Field trip memories

Make a movie of your child’s educational adventures

By Sheryl Steinberg

Michael LeBlanc rarely goes anywhere without his digital camera. Last year, he snapped 300 photos during his daughter’s school trip to Camp Samac near Oshawa, Ont. But instead of uploading the photos and printing a few, LeBlanc turned the shots into a slide show and posted it online so everyone could share the memories.

“You don’t have to be a computer wizard,” says LeBlanc. “And it got great reaction from the teachers and students.”

Creating DVDs of school events is easier than ever, thanks to digital cameras with built-in video capabilities and easy-to-use photo- and video-editing software. Here’s how to get started.

Field trips get students out of the classroom so they can experience first-hand what they’ve been studying in school.

What you need

digital or video camera
memory card or videotape
tripod or monopod (optional for steady video)
computer with photo- and video-editing software
DVD burner and DVDs or Internet access (to post video online)

Laying the groundwork

Before documenting a trip, think about what you want to shoot, but always be prepared for the unexpected. It’s those little moments — the beaming smile when reeling in the first fish or the upturned noses at the first whiff — that often provide the most memorable footage.

When shooting video, hold your shot for about 10 seconds to make editing easier later, and take as much footage and as many photos as possible. “You can toss away half and still have lots to work with,” says LeBlanc.

Print out our field trip memories template and take it with you as a reminder of what to shoot.

Uploading the footage to your PC

Plug your camera into your PC with the proper cable; then follow the software prompts to save footage to your hard drive. If you have a lot of footage, you may want to save it to an external hard drive.

Missed something? Enrich your footage with that of others: ask parents and teachers to e-mail you their photos or post them on a photo-sharing site such as Windows Live Spaces or Flickr to prevent leaving anything — or anyone — out. You can also add traditional 35 mm prints and keepsakes to the mix. Just scan and save.

Remember to keep your original footage in a safe place as a backup.

Have students describe the destination, significant moments or any souvenirs they collect.

Creating your documentary

Every good story needs a structure, so think about how you’d like your story to unfold. Then start at the beginning, climax in the middle, and end on a high note.

Amy Greenberg, a mother of two in Toronto, created a 10-minute video for her son’s kindergarten graduation ceremony. She organized the photos chronologically and added some special moments that the classmates took part in. She added music to set the tone of the show.

“It was so emotional to see how much the kids had grown,” Greenberg recalls. “Parents and grandparents were passing Kleenex back and forth.”

Use intuitive video-editing software such as Windows Movie Maker, which allows you to add audio, text and special effects. Greenberg made some of her images flip and turn to mix things up a bit. She superimposed text that read “Congratulations Graduates!” at the end.

To narrate the show, consider interviewing students about their trip and using the footage as a voiceover. Add music that fits the pictures or has some meaning to the kids.

Use Windows Movie Maker to combine pictures, video and music to create a unique presentation that can be shared.

Sharing with others

One of the easiest ways to share your production is with DVD burning. Greenberg made DVDs for all the graduating-class parents and put her own copy in her son’s cherished baby book. “It’s a memory,” she says.

You may also want to post the show online, but get permission from parents. Do not identify children or schools for security and privacy reasons.