What was your reaction when your teenager came home to tell you that he or she was going to go on a trip...without you? While you may want to allow your Christian teen to grow up and assert some independence, you probably also felt a bit of panic that you wouldn't be there to make sure he or she was safe. So, how can you feel more confident in your choice to let your teen go on a trip without actually going on the mission trip or vacation yourself? Here is some information you should gather prior to letting your teen travel without you:
Travel Provider Experience
Is the church planning the trip or is a travel agency handling all the logistics? Try to get the information about the person or agency in charge of planning the mission trip or vacation. Find out how experienced the provider is in putting together trips for teens. Are they successful? Have there been incidents? How does the agency handle crisis? What are they doing to ensure the safety of the students? Make sure you feel comfortable with the travel provider before you allow your Christian teen to head out on a trip.
Location
Where is your Christian teen going? Do you feel comfortable with that location? Some mission trips are to third-world countries where there is a certain level of danger. Some Spring Break trips are to locations where teens get pretty wild. How much do you trust your teenager and do you think the leadership or chaperones will be able to keep your teen safe? Discuss the location with your teen to go over any concerns you may have. While it may seem instinctual to not let your child go to a place with some danger or temptation, you may find that your teen is more mature and able to handle those situations than you think.
Contact Information
You should find out about hotels, churches, tours, or host family homes. While you may not know where your child will be every second of every day, you should have an idea of how to reach your teen in an emergency. You should gather the names, phone numbers, and fax numbers of all locations where your teen is staying. It also helps to get the phone numbers of the local police agencies, embassies, and consulates. Beyond just getting the general destination names and numbers, you should also have the names and numbers of leaders or tour guides. Names, phone numbers, and emergency numbers are all important. Cell phones can be very handy, so make sure your teen has one for the trip.
Chaperones
Who is chaperoning the trip? While a college-age teenager may be old enough to go on a trip without a chaperone, younger teens will need some sort of adult present. Are there enough chaperones? Do you trust the chaperones? If you feel comfortable with those supervising the mission trip or vacation, make sure you also get their contact information. Get the cell phone numbers of all leaders attending the trip.
Security
What preparations need to be made to keep your student safe? Many travel agencies prepare brochures or flyers with information about certain destinations. You should take some time to read them over and go over the information with your teenager. If there are certain State Department warnings, make sure your teen knows where the U.S. Consulate or Embassy is and how to get there.
What is Included in Price?
Find out what items are included in the price of the trip. Some destinations may be all-inclusive, while others may require extra spending money. For instance, a Summer Break youth conference may include all meals, but a group trip to Orlando may require money for Disneyworld, lunches, and dinners.
What Extras are Required?
Find out what activities will occur on the trip so you can help your teenager plan for packing and travel. Make sure any paperwork like passports and travel insurance are obtained early. Help your Christian teen pack appropriate clothes and other items (like a Bible, toothbrush, etc.). Are there certain rules about attire? Electronic devices? Jewelry? Go over those requirements with your teen so he or she packs correctly.
