$53 for field trip

[java]

the school carpools to the location and the distance is over 100 miles round trip-but i know that a portion of the fee we pay is to help with gas for those who drive. .

One accident and that will change. Can you imagine the liability those drivers are taking on? We used to do the "carpool" trips until one year there was an accident. No one was seriously injured thankfully- but that was the end of the carpool trips. (oh that and the mom that went nuts and slapped someone elses child! )

Oh and I still have no idea how much the 8th grade trip is going to cost me. I still have not gotten a notice about the trip. But I saw on the calendar that it is scheduled in May.

 

[Danemom]

My DD is in 8th grade. We have really been shelling out the $ this year. They did a trip to Chicago that was $400 for 4 days. Expensive, but it included everything.

My money complaint about my kids' school is that they have Positive Behavior Rewards for the kids that don't get into any trouble for the 9 weeks. That is a great thing but they used to be free dances at the school. This year they decided to make them more exciting (also great) but now they cost me! $30 for two kids this week for a trip to Six Flags. I know the cost isn't too bad, but why am I paying for the school to reward my kids for good behavior?

 

[MKCP5]

Many schools now hire companies to run field trips for them. DS is an 8th grader and NOT going on his 8th grade trip to DC because of this. It is $650 for the bus there (we're in boston) and 3 nights quad occupancy hotel and meals. They won't even get there til late monday afternoon, spend t and wed sightseeing and leave by noon on thursday to get back at 10pm So not worth it!!! It is much easier for the schools to do this however because it is tough to get teachers to chaperone the trips, get liability insurances etc etc etc. Unfortunately though, it kept my kid out of the loop

 

[MKCP5]

My DD is in 8th grade. We have really been shelling out the $ this year. They did a trip to Chicago that was $400 for 4 days. Expensive, but it included everything.

My money complaint about my kids' school is that they have Positive Behavior Rewards for the kids that don't get into any trouble for the 9 weeks. That is a great thing but they used to be free dances at the school. This year they decided to make them more exciting (also great) but now they cost me! $30 for two kids this week for a trip to Six Flags. I know the cost isn't too bad, but why am I paying for the school to reward my kids for good behavior?

Wow!!! I think that's an awful message for the school to send the kids. You don't behave and do the right things because it is the right thing to do, you do it because you get paid off for it. I think this sets the kids up for such unrealistic expectations in life. You do things all the time as an adult because you have to, because it needs to be done, because it is the right thing to do. They are going to feel like--what am I getting out it? for everything!

 

[summerrluvv]

That's a lot!!! I would think they would get a steep discount on the science center admission since they are a school. I think it's so sad when field trips are that much because it excludes those that just cannot afford it.

My son's class is taking a zoo field trip and with the help of a muffin sale they did this year, the cost is down to $13 pp and that includes the coach bus and I'm so excited that I can go with him!

 

[holbear]

Our 5th grader is going to Philadelphia for a field trip this year. It is a 3 hour drive and they are renting a bus. It is costing $55 for his trip, $7.50 for a Tshirt and another $65 for me to chaperone. His price was brought down to $55 after I spent around $75 in a fundraiser.

 

[DisneyaholicRaquel]

The field trips are getting pretty expensive. For my DS 4th grade trip they are going to Mackinaw Island for the day (not overnight). The price for him is $95 & $125 for myself to attend. That's just a bus ride up there....no admission is involved with the exception of a $5-10 ferry ride. No food is included. Then 2 weeks after that they are going to Greenfield Village and the cost is undetermined but, atleast $25. I'm not happy about paying these fees but, I can afford to pay them. What about a district where the children's parents can't afford the prices?

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Another teacher here. I'm planning a trip from Ann Arbor to Chicago (about a 4.5 hour drive). The cost is $110/student. It's a day trip (5:30am till about midnight).

The bus alone is costing me $2230. Then there's the lake cruise/lunch and Sears Tower at $936. And I factor in $1-2 per student for the driver's tip.

