Field Trip!!

[sgaestel]

I and another junior English teacher have set up a field trip for after school gets out to take our students from NC to Mass. to tour around. It will be a five day event...two of those days will be travel. We were lucky enough to find a great deal from a tour company, so most of the work will be done by the company (room reservations, travel, food, admission to all the places we will visit). It's a very BIG deal for students, most of our kids have never been out of the state...quite a few never out of the county!
We (the other teacher and I) know it will be a massive undertaking, and may get a little stressful, but we just really want to make this happen for our students.
I figured on this board, you all may have some ideas, suggestions, stories of your own to share!

[sgaestel]

Oh yeah...forgot to add...not ALL juniors are going. I think the total will be about 40, with about 10 adults as chaperones.

[jsfowler]

This is so exciting...I am from Kentucky and we went on a New England trip when I was in high school. We went to Mass. for a few days and here are some things we did.

visited and toured Harvard
visited Walden's Bond and read Thoreau
visited Salem and witch museum
toured House of Seven Gables
visited author's homes like Emily Dickinson and Louisa May Alcott

Those are the main points I remember. Have fun...It was one of the best trips of my life!!!

[Chef Dave]

I used to work for an international school that sponsored field trips to other countries.

If you are working with a travel agency, you should be able to at least get free rooms/transportation for the teachers based upon the number of students you're taking.

Although I never sponsored an international field trip, I think the travel agency remitted the cost of one room for every ten people who were booked.

Here are some suggestions:

1) State your expectations up front with regards to dress code, the amount of baggage students may bring, and the use of laptops, cameras, cell phones, iPods, and portable DVD players. Failure to do this could result in excessive baggage and all kinds of electronic junk that could distract students from their overall learning experience. In general, I think students should be allowed cameras, cell phones, and iPods provided the cell phones and iPods are turned off while touring a site of educational interest. Students with iPods should also wear headphones so as not to disturb others. The cell phones will allow students to keep in touch with their families.

I think it's particularly important to emphasize expectations regarding student behavior. Your students will be representing your school so low cut blouses, short shorts, and so forth are not acceptable. You should also remind students of how to behave on the bus. During a recent field trip here in Arizona, I was distracted from driving our shuttle van when the students began making silly faces and shrieking in laughter at passing motorists. I nearly had to make an emergency stop because the students were so disruptive.

2) Make sure the travel agency books hotel/motel rooms in blocks - preferably on the same floor and on the same hallway. Teachers or chaperons should have rooms on opposite ends of the student rooms. This will help you monitor students who may try and slip out of their rooms after hours.

3) In general, I think it's better for teachers to make room assignments than to allow students to choose their roommates ... the reason being that if students choose their own roommates, one or more students will invariably have their feelings hurt by feeling left out. Teachers who know their students can make sensible assignments ... pairing responsible students with students who might not be so responsible. This will hopefully reduce any student temptation to violate curfew.

Be aware that girls are more likely to share a bed than boys. One option for students who don't want to share a bed is to have these students bring sleeping bags.

4) If you group students by rooming assignments, I would suggest using these same groups to group them with chaperons.

5) Make sure that the front desk turns off the pay per view movies for student rooms unless you want your school to foot this added expense.

6) Impose a "lights out" curfew for when students should be in bed. Monitor compliance by walking down the hallway.

7) Arrange with the front desk for each student room to receive an automatic wake up call.

8) Check with the travel agency to see whether each hotel/motel offers a complimentary breakfast. If students are paying for their own meals, estimate how much each student will need for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Be aware that most students are not experienced with budgeting themselves - so TELL the students how much they should expect to spend for each meal and monitor the students otherwise you may wind up with kids who have spent all of their meal money by day 2 or 3. Do not underestimate a teenager's capacity to eat.

Last Thursday I took my culinary arts class on a field trip to a vendors' food show. The sponsors gave each visitor a large canvas bag. Each of my students left with a bag literally bulging with food. One of my boys ate the entire contents of his bag during the 3 1/2 hour trip back to our school.

