ARCturus

A visit to a foreign institute that carries out astronomical research or teaching needs plenty of planning and contacting with the hosts. It is easier to arrange a visit to the teachers than to the students. But even when the visit is an official one there is a bunch of bureaucratic paper work to be done in order to arrange the financing and permits needed. A visit for students causes some extra work, such as fundraising, the parents’ commitment to assisting activities as well as the security arrangements. A successful excursion for the students is the best ’thank you’ to the participating teachers and the school.

Aim: To plan a visit either to the teachers or the students to some astronomical institute abroad.

 

Choosing where to go: A place to visit can be a well-known historical observatory with its observation equipment and exhibitions, a science centre with an exhibition space for astronomy or an astronomical research centre with its big telescopes. A whole city full of astronomical history and devices is also an option for a visit. A good example of such a city is Rome. Also many other southern European cities fulfill the same requirements.

 

Implementation: One of the first activities is to be in contact with the personnel in charge in the place of visit. If the excursion is meant for students, it is worthwhile to find a similar group of students there and let our students get to know them in advance via social media. The question of funding is another problem to be solved. It definitely needs more than one school year to raise funds for a trip like this. It is worthwhile for the students to get acquainted with the place of the visit in advance with the help of the Internet. They can, working in teams or groups, prepare introductions of the visit place and its interesting items. The group can also prepare introductory presentations before the trip of their home country and school for the twinned class in the city visited.

 

Funding: It is good to start the fundraising of a student excursion trip in an early phase of planning the trip, i.e. as early as 2-3 years before the trip. In addition to this, it is necessary to get the parents and caretakers very early involved in the planning of the trip and in fundraising, as well as ensure their participation in joint activities to implement the trip. The group also has an option to apply for an allowance granted by the educational authorities or some other suitable organizations.  The aim of the trip, all plans and especially the funding plan must be well argued and included in the application. The students can raise extra funds by arranging happenings, selling various products as well as participating in the events at school by being in charge of, for instance, a café. Sometimes the parents pay the needed amount of money to the school just to give their child a possibility to join in a very rewarding and fruitful excursion trip.

 

Pondering: A common problem which is familiar to everyone who plans an excursion trip for the students is the absence of the students from the trip. The reason for being absent may simply be the lack of money. Although the class has made substantial efforts to raise funds and everyone has taken part in that activity, there still is a certain need for private money to meet private needs. The situation is quite different with those who just don’t want to set off for the journey. They must continue their studies at school according to their schedule in some other class. As to the participants, their parents need to provide the leaders with information on the dietary needs of their children before the trip. It is also necessary to know the health issues and other things that should be taken into account during the trip.

 

Gains of the trip: After returning from the trip, the group usually is eager to arrange an event for their parents and the personnel of the school, in which they tell stories of their trip and express their gratitude to those who have supported them and made the successful trip possible. If the timeframe allows, the group can make an illustrated story on the wall of the school for all students to see. Maybe it inspires also other classes to make plans for the same kind of an excursion. This kind of a story is also a valuable plus to the archives of the school.

 

Hints: Reserve enough time for the acquisition of passports and visas. The group leader must take copies of the passports with him as well as leave another copy of them at school. It is important to find out the need for visas in the early phase of the planning.

 

Keywords: Astronomical observatory, planetarium, history of astronomy, observation tools, observatory.

 

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