That said, I needed 30 students to go at that rate. I'm now trying to get at least 20 so we can go. My field trip fund will be dipped into by $1100! But I don't think it's fair to cancel for those that have already signed up and paid (plus I'll be out the deposits).

The price of trips is going up!

 

[marcyinPA]

Wow, that's a lot of money for an elementary school trip. Our parent/teacher group pays for the field trips at our school, but I know that it is extremely pricey. Our fourth graders go to Harrisburg and our fifth graders go to Philadelphia, and they have to rent buses (can't use school buses due to distance). They need two buses each. It's $900 per bus this year. When you add in admissions and driver gratuities, you're talking a big chunk of change.

I was complaining about my middle schooler's trips recently, but I guess I shouldn't complain after reading your post!

My 7th grader received a letter from the gym teachers, saying that he "earned a trip" to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs baseball game for never forgetting his gym clothes and getting A's in gym all year. The letter proceeded to say that I needed to submit the $12 fee with the permission slip! So much for "earning" a trip! The 7th grade is also going to Dorney Park at the end of the year, and that was $12 too (not that I should complain, because that is a bargain!). Between that, and the $200 I paid for him to go on the band trip next week, the $9 I paid for the band trip t-shirt, the $5 for each ticket to his band concert in a few weeks (yes, we have to pay to go to the band concert!), I am going broke on this kid!!

 

[sk8ingmom]

This is our first year in NoVA, but I think they just stopped field trips all together. I'm not sure if it is cost or the fact that there isn't a field trip section on the standardized test. I think it is sad, but then again, I'm glad I'm not payig $50 for my 3rd grader to go somewhere. Oh yeah, we are 30 minutes from DC where most of the museums & monuments are free!

Wow, this thread brought back memories. I remember going to COSI for a girl scout sleep over about 100 years ago. OK, more like 25 years ago. It was a blast.

Ok, my DS is in 5th grade. The 5th grade here take a week long trip (leave Monday morning and come back Friday at lunch) to Outdoor Science School. I am pretty sure that only one child did not attend. The cost of this field trip is $285 per child. That does include three home-cooked meals per day. (My son did that say that they food was really good) They also had to pay for the bus, but the kids paid for that with ice cream sales at the school store.

The 5th grade did offer a BUNCH of fundraisers, but I hate funraisers. I detest having to keep asking relatives and neighbor to buy crap.

BTW, my son had a blast at Outdoor Science School. He was, however, the only child to come home covered from head to toe with poison oak. He said that the trip to the Dr.'s office was worth it.

We may have been at the same COSI Girl Scout overnights a million years ago!

We also went to an outdoor school for the week in 6th grade. I have no idea what it cost, but it was a blast.

Oh, and my senior year, Grad Night trip from Cleveland to WDW - on a plane, 3 hotel nights, MK Grad Night, day at EPCOT/Wet & Wild, another day at MGM...$425! And that was a lot. My parents wouldn't let me work during the school year, but I spent most of that summer paying them back for that trip!

 

[momofpirates]

I just returned from 5th grade camp with my son. The week cost $183 per student plus the cost of buses, but with class fundraising all year, each student only paid $160 and mine was paid for. This is a great deal compared to the prices OPs are sharing for one day trips. I have to say the time I spent with him and his friends at camp would have been worth the money if I had to pay to go.

Out of 75 5th graders at our school, 17 did not go mostly for financial reasons. I feel blessed my husband and I could pay for the trip and I could use a week of vacation time to go.

 

[taximomfor4]

We boycott expensive field trips. In fact, 10th grade dd just missed one that cost $23.

My dh is a high school teacher, and said that he refuses to plan field trips that some kids might not be able to afford. So if it isn't free or nearly free, forget it.

Oh, and dd is allowed to choose to stay home that day, and we'll go somewhere educational, or she can go to school.

