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Luggage Fees for Air Travel Increases: For Student Travel Go Light or Pay Extra Fees

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For student travel groups headed to any destination by air this year, the overriding theme is: go light or pay the extra fees for luggage that weighs over 50 pounds. Due to the high cost of fuel in the fall of 2008, airlines were hard pressed to save costs and decided to lighten up in order to do so. In the past, heavy luggage limits were bags that weighed over 70 pounds. Most airlines have reduced the heavy luggage weight limit to 50 pounds. Since fuel is less expensive for lighter loads, it made sense to most airlines to charge extra fees for overweight luggage.

Nowadays air travel for student passengers is more expensive if bags are heavy. Student groups are encouraged to go light or pay extra. Many student groups traveling in 2009 chose to lighten their luggage rather than paying the overweight luggage fee.

If airline passengers do have luggage that exceeds 50 pounds, they may expect to be delayed at airport check-in because there is no pre-payment permitted for extra luggage charges. Since the luggage fee is applied at check-in, student travelers need to be conscientious of the weight in their bags or be prepared to get out the checkbook, ATM, or credit card. Student groups with luggage within weight limits are assured speedier check-in and less hassle when trying to board a flight.

Extra costs while on a student trip can be avoided with preparation and planning. There is a rule of thumb that many student travel groups can use as a guideline for luggage. If a piece of luggage is more than 50 pounds, the student traveler will pay extra for each piece. This could mean an additional $25 – $50 (or more) for each piece of luggage that exceeds the 50-pound weight limit.

Following is an overview of some major airlines and their current policies (as of August 2009) regarding luggage fees.

Southwest Airlines: Southwest Air distinguishes itself from other airlines by not charging extra fees for luggage. Management at Southwest Air has decided not to charge luggage fees if the air passenger checks two pieces of luggage and each bag weighs under 50 pounds.

US Air: For those student trips traveling on US Air, there is a fee for any piece of luggage that is not carried on board. The first piece of checked luggage is $20 for each way. The second checked bag is $30 each way. Luggage charged these standard fees must measure no more than 45″ or 14 x 9 x 22, and weigh up to 50 pounds. If luggage exceeds the 50-pound limit or dimensions, additional charges will apply. These can be as much as $50 to $100. For example, one piece of 50-70 pound luggage incurs a surcharge of $50 or more each way; 71-100 pound luggage incurs a surcharge of $100 each way.

American Airlines: American Airlines baggage fees are consistent with the US Air fees. American Airlines is charging $20 each way for the first piece of checked luggage and $30 each way for the second piece of checked luggage. Again, the 50-pound limit on each bag is enforced and bags over limit will be charged additional fees.

Delta: For those flying Delta, the first checked bag is $20 each way and the second bag is $30 each way. Similar to US Air and American Airlines, the 50-pound weight limit applies. Extra fees for overweight bags are applied. For example, a piece of luggage weighing 51-70 pounds is $90 for each bag, each way.

United: In keeping with the other major US Airlines, United has also instituted a similar fee for all checked baggage. The first piece of luggage incurs a $20 fee each way and the second piece is $30 each way. The 50-pound weight rule applies to most flyers. If any bags weigh more than 50 lbs or exceed 62 inches in length and/or any checked bags are considered special items a fee of $125 will be charged each way. United will not accept luggage that weighs over 100 pounds.

In conclusion, it is best to travel light to save both money and time. If student travelers must pack heavy, they need to be prepared to pay the extra fees at check-in. Remember, luggage fees for overweight bags and in most cases — for any checked bags –are collected each way. For information about arranging a student trip to any U.S. Destination, email info@educationaltravelconsultants.com or visit the Request a Quote page. An Educational Travel Consultant will answer your inquiry as quickly as possible.

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Unforgettable Senior Class Trips: Universal Studios and Walt Disney World Orlando Florida

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Senior Year-A Time to Remember

Most high school students consider senior year the most important year of high school. It is a time when teens get to reap the benefits of hard work, celebrate the beginning of adulthood and spend time with friends they will always remember. Senior class trips are just one of the events students most look forward to before graduation. It is important that a senior class trip be memorable, fun and special. Orlando, Florida offers a variety of destinations perfect for teens including Universal Studios Park and Walt Disney World.

Grad Nights-Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Events Created Specifically for Senior Class Trips

The best way to plan a senior class trip to Orlando, Florida is to organize around Grad Nights. Grad Nights are held at both Walt Disney World Orlando Florida and Universal Studios Orlando. Each year for two nights in April Walt Disney World Orlando FL opens up only to high school seniors from 10 PM to 4 AM. Major park rides and attractions make the evening unforgettable. Universal Studios Orlando also features a one night of Grad Bash at the Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure. In the past performances by Brandy, Brittney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Goo Goo Dolls and more have rocked teen audiences, as well as dance parties and thrilling rides.

