Apparently the tradition started about 15 years ago. A dad of a kindergarten student decided to call around to other dads in the class to encourage them to make arrangements and “give their wives a day off.” To the surprise of the kindergarten teachers at the time, there were more dads than moms on this field trip.

Now this wasn’t any ordinary field trip…it was the field trip that gets talked about more than any other field trip in ACS’ history. In last year’s grade 12 commencement speech, Gideon Brandsma commented on this field trip…and he wasn’t the first valedictorian to do so.

Only Eight Years Overdue

Now when this dad (who will remain nameless…he’s really shy and doesn’t like his name thrown about) managed to convince the rest of the dads to join him for the day, little did he know the additional piece of tradition that he was layering onto: this was not only the famous kindergarten field trip…this was now the field trip that “all the dads” went on.

Fifteen years later, this trip remains to be a typical “dad” field trip and is still a favourite.

So you can imagine the discomfort I have felt over the years by making a seemingly benign decision to not attend the kindergarten field trip when my own kids were in kindergarten (quite a few years ago). And, although I knew it was a typical “dad” field trip, both times I was quite busy and Heidi was willing and able so it seemed to be just fine for her to be the one to go with the kids. After all, she had gone on all the other ones, so she knew the drill.

Well…8 years after Sofia was in kindergarten—I finally got the chance.

Actually, this isn’t entirely true—Nancy Humphries and the kindergarten teachers have invited me every year. But this year was finally the year.

Bumps, Chats, and a Reunion

After instructions from Mrs. Humphries and a prayer from elementary principal, Roy van Eerden, we all packed ourselves onto three busses driven by our amazing ACS bus drivers. I found the back seat of one of them. I don’t think I had ridden in a bus since my high school days so I forgot how the bumps are accentuated when you sit in the back seat.

I met Lucas who was attending the trip with his oldest son. He told me how much he loved the school. I followed the crowd onto the busy sky train at the Surrey Centre and we rode (and stood as we rode) for what seemed like a long time until we arrived at the last stop on the train. During the ride, I talked to a bunch of dads and I was so impressed with how important it was that their kids (mostly daughters) were well cared for and attended to.

We walked down to the SeaBus terminal and awaited a SeaBus to take us to Lonsdale Quay. We shared a few stories with others and heard about how one girl had been separated from her mother…a bit traumatic but all was good upon reuniting. The SeaBus was overcrowded, but short (although meeting James and his busy son was fun) and we were soon on the beautiful Lonsdale Quay and ready to enjoy a couple hours enjoying the pleasant weather and views. During lunch with the kindergarten teachers, we chatted about how this is such a great trip. Soon we were finding our way back to the SeaBus and heading for home.

More Than Just Transportation

Upon return arrival at the end of the day, I could totally see why this was a trip that gets imprinted into every child’s long term memory. It’s not only a chance to learn about different modes of transportation, it is also an experience shared by others in our lives—especially with our dads.

What a great trip and one truly representing who we are at ACS.

As we’ve remarked many times over the years—it takes a village, it takes a community, and it takes a dad calling his friends (free Starbucks card for anyone who actually reads this and accurately comments on who this person is), it takes four great kindergarten teachers, it takes one of the teachers not letting me forget that I missed my own kids’ trip, and it takes God’s wonderful provision…now I can truly say that I’ve made it.

I’ve gone on the amazing Transportation Field Trip.

[photoblocks id=3]