Bus Procedures
Blizzard needs chaperones on the busses to help provide members with a safe, fun trip to and from the area each week. There are lots of reasons we like staff to ride the bus, but perhaps the most important is that you will get to know our members better. You'll also understand what a member's day involves.
One thing to remember when you're on the bus is that you should try not to snooze. Imagine the phone call we'll get from little Billy's mom if he gets picked on. "What about the bus chaperone?" "Oh, he was sleeping."
Basic trip procedures -- Morning
- Report to the pickup location at least 15 minutes before departure.
- Greet parents, introduce yourself and assist in loading.
- Seat younger members (especially 6-9 year-olds) in the front of the bus.
- Know the bus routes and talk to the driver if they are going the wrong direction. You are in charge!
- Maintain order and enforce Blizzard policies.
- Record Attendance and check membership cards. Include all adult chaperones/instructors on the bus sheet.
- Collect trip fees, count receipts and balance bus bag prior to arrival at destination. Keep copy of attendance roster for end-of-day verification.
- Issue lift tickets and inform each member of their class time(s).
- Stash a copy of the roster on the bus so you can check off members for the return trip in the afternoon.
- Turn in the bus bag and clipboard to Jeff upon arrival.
- Assist in unloading gear. One chaperone must remain with the bus until all members have left.
- Escort all Mites, SuperMites and SuperKyds to chalet, and give them to the Mite/SuperKyd coordinator. Members to be escorted are identified with a “**” on the pre-printed bus roster.
- Provide supervision on the slopes. Watch for lost, bewildered or crying children! Odds are that they're with Blizzard.
- Demonstrate authority to members in lift lines.
Basic trip procedures -- Afternoon
- One chaperone to report to bus at 3:10 PM, to be ready to supervise return of Mites, SuperMites and SuperKyds.
- All chaperones at the bus no later than 3:30 PM (instructors should be back by 3:40 PM).
- Using the copy of the bus sheet you stashed on the bus in the morning, check off members by name as they return.
- Complete a headcount to double-check the bus sheet. Investigate any discrepancies. We've never left anyone behind yet!
- Any Members riding home on a different bus MUST have a written permission slip from their parent or guardian. Discuss any issues with the Director.
- Hand bus sign to the Director when all members have been accounted for and crosscheck headcount is completed. Do not let the driver turn in the bus sign -- they're usually too eager to leave!
- All buses depart at the same time, and only when released by the Director.
- Do not allow bus to leave the last stop until all members have been picked up, unless there is a warm area in which you can wait with them.
- Call the Blizzard Office upon your arrival home to inform us of safe and timely arrival (leave a message). Report any arrival time discrepancies so we can better schedule future bus routes. Also let us know if there were any problems with drivers or members.
- For any urgent issues, call Jeff's cell phone at 952.237.6185.
Thanks for making Blizzard trips safe and fun!