High Schoolers & major extra-cirricular trips

[mom2boys]

"Opportunities" for both of my High Schoolers next year include:

Marching Band trip to a Florida Bowl game between Christmas & New Year's for one week @ $1800 per child
Boy Scout Trek to Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico - Summer of 2010 approx. another $1800 per child

These costs are in addition to regular fees associated with Scouts & Marching Band. I would love for both of my boys to be able to take advantage of both of these opportunities. Both boys will participate in fundraisers to help defry costs.That said, we don't have an extra $7200 laying around.

How much do you expect your kids to contibute to such trips? Equally important, how do they raise money outside of the organizations' fundraisers? (Neither will be driving until this time next year.)

 

[happygirl]

My guess maybe family and friends help toward the trip

Maybe coroprate sponors. Maybe where your hubby and yourself work will donate some toward the trips

 

[allison443]

Wow, $7200!!
I didn't realize at first that both boys wanted to go on both trips!
Maybe they could pick one trip? Or does the band "expect" everyone to go?

At the minimum, they should both get summer jobs!

 

[Kirby]

Fantastic trips! Would I let them go if they were mine? In a heartbeat! But they would be participating in every fundraiser offered. Every penny possible would be saved. Only needs met, very few if any wants. Summer jobs would be a possibility, mowing yards or something to help raise money. Fortunately, for us, we did not have any big trips close together like you have.

 

[Justanopinion]

I never expected my kids to help with these type of expenses but if they could pick up odd jobs here or there I wouldn't turn down the money either.

Maybe they could mow lawns over the summer and do little odd jobs like that.

If either of my boys had had the chance to go to Philmont I would have done everything possible to provide that trip.

But then again, $7200 is just the cost of the trips. You haven't even talked about expenses for extras like spending money and required items to go yet.

At least you have time on your side. Do your own fundraisers. Car washes, whatever you can think of. Best of luck.

 

[geffric]

When my oldest son went to Philmont.. he paid 1/2 and we paid 1/2.. he raised the money from fundraisers - the normal popcorn and wreaths plus car wash and a few other council supported fund raisers for the scouts.. he also took all of his money from lawn care and snow shoveling and applied this to the fund plus any birthday or holiday money he got.. and he had paid for his 1/2 and had money to spend and left over..

It was very worthwhile to go to Philmont.. once in a lifetime event for him..


Other son is going on a band trip this spring break to Hawaii.. again the 1/2 and 1/2 deal.. he has aggressively participated in the fund raisers and has worked for the little league as a referee for $35 per game plus lawn moving, weed pulling for the neighbors..

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Fantastic trips! Would I let them go if they were mine? In a heartbeat! But they would be participating in every fundraiser offered. Every penny possible would be saved. Only needs met, very few if any wants. Summer jobs would be a possibility, mowing yards or something to help raise money. Fortunately, for us, we did not have any big trips close together like you have.

I'm with you. My HS didn't offer those kinds of opportunities and I would've loved to been able to do something like that. HOWEVER..I do believe that they should participate in every fundraiser they can (even if they don't want to) and try to get donations from friends, family members, etc to help fund their trip. In lieu of *some* (but not all) birthday/Christmas/Easter gifts, I would put money into the fund.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Wow! I need to start saving up for high school I think. DD13 will be there soon.

I can do a week at Disney for our family of 4 for $1800! In fact there are quite a few trips that our family could enjoy together for that amount. I would have a problem with spending that much for just one kid's trip.

 

[DebD4T]

I can't speak for the marching band trip, but I would do everything in my power to make the Philmont trip happen. DS and DH had the opportunity to experience that trip in July of 2006 and they still rave about it.

Beware, it is a very expensive trip beyond just getting there. There are specific items that they will need to aid them in their trek.

Good luck!!

 

[mom2boys]

They will definitely be at every fundraiser offered! I signed on as Car Wash co-chair and advised them that they will be at EVERY carwash and fundraiser fathomable.

Fortunately (or not) their father has more camping gear than should be legal, so there won't be major gear expenditures for Philmont.

I won't let them ask for handouts but if relatives ask what they'd like for birthdays & Christmas, we will definitely mention cash towards these trips.

They have one large mowing job already in place for summer. Hopefully they can find others. I was thinking of pet sitting/house watching jobs for vacationing neighbors.

Any suggestions on other odd jobs you'd hire a 13.5 or 15 year old for?

 

[geffric]

Wow! I need to start saving up for high school I think. DD13 will be there soon.

I can do a week at Disney for our family of 4 for $1800! In fact there are quite a few trips that our family could enjoy together for that amount. I would have a problem with spending that much for just one kid's trip.

it is interesting what is included in the trips for DSs band trip it included a lot of activities like whale watching boat trips and meals.. plus to get the band equipment to a distintion plus kids and chaperons cost money..

The Philmont Trip included meals and a rafting trip and transport by bus from Denver to Philmont plus 1 overnight stay before they got to Philmont..

ask for the cost breakdown from the organizers and that will give you some insite..