Universal Studios Theme Park and Islands of Adventure

Beyond just the annual Grad Bash the Universal Studios Theme Park and Islands of Adventure offer thrilling adventures for students and chaperones alike. According to UniversalOrlando.com, “the world’s most cutting edge rides, shows and attractions challenge all your senses.” Enjoy the breathtaking 3-D ride, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk Coaster, Jurassic Park River Adventure and much more.

Great Ideas for Student Trips to Walt Disney World Orlando Florida Theme Parks

Walt Disney World Orlando Florida has four theme parks to explore, all of which provide superb entertainment, food, rides and educational experiences.

—Epcot: The 300-acre Epcot Theme Park is home to Future World and the World Showcase. Future World offers inspiring attractions and entertainment focused on technological advancement and scientific innovation. The World Showcase contains multiple pavilions and a lagoon where 11 countries are represented: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom and Canada. Live performances and interactive activities can be found throughout Epcot.

—Animal Kingdom: The Animal Kingdom Theme Park houses more than 1,700 animals from 250 species on 500 acres. Animal Kingdom is divided into 7 areas where visitors encounter wildlife firsthand: Oasis, Discovery Island, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia and Dinoland, U.S.A.

—Hollywood Studios: Hollywood Studios provides students with the chance to see behind-the-scenes glimpses of Hollywood life. Created to appear like a busy movie set, Hollywood Studios celebrates the glamour of the 1930s and 40s. Students can also enjoy new attractions like the American Idol Experience. Discover the magic of stardom at Hollywood Studios.

—Magic Kingdom: Magic Kingdom was created to capture fairy tale enchantment. Magic Kingdom has 7 distinct sections students and adults will love: Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown Fair and Tomorrowland. Let fantasy become reality at Magic Kingdom.

Walt Disney World Orlando FL Water Parks

Walt Disney World Orlando Florida has two water parks students can visit during a senior class trip.

—Typhoon Lagoon Water Park: According to legend the Typhon Lagoon Water Park was created accidentally by a storm. Now waterslides of all shapes and sizes, Mount Mayday, the surf pool and snorkeling in Shark Reef are the main attractions.

—Blizzard Beach Water Park: Blizzard Beach is home to one of the world’s fastest, tallest waterslides. Supposedly created when an unexpected snowstorm hit Florida, Blizzard Beach is one of the only water parks in the country with a ski theme. Blizzard Beach is the perfect place to cool off in the hot Florida weather.

Exciting Evening Entertainment for a Senior Class Trip

While on a senior class trip students can enjoy once in a lifetime dining and entertainment experiences at some of Florida’s most popular theme restaurants. The Medieval Times, Pirates and Arabian Nights Dinner Theaters offer the exhilaration of authentic, live reenactments. The Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood provide a more metropolitan style of dining and students can enjoy learning more about the music and Hollywood icons they adore.

Student and senior class trips to Orlando, Florida are an excellent way to give students a chance to learn about the world around them and have wonderful experiences with friends. So don’t wait, start planning a student travel tour or senior class trip to Walt Disney World Orlando Florida or Universal Studios Parks today. Email info@educationaltravelconsultants.com for more information, or Request a Quote today.

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Celebrate Graduating Seniors in Style: Plan the Ultimate Senior Class Trip to New York City

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Educational Student Tours to NYC Designed for Senior Class Enjoyment

A senior class trip can be one of a student’s most memorable high school experiences and is often the first time many teens have been on their own with their friends. It is a taste of adulthood most seniors savor. Unlike other educational field trips and student travel tours, a senior class trip is really about bonding and celebration. New York City is a popular senior class trip destination because of the city’s history, size and limitless options for entertainment, arts and culture. The metropolitan areas around NYC are rich with museums, sports events, concerts, theaters, festivals, parks, shopping and history. These places are perfect for day trips while on a senior class adventure.

Recommended Destinations to Explore on a Senior Class Trip to NYC

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey
Six Flags Great Adventure is a popular destination for senior class trips. A quick ride from New York City to Jackson, New Jersey, students will enjoy a variety of educational presentations, as well as the thrill of the area’s best amusement park rides. Students can book guided, educational Safari tours of a 350-acre wildlife preserve, home to over 1,200 exotic animals from 6 continents. Brown bears, giraffes, elephants, rhinoceros, lions and kangaroos are just a few of the animals currently living there. Physics, Math and Science days are also organized each year. Concerts featuring performers such as Raven Symone, Lee Ann Rimes and Flo Rida are planned for the summer. Seniors will have great fun on Great Adventure’s most popular amusement park rides including the Dark Knight Coaster, Superman: Ultimate Flight and Batman the Ride.