Beth

 

[Magic Mom]

For the teachers that plan the expensive trips $50+...how does that work out for the kids that can't afford it? Do they just not get to go? How much advance notice do you give to parents of the cost? I don't know if I could do that. On one hand, I would love for the kids to experience a really great trip especially if it has some educational value...but on the other hand, it would break my heart to leave a handful of kids behind just because their parents can't afford it.

 

[MoniqueU]

I would jump at the chance to pay 53 dollars for a nic field trip. Our principal decided no more field trips out of the county. I don't know if it is because she is mean or rising transportation fees. It could be either one. We live in a small geographical county though it has alot of people. There are very limited oppurtunities for our kids where in Orange County and LA county there are tons of good museums and we used to go to Sea World and knotts Berry farm. None of that now they go to local farms. Not that much to look forward too as a kid if you ask me.

 

[twoeeyy]

Luckily my DD is in High School now so no more field tirps . I also agree that the price is HIGH. From what I have heard our schools would pay for the children that could not afford to go so no child would be left behind.

When my DD was in 6th grade they did a sleepover at the Boston Museum of Science at a cost of 60 -70 ( can't remember ) they were looking for chaperones , I was going to until I found out that I also had to pay, No way ! I was going to be driving myself and there was no food included so what was I paying for, We have memberships but I was not going to be allowed to use that either so needless to say I stayed home and slept in my nice comfy bed

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I'm trying to figure out why people think this is expensive. If kids went to a movie theater it would still likely cost $20.

 

[amez]

We homeschool so I really don't want to add up the amount of money we spend on field trips but I did want to share a site that we use to set up trips (for free) fieldtripfactory.com It is geared toward schools, but they also work w/ my crowd.

It's really geared toward the under 13 crowd, but free is free They also have grants set up to help schools pay for transportation if needed (clearly we can't/don't use that) wanted to share it in case anyone wanted to pass it on to their school or if anyone helps set up field trips.

Amy

 

[heartsy77]

I'm trying to figure out why people think this is expensive. If kids when to a movie theater it would still likely cost $20.

I am with you, in our school district the kids take a big trip in every grade in middle school. 4th- 3 hour trip to Howe Caverns that was like $30 a piece, 5th grade 2 days in DC $160 a piece plus extras, 6th grade DD this year, trip to Ellis Island and Medieval times $140 a piece, 7th grade trip to state capital (Albany) I think is under a 50$. I understand not everyone can afford it; they hold fundraisers to help offset costs. I love these trip and I always volunteer to chaperone.

 

[marcyinPA]

I'm trying to figure out why people think this is expensive. If kids went to a movie theater it would still likely cost $20.

I'm only speaking for myself, but with gas prices up to nearly $4 a gallon, and food prices rising every day, and heating oil prices through the roof....but our incomes have stayed the same....paying for field trips and extras is a burden on the budget. I understand that my child does not need to participate, however if I keep him home from school, it's an unexcused absence, and if I send him, he'll be one of a handful of kids there and will sit doing work. It's not fair to my son, who has worked hard all year. So, even though I still think things are expensive, I suck it up and deal with it. We are lucky in that we can squeak the money out to pay. I feel really bad for the kids whose families absolutely can not pay. It's really not fair to them! ETA: fundraisers are fine, but you still have to pay the money to get the item...and many people are not buying anymore because of money being tight.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I'm only speaking for myself, but with gas prices up to nearly $4 a gallon, and food prices rising every day, and heating oil prices through the roof....but our incomes have stayed the same....paying for field trips and extras is a burden on the budget. I understand that my child does not need to participate, however if I keep him home from school, it's an unexcused absence, and if I send him, he'll be one of a handful of kids there and will sit doing work. It's not fair to my son, who has worked hard all year. So, even though I still think things are expensive, I suck it up and deal with it. We are lucky in that we can squeak the money out to pay. I feel really bad for the kids whose families absolutely can not pay. It's really not fair to them!

Yea, life isnt fair. Thats why we're paying $3.50 a gallon, and the oil companies are pulling in record profits. Sucks.