9) Teachers should have the following information with them at all times:

* emergency contact information for each student
* insurance information for each student.
* cell phone numbers for teachers, chaperons, and students

10) Parents should have a copy of your itinerary.

11) Take a camera with you. Take pictures of students on the field trip. Mailing photographs of the students to their homes would be a nice PR gesture. (If you give pictures to the students, don't assume that the students will share the pictures with their families).

[sgaestel]

Thanks js and chef dave.
A lot of the things you've mentioned CD we did think of, but there are some things you put down that I did not think if, and these are great ideas and important info.
The sleeping bag thing is a good idea, some of the boys were a little put off on being too close. Most meals are included from the travel agency, there are mainly lunches that are on our own...except when we're on the bus.
The trip part is the scariest thing for me...13 hours on a bus with 40 16 year olds??? One of the more experienced teachers I was speaking with about the trip said all school rules still in effect, but I most certainly am allowing mp3 players and cell phones...but great point about having them off during touring!
What do you all think of this: We only get 4 comps which is NOT enough, we need to have 10 chaperones. So we are going to offer 6 1/2 price places for chaperones. Instead of 500.00 for the trip, chaps get to go for 250. I think that should be enticing, yes? If parents are chaps in our county they must go through the steps to be approved (we're talking finger prints, background checks, the works), so I think saving 250 should make that worth it.

[sgaestel]

This is so exciting...I am from Kentucky and we went on a New England trip when I was in high school. We went to Mass. for a few days and here are some things we did.

visited and toured Harvard
visited Walden's Bond and read Thoreau
visited Salem and witch museum
toured House of Seven Gables
visited author's homes like Emily Dickinson and Louisa May Alcott

Those are the main points I remember. Have fun...It was one of the best trips of my life!!!

Yes, we're doing all of that except Harvard. We are also doing Lexington and Concord, a tour of Boston, and Plimouth Plantation. The students are all very excited at the prospect of the trip, and I think it will keep them engaged all semester as we read Thoreau, Plimouth Plantation, The Crucible, etc...:D

[Chef Dave]

What do you all think of this: We only get 4 comps which is NOT enough, we need to have 10 chaperones. So we are going to offer 6 1/2 price places for chaperones. Instead of 500.00 for the trip, chaps get to go for 250. I think that should be enticing, yes? If parents are chaps in our county they must go through the steps to be approved (we're talking finger prints, background checks, the works), so I think saving 250 should make that worth it.

A discount for chaperons would certainly be in order ... but I'm not sure about 6 1/2 as opposed to 10. I think all 10 should get a discount otherwise some of your volunteers may feel slighted.

[Chef Dave]

Other suggestons:

You may want to stock the bus with boxes of bottled water.

Bring a trash bag so students don't dump empty water bottles or snacks that they brought from home in the aisles.

Are you taking a travel bus? Some travel buses have DVD players with overhead TV screens. If you're taking this type of bus, you could bring some (school approved) movies.

Encourage students with MP3 players to use headphones unless you really want to hear rap or whatever it is that young people listen to these days.

A long bus ride is an excellent opportunity for students to knock off any books they may have on a mandatory English reading list.

If you know your driver's route, you might want to build a map reading exercise into your bus ride. With your driver's permission, have a couple of students with a road map sit in the front and help with navigation by identifying upcoming exits on the map and looking for them "on the road."

[sgaestel]

A discount for chaperons would certainly be in order ... but I'm not sure about 6 1/2 as opposed to 10. I think all 10 should get a discount otherwise some of your volunteers may feel slighted.

Six get discounts. Four are comped. The four that are comped will be teachers. Then I'll open the discounted price to teachers who also want to come. Finally, I will invite parents at the discounted price. Not an open invitation, as we have some...ummm...interesting parents at the school...I will ask certain parents that I know are responsible and won't be partying or anything.

[Boxcar]

It sounds like it will be a good trip. Good luck!