 

[geffric]

They will definitely be at every fundraiser offered! I signed on as Car Wash co-chair and advised them that they will be at EVERY carwash and fundraiser fathomable.

Fortunately (or not) their father has more camping gear than should be legal, so there won't be major gear expenditures for Philmont.

I won't let them ask for handouts but if relatives ask what they'd like for birthdays & Christmas, we will definitely mention cash towards these trips.

They have one large mowing job already in place for summer. Hopefully they can find others. I was thinking of pet sitting/house watching jobs for vacationing neighbors.

Any suggestions on other odd jobs you'd hire a 13.5 or 15 year old for?

check with the Park district.. they hire for referres, camp guides etc.. also they local scouts will need scouts for day camp and over night camp and they pay too..

 

[Rock'n Robin]

When my niece knew she was going to Europe to sing with some choir she was in, we all got Emails a good year ahead of time to keep her in mind for any projects, chores, etc. that she could do for us to help her raise the money (she was 14 then, 15 on the trip--not old enough to have a job). Luckily the things my kids have done (show choir camp, this year's trip to Washington for the 8th graders) haven't been nearly that expensive.
Robin M.

 

[mom2boys]

check with the Park district.. they hire for referres, camp guides etc.. also they local scouts will need scouts for day camp and over night camp and they pay too..

We'll definitely look into the ref thing. Unfortunately our scout district does not pay scouts to work at day camp. Both of mine worked day camp last year. Each is entitled to $100 towards the council's summer camp. Our troop is not going to the council's camp this year.

 

[geffric]

We'll definitely look into the ref thing. Unfortunately our scout district does not pay scouts to work at day camp. Both of mine worked day camp last year. Each is entitled to $100 towards the council's summer camp. Our troop is not going to the council's camp this year.

maybe they will apply the $100 toward Philmont?? worth asking

 

[MushyMushy]

Oh my! And I feel bad for complaining about my middle school daughter's band trip to Hershey Park for $350. But to be fair, we just got the news and we have to have the money by March. Not easy when we've got a senior graduating, I'm not working, and we were hoping to take a WDW trip. The WDW trip is the lowest in priority, but still.

The good thing is, they have a long time to save and prepare. Definitely do the fundraisers. Are they old enough to get part time jobs? Mow yards? Babysit? I wouldn't hesitate to have them chip in towards the trips.

 

[Bearvet]

DS15 is going to Mexico in Feb. for 2 weeks - total cost is $950 plus they recommend $200 spending money. This is an exchange program within our school, so they stay with host families. They have a lot of field trips while they're there and it's all included in the cost. The teacher keeps apologizing for the expense, but I think it's a bargain - I only wish I could go!

The Fish & Game Club is planning a trip to Alaska, but I think that will be next year. Not sure of the price on that one, but what an amazing opportunity!

 

[jenlynn0808]

When I was a sophmore(some 20 years ago ), I had the opportunity and went to Mexico on a class trip witht eh Spanish Club. We had 7 months to pay off the trip. My parents said I could go as long as I helped contribute, but they never said how. I did all the candy bar fundraisers, literally walked around to all my classes carry that box and sold them everyday to my classmates, sold hundreds that way. I babysat every chance I got in addition to my bi-weekly gig. Saved the majority of my allowance, when asked what I wanted for x-mas explained I would like money to put toward my trip (so I didn't seem greedy just asking for the money, but gave a reason why). Did extra jobs around the house for extra $. Offered to help my aunt and uncle pack and unpack when they were moving. I think I may have even offered to babysit a few of my cousins, so my aunts and uncles could have a night out, and if I benefitted from it, who was I to complain . I was so eager to go on this trip that I would do anything (legal of course) to earn the money, which proved to my parents that I was serious about my desire to go and they were happy to pay for what I didn't earn!

 

[mjkacmom]

Oh my! And I feel bad for complaining about my middle school daughter's band trip to Hershey Park for $350. But to be fair, we just got the news and we have to have the money by March. Not easy when we've got a senior graduating, I'm not working, and we were hoping to take a WDW trip. The WDW trip is the lowest in priority, but still.

The good thing is, they have a long time to save and prepare. Definitely do the fundraisers. Are they old enough to get part time jobs? Mow yards? Babysit? I wouldn't hesitate to have them chip in towards the trips.

I think this is about the cost of my middle schooler's choir trip to Hershey Park - not counting the cost of the rest of our family (we haven't been in years). Made sure to book another hotel, though!

 

[golfgal]

Our band does a big trip every 3 years and have for several years so the kids have 3 years to raise money through fundraisers and jobs. There are ample opportunities to raise the entire trip fee by fundraisers. DS16 went to China 2 years ago with the band. We had just moved to town so he only had about 9 months but he raised about $1000. We paid the rest but it was his birthday and Christmas present that year too. He was MORE than fine with that. The total trip cost $2300 for 10 days, all inclusive except spending money which was another $100.