International Summer Junior Programme

Excursions

Teacher Guide

Written by Samantha Cuddy Welcome!!

As a part of Summer camp teachers take students on excursions outside of the school. This is a guide to help you with that. Each group goes on a city tour on the 1st day of our camp. They then go on 2 outside excursion a week and then 3 in school activities. There is a Disco on Friday night and a full day Excursion on Saturday. Please remember this is only a guide and some plans need to change quickly.  The School will provide you with a Leap card. YOU MUST RETURN IT THE NEXT DAY!! If you have to pay an entrance fee ensure you bring the receipt back to school the next day also.  As much as possible please use traffic lights to cross the road.  When we catch buses (mainly this will done at Drumcondra Rd) please leave in intervals and wait for the group in front of you to catch the bus.  BUS DRIVERS WILL NOT STOP IF THERE ARE TOO MANY STUDENTS AT THE BUS STOP. So spread the groups out and ask the bus driver if there is enough room for the students. The bus drivers respond better to your requests.  Wear your Swan staff t-shirt so students can identify you. Ask the students to wear their swan cap and/or t-shirt so you can indemnify them too! While walking around with your students please give them these rules to keep - No mobile phones - Please be mindful of the public - Please be on time - Stick together

In school activities Football – on the football pitch Art – In a classroom. You are advised on the day which room this is Zumba – In the meeting room Basketball – In the Gym Drama – In a classroom. You are advised on the day which room this in. City Centre tour Bus: 1, 11, 13, 16 Get off at PARNELL Sq. Show them the Garden of Remembrance, walk down O’Connell St stopping at the Garda station and at the GPO pointing out the Spire and Henry and Talbot Sts (don’t let them go down Henry st, you will lose the students in the shops). Walk down to the and walk along the board walk to the Ha’Penny Bridge. Allow St to take photos here. Walk over the bridge and then through to Temple Bar Square. Talk about the area. Walk through the underpass to Dame st. Explain what is along Dame st. Cross Dame st and go up Trinity st to show the Molly Malone Statue. From there go to Grafton St. and show them the st. (again don’t let them go into shops). Then take them to the entrance of Trinity College. Show them Collage Green and then go into the Sq. It should take about 2 hours.

Dublinia Bus: 13 to Lord Edward st Stop 1935 Take the group to the gate of the Dublinia on Whinetavern st. Pay with a cheque. Students will be broken into groups of 15. Go through with the group. Let the students go from the grounds of Christchurch Cathedral.

Dublin Castle and Chester Beatty Library Bus 13 to Lord Edward St. Stop 1935 Take the group through to the court yard of Castle and point out some of the features. Then walk them behind the castle and show them the Dubh Linn garden behind the castle. This is the place where Dublin got its name Dubh(Dove) linn - Black pool. It is where the rivers Poddle and Liffey met and it was a black colour. Take the students into the Chester Beatty Library. Students will have to hand in their backpacks at security. To the left of the security there is a video explaining about the library collection. Watch with the group and then let them walk through the library. Remind students to have respect for the place. Give them about an hour and then let them go from the front of the library.

Botanic Gardens Walk from the school – Go through the side gate of the school, through Griffith Park and up Botanic Avenue crossing Botanic Rd and through the gate. Sit students down and remind them to respect the grounds and to take all rubbish with them. Encourage students to look through the Greenhouses and down to the rose garden. Let them spend about an hour and a half. At about 3.45pm bring group back together and walk them back to buses at St Pats.

Croke Park Walk from the school – Up Drumcondra rd towards City turn right onto Clonliffe Rd and then take the 4th right onto St Joseph’s Ave. Go into reception and pay with a cheque. Wait until you are called for the video. If it is a long wait they may send you to the activities area. Go through with the students. They go to the activities at the end if they have not already been there. Then at the end walk them back to Drumcondra Rd.

Phoenix Park Bus: 1, 11, 13, 16, 41 to O’Connell St then to Lower Abbey st stop. Take LUAS to Hueston St. Walk to the park. Walk students up to the Wellington Monument and walk around. Start to head back to town at about 3.45pm. If it is a small group they might like to hire bikes for €5. Ring ahead to see if there is enough 086 -26 56 258

Wax Museum Bus: 13, 16 to College Green Cross the street and go down Forster lane (beside College Green bank). Go to reception and pay with the cheque. Let groups of 10 – 15 students go through together. Instruct them to meet you on the ground floor. Let them go from the lane.

Howth Train: Walk to Drumcondra Station. Change trains at Connolly Station to a DART (northbound) At Howth walk to the bay at the west pier. Search for seals then walk on towards the east pier. There are public toilets at the beginning of the pier. Have them walk along the pier taking pictures at the lighthouse and if time at the end students might like to buy and ice cream. Bring them back into town.

Dun Laoghaire Train: Walk to Drumcondra Station. Change trains at Connolly Station for a southbound DART. Get off at Dun Laoghaire Station and turn left out of the station towards the East Pier. Walk down it, giving time for students to take pics and relax. Head back into town. Alternatively turn right out of the station and head towards the less popular West Pier (you are more likely to see seals, and this is a longer walk).

Natural History Museum Bus: 1 to Pearse St or 11 to Nassau St walk to Merrion Sq Take booking sheet to reception and wait for you to be told to enter. Ensure students respect the museum. Let them go from the front gate.

Malahide Castle Train: Walk to Drumcondra Station change trains at Connolly Station and catch a DART (northbound) Walk to the Castle (about 15 mins) and head into reception. Pay by cheque and then go into the Gardens then head to the castle for your allotted time. Go around the tour with the students and then take them back to the city centre by DART.

National Art Gallery Bus: 1 to Pearse St or 11 to Nassau St Walk to Nassau St. Allow students to go in to the Gallery in groups of 4 or 5. (No bigger) Ask students to be respectful of the gallery. Let them go from the door.

National History museum Bus: 1 to Pearse St or 11 to Nassau St and walk to Kildare St past the Dail. If you have booked in go to reception and they will give you details about when to let the students in otherwise let them go in in small groups.

Friday Night Disco In the meeting room There is a Dj who looks after music and lights so it is mainly supervision of the students. We set up a drink station at the end of the hallway. Before the beginning check the toilets for any alcohol. Ensure the students stay in the vicinity of the meeting room. They are allowed in the immediate outside area as the room can get warm. Have one teacher on the drinks, one on the outside and one in the room. Change around as needed.

Saturday Excursions On Saturdays groups are sent to various locations around Dublin and Ireland. Sometimes this is by a private bus to Killkenny, Powerscourt or Glendalough. Sometimes it is by public transport to places such as Howth or Bray. They leave somewhere between 9.30 and 10am and should be finished around 4pm You will be given more details during the week.