[Chef Dave]

Not an open invitation, as we have some...ummm...interesting parents at the school...I will ask certain parents that I know are responsible and won't be partying or anything.

Hah-hah, I HEAR YOU.

While working at an American school in Saudi Arabia, my 3rd grade team of seven teachers, took our classes on a field trip to the farmers' market, fish market, and open air souqs in the nearby Saudi city of Dammam.

Most of the parents were very responsible ... but some parents came for the shopping trip and had very little interest in supervising a small group of students. They loaded up on fruits and produce at the farmers' market and then made all of the kids in their group CARRY their heavy bags of groceries for the rest of the field trip. :(

[jennyfur211]

Do you mind telling us what tour company you used?

[Boxcar]

It can be really frustrating when the parents act like they need to be watched as well.

[sgaestel]

Do you mind telling us what tour company you used?

Not at all. We're using Hawthorne tour company based out of Mass.
They have been wonderful so far, adding Walden Pond to the trip and changing dates when we were told to change dates.

They even provide a local tour guide for every place we visit! They are taking care of everything, from the bus to the hotel to the meals and admissions to different places.
After we return, I'll be sure to let you all know how it went.

That is, of course, assuming we get approved for the trip. My principal loves it and is hand delivering the trip proposal to the asst. superintendant for approval. Keep your fingers crossed for us, this trip would mean so much to our kids!:p

[busbus]

Sgaestel, you just put a fly in the ointment! :eek: I thought that this trip had been approved and I was really excited. Now I'm on pins and needles, hoping and praying that your proposal will be approved by your superintendent.

You have a great trip planned and I know that the students will learn from the experience and have a wonderful time. So, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

When will you know if it is approved?

GOOD LUCK! :)

[wtrafton]

Sounds wonderful. I wish I had been able to have an experience like that when I was that age. My daughter's class took a one day trip to Boston when they were in 8th grade. I was able to go as a volunteer. It was great but a lot to do in 1 day. Have fun!

[sgaestel]

I found out yesterday that...
WE'RE APPROVED!
We had an open house tonight, and I was able to talk with a few parents and they are very excited for their kids... I think we may just be able to pull this out!
We have to get 40 kids to go, and because we teach in a fairly low income area, we are hoping the students will be able to afford it without fundraising.
I'll keep you all posted! Thanks for the support!

[bstack]

What travel company are you using? I have used EF before and they were good for the most part. I led two tours to Italy and had a blast. I am planning to take my students on a Boston tour next year. I grew up in Boston and I am dieing to show my kids around town.
Make sure you go on a tour of Fenway Park. It is very difficult to get game tickets but the tour was great. The Duck tours are also fun and quite informative.

[bstack]

Let me know if you would like any more suggestions of places to visit in Boston.

[sgaestel]

Go on a tour a Fenway Park.

Well, we were approved for the trip based on its educational purposes, and we have so much stuff packed into the trip, I doubt the tour company can find the time to get us into Fenway.
As of right now, I am trying to figure a way to extend our time at Walden Pond, and possibly in Salem.
But thanks for the suggestion!

[sgaestel]

Here's the itinerary of the trip from the tour company! It's pretty great, I think!

Day 1 – Thursday, June 19, 2008
7:00 AM Depart for Boston
Rest and meal stops on own on route, driver switch on route
10:00 PM Arrive in Boston, MA area
Check into your hotel in the suburbs of Boston, Hampton Inn Bedford
Private security on duty at the hotel from 11:00pm to 5:00am each evening.

Day 2 – Friday, June 20, 2008
Deluxe Continental Breakfast included at your hotel
10:00 AM Meet your local tour guide upon arrival at Quincy Market to begin a full day of touring in Boston.
11:00 AM Visit the Skywalk at the Prudential Center for a bird’s eye view of the city.
12:00 PM Lunch will be on your own at the Prudential Center
1:00 PM Guided tour of the historic Boston Freedom Trail. Your tour will include visits to the USS Constitution, the Old North Church, Paul Revere House (outside view only), Old Granary Burial Ground, the Boston Public Garden and Common, Beacon Hill, the Old State House, site of the Boston Massacre...and more!
6:00 PM Dinner included by voucher at Quincy Market (local guide departs).
Free time for shopping after dinner at Quincy Market area
Private security on duty at the hotel from 11:00pm to 5:00am each evening.