The Medieval Times Dinner Show in Lyndhurst, New Jersey

The Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament first started in Majorca, Spain in 1973 and since then has delighted audiences across North America. Medieval Times is dedicated to serving delicious food and providing exceptional entertainment. Special attention is paid to the accuracy of all weapons, costumes, equestrian skills and storylines. Medieval Times has castles in New Jersey, Florida, California, Illinois, Texas, Toronto (Ontario), South Carolina, Maryland and Georgia. Diners are seated in areas named after the regions of medieval Spain and encouraged to cheer for the knight representing their region during the tournaments. This is an unforgettable experience, perfect for any senior class trip.

Dinner at Mars 2112: Make Your Senior Class Trip Out of this World!

If you want to have a dinner on your senior class trip that is out of this world Mars 2112 Restaurant is an excellent choice. Mars 2112 is a space themed restaurant sci-fi fans will love. It is located in the heart of Times Square and combines the fantasy and reality of space to spark the imagination. A truly unique dining experience, the 35,000 square foot space includes a view of the Martian sky and a 300 square foot window looking out onto the Martian landscape

Sports Events: Plan to See the New York Yankees, Mets, Knicks, Jets or Rangers on a NYC Senior Class Trip

In New York City student tours and field trips have the opportunity to see a variety of well-known sports teams. This kind of event can be the perfect outing for a high school senior trip. Visit the incredible Yankees Stadium or go to the Citi Field to see the NY Mets. If major league baseball isn’t a favorite then plan to see the New York Knicks play basketball, the NY Rangers play hockey or the New York Jets play football. The Knicks offer basketball clinics and camps for youth that are a great addition to any senior class trip. The NY Jets have plans in 2010 to open a new Jets Stadium, a permanent home for the football team. The NY Rangers also run the Junior Rangers Program and youth hockey camps for students.

See New York City in a Different Light on a Spirit Dinner & Dance Cruise

You are only a high school senior once; that is why senior class trips are so important to students across the country. For many students it is the last trip they will take with high school friends before college begins. One way to make a high school senior trip spectacular is to plan a Cruise around Manhattan. Dinner is provided and dancing encouraged. Cruises can be booked during the day or in the evening, but sunset cruises are the most popular. As you circle Manhattan you will also have an amazing vantage point from which to see historic landmarks of New York City such as: the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, the World Trade Center site, South Street Seaport, Governor’s Island, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Senior class trips should be an extraordinary moment in time, a rite of passage, an acknowledgement of all the students have accomplished and what they will go on to achieve in the future. Make the experience unforgettable when you plan a high school senior trip to New York City. Email info@educationaltravelconsultants.com or Request a Quote today.

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Take a Science Focused Student Trip to Orlando, FL

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Educators who have not yet sampled Disney’s Youth Education Series (Y.E.S.) need to take note. Teachers, administrators and parents will find the programs appealing on many levels. Student travel groups participate in interactive learning experiences aligned with National Standards in education. Many of Disney’s Y.E.S. programs appeal to the 6-12 grade levels. Some Y.E.S. programs are geared for audiences beginning in third grade. Consider building a science-focused itinerary to Orlando, FL with trips to Disney Theme Parks such as Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom on the itinerary and learning as a top priority.

Student travel leaders can chose to immerse groups in Natural Science, Physical Science, or select Y.E.S. programs from each category. For the student travel organizer who is looking for resources and justification for a trip to Disney World, these Y.E.S. Programs are structured to meet educational objectives as well as creating a fun environment for active learning.


Epcot Center Offers a World of Discovery for Student Groups

Disney’s Ocean Discoveries is a program facilitated by Epcot Living Sea Educators who are trained and knowledgeable about Marine Science. Students will learn about challenges to the marine environments of: dolphins, sharks, sea turtles and manatees. They will also take an active role in a town hall meeting about a conservation issue and swap places with the animals from the deep to understand how they are trained and cared for.

Animal Kingdom Offers Exceptional Active Learning Experiences

Disney’s Team Up for Wildlife is a program that takes student groups through Animal Kingdom while encouraging them to think about engagement with the world of nature as an experience informed by ethical conservation. Student travel groups will learn how humans impact the eco-system of animals, alternative energy sources in nature, Native American beliefs about animals and the natural world, and ecotourism. Or, student groups may want to experience Disney’s Wild by Nature, where participants will collect data on animal behaviors. Student travelers will also learn how animals adapt and survive in the wild. The issue of conservation is posed in this program as well. Students learn how humans may help or hinder animal survival by paying attention to consumption of resources. These programs are appropriate for grades 3-9.

