8th grader DC trip experience?

[raysnkaysmom]

Before people say I'm trying to control my DD's life or I'm too overprotective, I just want to hear from parents who may have allowed their children to attend this trip at age 14.
I'm sorry...but I worry...

Here's the layout..
Jamestown/Monticello/Washington, D.C.
April 6-10, 2010
Come join us for a thrilling trip to our nation’s capital and beyond!!!
Cost per person quad occupancy: $697.00
(Other room occupancy situations available)
Visa and Mastercard gladly accepted!
Above cost includes:
Deluxe motor coach transportation
Accommodations at The Woodlands in Williamsburg
and at the Hampton Inn, Dumfries
All meals (allotment of $10.00 per meal)
Buffet night at the Old Country Buffet
Lunch at the Jamestown Cafe
Entrance to all sites and activities including:
Historic Jamestown Settlement
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
Presidential monuments and war memorials such as
Lincoln Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Wall
Korean War Memorial
FDR Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
Iwo Jima
WW II Memorial
White House and Capitol Building Photo Opportunity
Arlington National Cemetery
Smithsonian Institution of Air and Space, Natural
History, American History
Other locations as time permits
All parking, tips and tolls
Private professional nightly security on floors with students
Experienced Eduquest representative with group to guide trip.

I absolutely think its a WONDERFUL trip and opportunity. But, my child without a parent in DC, on a long road trip without a family member worries me..I've heard horror stories, and great stories.
She is already going to Atlanta (less than an hr drive, so I feel better) next month with other middle schoolers for the National Youth Leadership State Conference, and this is with people she doesn't even know for 4 days.. She's being given some great opportunities, I just would like to hear from someone either who went on this trip, or has sent their child. I know it's a common trip for 8th graders....

 

[maelstrom]

My 8th grade class trip was to Boston, and aside from your typical teenage girl drama, we were fine. Actually, there were a pair of teachers who misbehaved *way* more than any of the students. Perhaps that pair of teachers were the ones who needed to be duct taped into their rooms at night instead of us.

 

[Stacerita]

My DD is going on the DC trip in Spring with her 8th grade class. She will be 14 at the time of the trip. I have already met with the trip advisor in charge, and feel very comfortable letting her go. He has done this for quite a few years and has a great track record so far. The ratio of child/chaperone is decent, better than most field trips.

Her advisor also has very strict rules for staying with the group, no one of the opposite sex in the rooms, room lock downs, modest clothing will out and while swimming, and has already given us parents the list of consequences for breakin rules. So far he stated he has only had to go one time to step one of his consequences.

If you are worried, talk with the advisor in charge. Find out how they plan to keep charge of the children going. Find out the rules and consequences for not following the rules. Make sure there are enough chaparones attending. And find out what happens if the child gets seperated or sick. A good advisor should know this info off the top of their head.

I am totally shocked at the cost. The trip for my DD is costing close to $2500. It will be worth it though.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My oldest dd went to DC in 8th grade, she is now away at college. Uneventful, she had fun.

My 7th grader dd might have the opportunity to stay in a college dorm for 3 weeks next summer with a scholar program, take classes etc.

Now that is little more unnerving for me. But if she qualifies and gets in we will let her go if she wants.

What it boils down for me, is the question, is the kid responsible and ready.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am totally shocked at the cost. The trip for my DD is costing close to $2500. It will be worth it though.

Me too. Do you think she left off a number.

 

[Darsa]

DD is going with her 8th grade class on the "Heritage Tour" which includes NY, PA, MD, DC and points in between. Her cost is a bit over $800.

I am a nervous parent as well; the thought of her going away for a week like that is horrifying to my overactive imagination. Soooo... they mentioned in the informational meeting that they were taking a select group of parents as chaperones, and I signed up. It'll be another $450 but I think I can come up with it, since my parents are paying for her trip. I've never been to DC myself and really want to see the sites there.

 

[bballmom56]

Both of my kids did the DC trip with their 8th grade class and LOVED it! DD was particularly moved by the Holocaust museum.