Day 3 - Saturday, June 21, 2008
7:30 AM Deluxe Continental Breakfast is included at your hotel.
8:30 AM Depart hotel for Lexington and Concord.
9:00 AM Meet your local guide in Lexington to begin touring. Walk on the grounds of Lexington Green where the early Patriots took a brave stand for Freedom, then visit the North Bridge where the "shot hear round the world" was fired. Concord is also known as the "home of the authors". It is here that Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau and Alcott all lived.
11:30 AM Make a stop at Walden Pond, where Henry David Thoreau lived and wrote for two years. See the replica of Thoreau's one-room cabin.
12:30 PM Tour ends, guide departs, group departs for Salem
1:15 PM Upon arrival in Salem, meet your local guide.
Lunch is on your own in Salem at Brothers Deli
2:15 PM Begin touring in Salem to include the Old Burying Point Cemetery, the Witch Trials Memorial, historic Chestnut Street, Salem Willows, and more. You will learn about the glorious days of Maritime Trade as you view the Friendship docked at Central Wharf in Salem Harbor. This city is most famous for the Witchcraft Hysteria of 1692, but discover what really makes this "a small city with a big history".
3:00 PM Admission is included to the House of Seven Gables. One of Salem's most famous residents was Nathaniel Hawthorne who penned the novel The House of the Seven Gables.
4:30 PM Admission included to the Salem Witch Museum. Here you will learn about the dark days of the Salem Witch Trials and view the exhibit, "Which Witch Is Which".
5:00 PM Touring continues in Salem.
6:00 PM Dinner included in Salem at Essex Pizza. (guide departs)
7:30 PM After dinner, take a 1 ½ hour walking Ghost Tour.
Private security on duty at the hotel from 11:00pm to 5:00am each evening.

Day 4 – Sunday, June 22, 2008
8:00 AM Deluxe Continental Breakfast is included at your hotel.
9:00 AM Depart for Plymouth, MA
10:15 AM Meet your local guide on route.
Take a narrated tour of Plymouth.
11:30 AM Admission is included aboard the Mayflower II on the waterfront for a tour. The Plymouth Rock is currently unavailable as the area is being preserved/renovated, so it may not be available for viewing in May.
12:30 PM A Thanksgiving lunch is included at Plimoth Plantation.
1:30 PM Admission included for a self guided visit to Plimoth Plantation.
4:00 PM Drop guide off prior to return to Boston
5:30 PM Dinner included at the Hard Rock Café in Boston
Return to hotel to pack for early departure tomorrow morning
Private security on duty at the hotel from 11:00pm to 5:00am each evening.

Day 5 – Monday, June 23, 2008
7:00 AM Bag Breakfast to go as your depart for home
Rest and meal stops on own, driver switch on route
10:00 PM Arrive home

[bstack]

The day you are in touring in Boston there may be time to go on a Duck tour. The Ducks are amphibious vehicles that tour the city and go into the Charles River. The tours do not take long but they give a great overview of the city and its history.

[sgaestel]

Great! I'll definitely keep that in mind! Thanks so much!

[busbus]

I found out yesterday that...
WE'RE APPROVED!
We had an open house tonight, and I was able to talk with a few parents and they are very excited for their kids... I think we may just be able to pull this out!
We have to get 40 kids to go, and because we teach in a fairly low income area, we are hoping the students will be able to afford it without fundraising.
I'll keep you all posted! Thanks for the support!

Just saw this post, sgaestel. Great going! I'm happy for you. :D

Good luck and keep us posted.

