Flooded In

Making the Call on Weather-Related Excursion Changes

One time we were flooded in on one of our Year 9 programs and thankfully, we were flooded in in a good way.

How can you be flooded in "in a good way," you ask? Well, last year we were flooded to the point of a full campus evacuation that ended with me sleeping on a gym mat for the night. This time, we are all on site, the right decisions have been made about changing activities, and everyone is warm and dry. The difference is proactive school excursion risk management.

The Power of Proactive Monitoring

We had been watching this weather front on the Bureau of Meteorology for days, so it was no surprise when the deluge hit. This is why regular weather checks are so important; they reduce your risk and can save you from having to deal with bad situations you never needed to be in.

Our planned canoeing, abseiling and archery sessions were all correctly cancelled. Our upcoming three-day expedition is also in doubt. But these are not panicked, last-minute decisions; they are the calm execution of a pre-planned strategy.

Character Building vs. Unacceptable Risk

Sometimes, taking students out in adverse weather can be character-building. A bit of rain on a hike can build resilience. However, a situation involving flooding and blocked roads is not a character-building opportunity, it presents an unacceptable level of risk.

Knowing where to draw that line is a critical skill for any trip leader. It’s a judgment call that is sharpened and supported by high-quality risk management training for teachers. The goal is to challenge students, not to expose them to unmanageable hazards.

This is where school excursion risk assessment software is invaluable. With Xcursion Planner, live weather feeds are built in and you can have your pre-approved indoor contingency plans (in our case, lessons) and use the communication tools to instantly notify all staff and parents of a change to the itinerary for your sports, camps, or trips.

The bottom line is that changing plans and rethinking activities in the face of seriously hazardous weather is not a failure of the program. It is a sign of a successful and professional operational management strategy that prioritizes the wellbeing of everyone in your care.