Teacher Timeline

Open Enrollment Starts April 15 –

• Reservations are booked on a first come first served basis. Book your ELP / ELDP on our online Booking Calendar.

At the Beginning of the School Year –

• Familiarize yourself with the website extensively. Start with Teachers, Get Ready!
• Make necessary arrangements for the field trip with your school
• Plan out and begin to execute the Classroom Curriculum Ideas and Student Curriculum as soon as school starts
• Flag your calendar for the remaining items on this checklist

8 to 12 Weeks Before the Program –

• Distribute the information letters (ELP Field Trip Letter, Parent Meeting Agenda)
• Make sure the students and parents are assigned to their Activity Group
• Meet with the parents, discuss Activity Groups. Hand out printouts of the Activity Group webpages to each parent that is assigned to that group AND the Parent Contracts (or direct them to the website for them to review and sign)
• Integrate Classroom Curriculum Ideas and Student Curriculum into the classroom

4 to 8 Weeks Before the Program –

• Distribute the Items to Bring list to the students
• Each Activity Group parent should meet with their Activity Group students at least a few times to plan the on site visit such as menus, mapping, trade store preparations, hunting ideas, gardening plans, artisan project, etc
• Start teaching dance and music, such as the troika dance
• Make trade store items, and other possible items, such as a compass, journals, group banners, cook aprons & kerchiefs, water bottle bags, and pouches
• Continue to integrate Classroom Curriculum Ideas and Student Curriculum into the classroom

2 Weeks Before the Program –

• Make sure all permission slips, ER cards are turned in and all the FRC forms have been signed
• Meet with the Parent Leads in charge of Activity Groups
• Purchase all non-perishable items
• Email the ELP Manager and your ELP Instructor to discuss: special need(s) of your class, weather, etc. Respond promptly to all emails from the ELP Manager and your ELP Instructor so that the ELP staff can properly prepare for your program
• Please send your selected or customized schedule and read over the arrival protocol, confirm which Activity Groups are coming, and total number of participants. Remember to discuss significant deviations from the sample schedules with the ELP staff to make sure all changes are possible
• Continue to integrate Classroom Curriculum Ideas and Student Curriculum
• Review the Student Contract with your class
• Make sure you have everything on the Items to Bring list

Day Before the Program –

• Purchase remaining food items
• Review the car groups and arrival scenario with your students and drivers
• Review program schedule with your students and parents

Morning of the Program –

• Make sure the students have snacks, lunch, and water packed
• Double check you have everything on the Items to Bring list, and packed in the car
• Review the car groups and arrival scenario with your drivers
• Make sure Parent Leads have all information needed before heading out to Fort Ross
• Take one last look around the classroom for journals, plants, and other items on your list

Meeting Agenda Guide – Having scheduled meetings to prepare for your onsite program is key to a successful ELP or ELDP. Please use this as a guideline to help in your preparations and gauge the commitment required to get the most out of the program.

Meeting 1: The Entire Group –

• Teacher/Organizer should discuss the program, the Activity Groups and go over the commitments of each parent and of each student
• Each person should – 1. Introduce self 2. Choose an Activity Group that he or she is interested in participating in

Meeting 2: Individual Group Meetings –

• Go over the website
• Study Brief History and Walking Tour
• Set up further explorations, trips. e.g. museums, historical sites, etc
• Make a journal of some type – start using the journal
• At home – watch videos, California Gold, Kashia Pomo, Russian History, Alaska Native History, etc
• Assign oral reports for students on related subject matter (student curriculum, peoples of Metini / Fort Ross, Activity Group background research and critical thinking questions)

Meeting 3: Individual Group Meetings –

• Go over onsite expectations and activities
• Go over rules and regulations
• Go over Night Watch procedures
• Students begin oral reports as assigned

Meeting 4: Entire Group Meeting –

• More oral reports from those who wish to give them
• Everyone sign the appropriate Teacher, Student, or Parent Contract
• Everyone turn in their signed Liability Waivers and optional media releases
• Everyone report on their activities and accomplishments thus far
• Plan meeting time for departure and arrival at Metini / Fort Ross. Go over the arrival protocol with all Parent Leads