[sgaestel]

Just saw this post, sgaestel. Great going! I'm happy for you. :D

Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks, will do. Now the scary part...getting the commitment from 40 students. We are having an interest meeting for students and parents on Wednesday night...hopefully we have a big response.

We have to have a deposit to the travel company by 3-10, so we only have this week to get the deposits from the kids. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

[bstack]

How much is the first deposit?

[sgaestel]

Only 500.00 that we have to send in, but we're requiring each student make a 50.00 deposit to secure their spot.
So we'll have to set up an account for the excess $$$$

[bstack]

I stressed fundraising when I recruited participants. One of the the most profitable fundraisers we did was a golf tournament. We also bagged groceries for tips at a local supermarket.

[sgaestel]

Yeah, I think we are going to try to get students that can go without fundraising. I certainly do not have the time to organize anything until after the school play, as I am directing it...it takes up the majority of my extra time.
If we do find we need to do some fundraising, the other teacher is going to take care of that...since I set up the whole trip and got approval.
The grocery bagging is a great idea, and if we do have to fundraise (I really don't want to, I've had bad experiences with it before), I'd like to get more info from you on the golf tournament!

[bstack]

We used a local golf course. If you ask a golf course they can let you know how much to charge each team in order to make a profit. You make the most profit from local businesses that will have a foursome and will sponsor a hole.

[sgaestel]

Interesting idea. I was thinking more individual fundraising like having them sell stuff, because they need to raise the money for their portion of the trip.
Again, I really hope I don't have to do any fundraising. The trip is only
500.00 a kid.

[bstack]

$500 is not a bad price. I may consider a trip that that goes by bus as well. Fundraising can be tedious.

[sgaestel]

For what the trip offers: bus travel to and from and while there, hotel accomadations, admission to the places we are visiting, most meals...that price can't be beat! AND we're traveling there from NC...so it is a hike!

[bstack]

We would be traveling from Alabama. I have driven from Alabama to Boston many times but I am not sure I can endure a long bus trip with even my favorite students.

[sgaestel]

Yeah, you may want to schedule a stop in there somewhere. Perhaps New York? Or Northern Jersey? Then if you have the time, you may be able to get the kids into the city.
One thing I definitely want to do in the near future is take some kids to New York. Most students at my school haven't even been out of the county, let alone the state, and there is something really special about the way a person looks the first time they stand in Times Square at night.

[bstack]

I have a Boston-bias against New York, but it would be great to take students to a Broadway play.

[sgaestel]

Ahhh...you're speaking to a die hard GIANTS fan...perhaps the conversation ends here. If you're still upset....
You know...from THE UPSET!!

[bstack]

The Red Sox won the World Series. If the Patriots had won it would have been Nirvana.

[sgaestel]

Yes, well...Boston can't have it all. :p

I don't care much for baseball, but I do live and die by the NY football Giants, so I am having a FABULOUS year.

I will be on the PA making sure all the students take note of the home of the Superbowl Champion New York Giants.

Then I may point out the NY skyline, it's all about priorities.

[bstack]

Rub it in. The Patriots will be back next year.

[sgaestel]

Think so? Free agency make take a big toll on the Pats.
Samuel's already gone. Is Moss next? Hmmmmm....
I think the dynasty may be over.
Sorry, I'll stop being a bad winner now.

[bstack]

:cool:Enjoy it while you can. The Giants lost Strahan. Eli will return to his give the ball away days just like his older brother.

[sgaestel]

Giants lost Strahan? What are YOU talking about??? He hasn't made a decision yet!

Besides if we do lose him (probably will) you forget we have Tuck to take his place. D Line is solid...Eli has come into his own...I see a new dynasty in the NFL a-brewing!

[sgaestel]

I'm getting a little concerned...now that we've been approved for the field trip, I am afraid we are not going to be able to get enough kids to go!!
In order for the trip to be 500.00 per student, we need 40 students and 4 half price chaps to go! It seemed at first this would be easy...but I seem to be the only teacher really pushing the field trip. So where half of my students are going, no one else's students are signing up!
I am making announcements now and tomorrow I am visiting other classrooms to talk about the trip...but I am beginning to think it may not happen!
AUGGHHHHH!

