Once your club has decided on an outing, you need a plan for the day(s) that anticipates everything will go well but also provides guidance on what to do if it does not.

All outings, even simple ones, require planning. Start location, arrival and departure times, contact information, food, clothing and gear needs, and emergency response information should be part of every outing plan. Poor trip planning can greatly increase the risk associated with any activity. So, it is very important to make a well thought out plan for every outing. 

We have provided trip planning templates and other resources for your outdoor club to use. These are in a format that can also be revised to meet any specific requirements of your outdoor club.  

Incorporate outdoor ethics and risk management into your trip plan.

Planning Documents and Lists

Sample Curriculum for your Club

Some sample ideas to help you get started.

Planning a Year of Outings for your Club

A template to help you plan for a year of great adventures!

Full Trip Planning Guide

An extensive, follow-along trip planning guide.

Suggested Packing List for a Day Hike

Ready to be printed and sent out.

Suggested Packing List for an Overnight Hike

Ready to be printed and sent out.

Suggested Packing List for a Winter Camping Trip

Ready to be printed and sent out.

Meal planning

Our suggested meals and ingredients to pack.

Ashland High School Outdoor Club Cookbook

Ashland Outdoor Club Advisor created a cookbook of all their tried and true meals. Take a look & become inspired!

Fishing license in Maine

A valid Maine fishing license is required for anyone 16 years of age or older, to fish in inland waters or transport fish taken from inland waters. If you would like to do fishing as a club activity, see the School Group fishing permit below.

School Group fishing permit

If your Outdoor Club or school group would like to fish, individual permits are not required. Fill out this application for a free group permit. The commissioner may permit student or youth groups to fish without licenses for periods of not more than 3 days as long as the fishing activity is conducted as part of an educational program and is under the direct supervision of a teacher or instructor. Fill out this application and submit it to Nicholas.Bragg@maine.gov in advance.

Visiting Maine State Parks, Public Lands, and Historic Sites

Maine-based school groups receive free admission to all Maine State Parks during the school year, from September 1st through June 30th. More details here!
Be sure to call the park that you are interested in visiting ahead of time to confirm with rangers your intended trip timeline, and the number of club participants, the Park Rangers will assist you from there.

Leave No Trace brochure

A sharable brochure highlighting the 7 principles of Leave No Trace. Share these principles with your students, co-leaders, and alike to ensure that we are all doing our part in keeping the outdoors wild and with as little unnecessary human disturbance as possible.

Before You Go — the paperwork

Sample Trip Cover Letter

Sample Waiver

Sample health information form