DS's class went in 2003 when people were still afraid of terrorist attacks. We had some parents that would not allow their children to go, which I thought was sad. But we all make our own decisions. I did not want my son to grow up avoiding events because of the fear of the possibility of terrorism.

There were plenty of faculty chaperones and strict rules in place. Neither class had any problems.

 

[dawson5]

My ds will go this spring and my oldest went four years ago. Uneventful but he had a good time. The teacher in charge has been doing this for the past 14 yrs I believe and most of the kids adore him. I think the only thing that happened was one kid dropped pennies from his window, guy on the motorcycle below was not happy, boy was reprimanded.

When oldest DS went, it was $575. I think it will be $625 for us this year. They usually go from Wed to Sat morning, take buses and choose their seating partner for the ride there and back. They were able to take ipods & phones and bring along movies (preapproved by teacher). They wore matching shirts all the days they were there. I think dad wants to go to be a chaperone for this one.

 

[clarabelle]

my dd went and had a good time.
Is there a teacher or a chaperone that you can discuss this with.
8th graders going to Washington in the spring seems to be really common.

My DD wished she had bought warmer clothing and rainwear.

 

[aprilgail2]

Cost per person quad occupancy: $697.00
(Other room occupancy situations available)

Does that mean its possible to get a single or double room rather than 4 in a room? I remember going on an overnight trip when I was in 7th grade and we get there and there are 2 full size beds for 4 kids- now of course no way were we sleeping 2 to a bed so we flipped a coin to see who was on the floor and who got the bed! My friend in another room slept in the chair so she didn't have to share a bed. I would spring for the double room rather than a quad if my daughter is going to go on the trip- right now she is only in 5th grade and says no way is she going in 7th but its 2 years away and I sure she will change her mind.

 

[dawson5]

I don't know about other schools but for ours, the only way to do that was if you were a chaperone and you were rooming with your child. No other child in that room except your own. I think the cost was different also, parents still had to pay their own way to go.

 

[golfgal]

Our kids' school does an 8th grade DC trip too. We did not send our kids only because we were going in June and the cost of their trip was $1800/kid-times 2 with the twins, which is almost double what we spent for our family of 5 to go.
Everyone I know that has sent their kids have really been glad they did. The kids have a blast. The trips have been well chaperoned. DC is a very safe town and it sounds like they have a good itinerary. I would send her-especially for that price!

Personally I would skip the National Youth Leader's conference-that is a joke. My niece went on that and basically it was another People to People type trip-glorified travel agency charging too much money and they ended up not doing ANYTHING (she went to DC for her conference and didn't do ANY sightseeing.).

 

[Darsa]

I don't know about other schools but for ours, the only way to do that was if you were a chaperone and you were rooming with your child. No other child in that room except your own. I think the cost was different also, parents still had to pay their own way to go.

Wow, I hope this is the case with ours; I'm not looking forward to trying to sleep among a gaggle of giggling girls We're having our "informational meeting" on the 31st of August, when I find out if I've been chosen to go.

 

[Christine]

Well the Hampton Inn they are staying at is about a 5 minute drive from my house!

Since we live outside of DC, my kids never did this trip; however, I always knew people from out of town whose kids got to do it and I have never heard a bad story.

 

[cabanafrau]

DD15 did the DC trip in 8th grade and had a fabulous time. Since one bus was going, parent chaperones would be drawn by lottery if there were any available empty seats. There were none.

My daughter did comment about some kids' phones ringing within seconds of a time when they could be turned back on again after a tour -- because the parent did nothing but call, call, call -- for the entire trip??? She said it never failed that those kids were all having fun -- until they had to pick up the phone and tell mommy how much they missed her & really would be glad for the trip to end.

I requested a call when the bus reached Gettysburg, their first destination. I got approximately 12 seconds of "We're here now & I've gotta go." Oh well, she did have a great time.

 

[golfgal]

DD15 did the DC trip in 8th grade and had a fabulous time. Since one bus was going, parent chaperones would be drawn by lottery if there were any available empty seats. There were none.