[molita]

How are you promoting your trip to Massachusetts? How many more students do you need?

[sgaestel]

Well, we have 15 students signed up so far, we need at least 22/23 with 2/3 chaparones. The bad thing is that with the lowest number of people the price goes up from 500.00 to 640.00.
We are offering fundraisers for the students who have signed up to make up the difference. Keep your fingers crossed!

[molita]

That's a good amount at this point. You should make a big push before spring/Easter break. I imagine that many families will be finalizing summer plans then. What are you doing to get the word out to the students and parents? In my experiences this has always been the big challenge...

[sgaestel]

That's a good amount at this point. You should make a big push before spring/Easter break. I imagine that many families will be finalizing summer plans then. What are you doing to get the word out to the students and parents? In my experiences this has always been the big challenge...

Well, I have gone into all junior English classes, most sophomore English classes, US History classes and Civics classes. We are trying not to take many seniors (unless we really know them) as we will have nothing to "hold over them" after graduation.
We are making announcements and trying to make a push, and I have been telling all the students going if they could get one other student to go, we would have enough! The kids that are signed up REALLY want to go, so I am trying to put it in their hands to promote as well as ours.
The unfortunate thing is, a lot of our kids don't have very much money, as I teach in a fairly low income school district. WE have tried to find grants to help the kids out with the finances, but are having a lot of trouble.
We technically have until May 1 to cancel and get back our deposit, but the longer it takes to get kids signed up the more they have to pay at one time.
Hopefully, we can make it happen, we are compiling some fundraising ideas now, but the fundraising does no good without the number of students we need to book the trip!
I am thinking about asking another school if they want to join. Any suggestions anyone has about getting the right number of students would be beneficial!

[molita]

Is there any way to integrate this trip into the school's curriculum somehow so that it becomes a multi-functional "field-trip"? For example, the trips that I have run in the past include a community service project where students who participate get credit towards graduation for the hours they worked during this trip. "Incentivizing" this trip so that students have motivation to come along can prove to be quite effective. I don't have an answer for your exact scenario but I love thinking about this stuff. One thing that comes to my mind is that in return for participating in this trip the student doesn't have to take one of the tests or write one of the papers in their American History class...something along those lines.

I also think that opening this trip to other schools is a great idea as long as you have a fellow teacher from that school you can trust to run things accordingly.

[sgaestel]

Sounds good. But because US History is an EOC course, and a tested area...they wouldn't be excused from any assignment.
As one of our AP's states in a joking yet serious tone..."If it's not tested, it doesn't count."
Sad, but true.

[molita]

How did the past week go? Did you find any more students to go? I can empathize with your position as I have dealt with these same challenges in my past experiences of organizing these types of "field trips". At this point in time exposure and excitement are going to be key to the success of the trip. Good Luck and keep us posted!

I have participated in these types of "field trips" numerous times on various levels. I organize and run international field trips, mostly to Costa Rica and Central America. I'd love to hear about other's experiences with international trips. These types of trips require a further level of organization. There are passports to get in order and quite a few informational meetings with both parents and students. I have found Costa Rica to be a very safe and fun place to bring students. For most of our middle school participants this is the first time they have been out of the country. I have also discovered the most powerful tool is an excited teacher to take charge, rally the students and keep them in order. International field trips have proven to be an incredible learning tool!

[sgaestel]

Update:
We had to cancel the trip. We couldn't get enough students to sign up. I teach in a pretty low income area, but we couldn't even get the 25 for the smallest group. Needless to say, I am very frustrated right now.
I tried everything to get enough kids, even opening up the trip to other schools! Now we are beginning the process of getting all of the students refunds for the money they did pay so far.
It sucks when you try to do something really great for students and put all of this work into it and just can't make it happen.
Ho hum.