter different group dynamics and varying environmental conditions, requiring quick adjustments to plans.
Leadership Abilities: You are expected to guide groups effectively, inspiring confidence and managing group behavior while promoting teamwork.
Cultural Awareness: A solid understanding of diverse backgrounds and cultural perspectives will enhance your ability to facilitate inclusive and respectful experiences.
Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with digital tools and platforms for communication, planning, and feedback collection is increasingly important in managing excursions.
First Aid and Safety Training: Being trained in first aid and emergency procedures is a critical competency to ensure participant safety during excursions.
Time Management: You need to effectively prioritize tasks and manage your time to meet deadlines while ensuring that all excursion components are appropriately addressed.
Job Duties for Educational Excursion Facilitators
Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
Customer relationship management CRM software
- Centaur Systems Centaur Travel Business Management System TBMS
- TourTech Systems TourTools
Electronic mail software
- Email software
- Microsoft Outlook
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Pear Deck
Basic Skills
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
- Talking to others
Social
- Looking for ways to help people
- Understanding people's reactions
Job Market and Opportunities for Educational Excursion Facilitator in Virginia
The job market for Educational Excursion Facilitators in Virginia reflects a robust demand in various sectors. As an Educational Excursion Facilitator, you will find a range of opportunities across educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and tourism-related industries.
Demand Characteristics:
- School districts increasingly recognize the value of hands-on learning experiences, driving demand for facilitators who can create educational excursions that enhance the curriculum.
- Educational institutions, particularly those offering experiential learning programs, seek professionals who can guide students in field trips and outdoor educational experiences.
- Non-profits focused on environmental education, historical preservation, and cultural enrichment are also ramping up their need for experienced facilitators.
Growth Potential:
- The growth potential within this profession is promising. With an increasing emphasis on experiential learning due to its benefits in student engagement and retention, the demand for qualified facilitators is expected to grow.
- Partnerships between schools, tourist attractions, and educational organizations are on the rise, fostering collaborations that expand the services offered by Educational Excursion Facilitators.
- The rise of technology and virtual experiences may also create hybrid roles, combining physical excursions with digital components, offering additional job opportunities as the industry evolves.
Geographical Hotspots:
- The Northern Virginia region, including areas such as Arlington and Fairfax County, is a significant hub for educational services and has a high concentration of schools and educational organizations seeking excursion facilitators.
- Richmond, the state capital, has various museums, historical sites, and outdoor venues that are integral to educational programming, creating additional opportunities in urban and suburban settings.
- Hampton Roads, with its rich maritime history and cultural attractions, also offers potential positions, especially during the peak tourism season where demand for educational excursions increases.
In summary, you can find a promising landscape in Virginia's job market for Educational Excursion Facilitators, fueled by the growing recognition of experiential learning's value and bolstered by geographical concentrations of potential employers.
Top Related Careers to Educational Excursion Facilitator 2024
Additional Resources To Help You Become an Educational Excursion Facilitator in Virginia
American Camp Association (ACA)
The ACA promotes the value of camp and provides resources for camp professionals, including those facilitating educational programs.
WebsiteNational Association for Interpretation (NAI)
NAI offers training and resources for professionals in interpretation, including educational excursion facilitators.
WebsiteVirginia Department of Education
Access curriculum guidelines, educational standards, and resources specific to Virginia schools that can aid in designing educational excursions.
WebsiteVirginia Museum of Natural History
Provides educational programs and resources that might be leveraged by facilitators when planning content for excursions.
WebsiteNational Park Service (NPS)
Explore educational resources and lesson plans related to outdoor education available at national parks across Virginia.
WebsiteAmerican Association of Museums (AAM)
Offers resources related to best practices in museum education and programming, useful for excursion planning.
WebsiteVirginia Tech Office of Outreach and International Affairs
Provides various outreach programs and partnerships for educators that could enhance the quality and reach of educational excursions.
WebsiteThe Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)
A network of science centers and museums that can provide insights and resources for designing STEM-related educational excursions.
WebsiteVirginia State Parks
Offers educational programs and resources for excursion facilitators interested in outdoor education and environmental science.
WebsiteEducational Travel Community (ETC)
A platform dedicated to the educational travel industry, providing resources and best practices for facilitators.
Website
Utilizing these resources can enhance your knowledge and effectiveness in the role of an Educational Excursion Facilitator, ensuring that you provide enriching experiences for participants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Educational Excursion Facilitator in Virginia
What is an Educational Excursion Facilitator?
An Educational Excursion Facilitator guides students and groups on field trips, ensuring educational goals are met while providing a safe and enriching experience. You will plan, oversee, and evaluate activities during excursions to enhance learning.What qualifications do I need to become an Educational Excursion Facilitator?
Typically, a degree in education, recreation management, or a related field is beneficial. Experience in teaching, event planning, or outdoor education can be advantageous. Additionally, certifications in first aid or CPR may be required.What skills are essential for this role?
Key skills include strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. You should also be adept at managing groups, possess leadership qualities, and have a passion for education and exploration.Where can I find employment as an Educational Excursion Facilitator?
Employment opportunities exist in schools, educational programs, museums, nature centers, and tour organizations. Networking within educational institutions and attending job fairs can also lead to openings.What does a typical day look like for an Educational Excursion Facilitator?
Your day may involve planning excursions, coordinating with educational institutions, leading groups, managing logistics, and ensuring safety protocols are followed. You may also need to evaluate the success of the excursion and gather feedback from participants.How do I find resources for planning excursions?
Various resources are available, including educational websites, local museums, nature reserves, and state parks. Collaborating with other educators or facilitators can also provide insights into successful planning and execution.Is there a demand for Educational Excursion Facilitators in Virginia?
Yes, Virginia's rich educational institutions, historical sites, and natural parks create a consistent demand for facilitators. The trend toward experiential learning continues to grow, further supporting this career path.What are the potential challenges in this role?
Common challenges include managing diverse group dynamics, handling unexpected changes (like weather conditions), and ensuring safety at all times. Strong organizational skills and the ability to adapt quickly are essential in overcoming these challenges.Can I work part-time as an Educational Excursion Facilitator?
Yes, many positions offer part-time opportunities, especially within schools or seasonal programs. Freelance or contract work is also common, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.What is the salary range for an Educational Excursion Facilitator in Virginia?
Salaries can vary widely based on experience, education, and the organization you work for. On average, you can expect to earn between $30,000 and $50,000 annually, with potential for higher earnings in more specialized roles or leadership positions.