My daughter did comment about some kids' phones ringing within seconds of a time when they could be turned back on again after a tour -- because the parent did nothing but call, call, call -- for the entire trip??? She said it never failed that those kids were all having fun -- until they had to pick up the phone and tell mommy how much they missed her & really would be glad for the trip to end.

I requested a call when the bus reached Gettysburg, their first destination. I got approximately 12 seconds of "We're here now & I've gotta go." Oh well, she did have a great time.

Poor kids--it will be interesting to see those parents living in the dorms with their kids when they go off to college.

 

[PatsGirl]

Ds did this 8th grade trip 6 years ago and thought it was okay. His complaints were mostly about rules being too strict , bus ride too long and noisy, four people to a room, and museums being boring but he's a funny kid, he'd much prefer a beach or Disney vacation and being a boy and a little bit introverted, would prefer less mayhem (and girl drama) I think his trip was about $500, half of which they could earn through group fundraisers.

 

[dawson5]

Wow, I hope this is the case with ours; I'm not looking forward to trying to sleep among a gaggle of giggling girls We're having our "informational meeting" on the 31st of August, when I find out if I've been chosen to go.

I'd have to pin the oldest down about the specifics but I thought they placed tape on the door to make sure the kids didn't leave the room. (they weren't taped in, just that if the door was opened the tape would be out of place). As for the rooms, I would think their rules would be the same as scouts. My sons can bunk with a buddy in tent or cabin for scouts but the dad cannot be in there. It doesn't matter if they have known each other since son was in kindergarten, if the adult is a leader, he cannot room with a child that is not his own. One dad escorted two boys (his son & mine) to the showers early at camp (they were up early and knew the long lines for the showers) and was given a stern talking to by the leaders.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd have to pin the oldest down about the specifics but I thought they placed tape on the door to make sure the kids didn't leave the room. (they weren't taped in, just that if the door was opened the tape would be out of place). As for the rooms, I would think their rules would be the same as scouts. My sons can bunk with a buddy in tent or cabin for scouts but the dad cannot be in there. It doesn't matter if they have known each other since son was in kindergarten, if the adult is a leader, he cannot room with a child that is not his own. One dad escorted two boys (his son & mine) to the showers early at camp (they were up early and knew the long lines for the showers) and was given a stern talking to by the leaders.

That's how it works with dd's choirs - adults are not allowed in the room with the kids, they pair up in separate rooms, and the doors are taped.

 

[minkydog]

I can sorta understand where you're coming from. DD16 started traveling with her children's choir when she turned 10. Her first tour was to Omaha, from Atlanta. It entailed flight to Chicago, a plane change in O'Hare, then on to Omaha, staying in a high rise hotel, enduring long rehearsals, recreational activities including a water park, and a culminating concert with hundreds of other singers. Phew! My DD had never even been on a plane, let alone been totally responsible for herself. So I volunteered to chaperone that trip and it was the best thing for *ME* Since that time we have allowed DD to travel with her choir to Charlotte,NC, New Orleans, NYC, Nashville,TN, and WDW. She has been on at least one tour each year, at least half of them without a parent. This year her choir is flying to San Francisco and we're not going there either.

On DDs trips, the ones I chaperoned, there were very strict rules of conduct: no visiting other rooms, no room service, students have to be with a chaperone at all times, no roaming alone or with another student, and no dating(!) The consequences were severe: for disobedience or disrespect the child lost their right to sing at the concert(*devastating to this group!) and for serious rule breaking like drnking, smoking, or fighting the conductor would call the parents who could either fly to the venue to pick up their little Pinky or they could choose to fly their child AND his chaperone home. Either way, it was on their dime. In all the trips we took we have NEVER had to send a child home. The kids just know what's at stake and they don't cross the line.

Go to the parent meeting and find out how the trip is run. Just looking at the list I'd say the kids are going ot be very busy. Not much time for getting into trouble. We look at these trips as part of our children's cultural education. As a result of these trips DD & DS have learned to manage money, manage their time, how to be with people who are different from themselves, professional behavior, and how to access public transportation. Not that we couldn't have taught them these things; indeed we do. But there is something about learning to do if for themselves in a protected group that really gives them confidence for the future. I highly recommend school trips for middle & high school.