Magic Kingdom’s Energy in Waves for Student Groups Offers Exceptional Learning Experiences

If student experiences are geared more towards the physical sciences, Disney’s Y.E.S. programs have a great deal to offer. Synergy in Science is an educational program for 1st -5th graders and taught by Disney Y.E.S. Cast Members. Students will learn to use tinker toys to collaborate and communicate, watch a 3D film and learn about light polarization, and engage with and examine the imaginative process with Figment. Disney’s World of Physics: Energies and Waves is designed for 3rd to 12th graders and is a great active learning experience that helps student investigate the nature of light and sound waves, and understand how both can be manipulated. Student groups will learn many scientific facts about sound. Compression waves, mediums, frequencies, and speed of sound are some of the topics covered. Student groups will also learn about light by viewing the electromagnetic spectrum. Groups will see how light is reflected and refracted and absorbed. As a final component to the lesson on light, presenters will give an overview of how the illusion of the Haunted Mansion is created by manipulation of light.

World of Physics: Properties in Motion

Appropriate for grade levels 3-12, Disney’s World of Physics: Properties of Motion is another active learning experience that is taught in Magic Kingdom. This Y.E.S program is an up-close examination of roller coasters and how they exhibit certain laws of motion such as speed, velocity, acceleration, kinetic energy, centripetal force, and positive g-force and lateral g-force. The Walt Disney World Resort Monorail Transportation System and Disney’s Space Mountain are two of the rides used as examples.

As any educator can plainly see, Disney has done a wonderful job of creating high quality interactive educational experiences in the parks that will engage and fascinate students while they learn. If students are headed for Orlando, schedule the group for a Y.E.S. program to deepen the educational experience. Email info@educationaltravelconsultants.com or Request a Quote for a Science Focused trip to Orlando.

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Student Group Travel: Take a Band Trip to New York City

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A high school band trip is one of the most exciting moments in the school year for the student musician. For the high school band, a trip to New York City could mean the ultimate in performance opportunity.

There are certainly plenty of choices for a student group interested in performing in either an adjudicated music festival setting or a performance that is not judged in New York City. This article will give band leaders, music teachers and other student trip planners an overview of some of the major performance and adjudicated music festival venues in the New York City area.

Take the Band to an Adjudicated Music Festival at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey

For high school bands that wish to compete, Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ is just a short bus ride from New York City, and offers superb stages outfitted with excellent equipment. Perform in the auditorium and spend the rest of the day at Six Flags riding the roller coasters, log flumes, and other fun activities.

The Six Flags Music Fest usually occurs in mid-May and is a great opportunity to perform and compete. Bands who do not want to compete in the adjudicated music festival with other schools may still perform and receive a rating from judges. This Six Flags Music Festivals are attended by high school bands, orchestras, ensembles, and choirs from across the United States. Six Flags Great Adventure provides musical performance stages with microphones and amplifiers as well as some percussion instruments.

Adjudicated Music Festivals Held at Universities and Colleges in Early Spring

College is still in session in early spring. Many high school bands that visit New York City compete at two universities within a short distance: Montclair State University or Rutgers University. Student band trip planners may book adjudicated appearances March-April.

Student performances are staged and judged in college auditoriums and award dinner ceremonies are held at nearby restaurants. The benefits of performing in a collegiate setting include ample seating, excellent acoustics and a quality sound system set-up and ready for student performances. Many of the judges are well known as musicians and directors of the finest bands and orchestras in this country.

Band Trips: Perform at New York City Venues

If the high school band wants to perform publicly in New York City without adjudication there are some wonderful venues to select from that will give the students excellent visibility. The company I own, Educational Travel Consultants, has booked student performance groups at the Statue of Liberty, United Nations, or Lincoln Center. Consider one of these locations as a place to reach out and find a wider audience for a high school band. Remember to book well in advance (6 months to one year) to ensure the performance will take place at the chosen venue.

Complement public performances for the high school bands with some exciting itinerary choices. Add some variety to the student travel itinerary. Many student trips to New York City tour Lincoln Center, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or Chinatown. Student groups may enjoy some of the best art museums in the world or take in a Broadway show. Students may also visit some of the finest delicatessens in the U.S. and dine at the Hard Rock Cafe, or a Medieval Dinner theater.

Most importantly, work with an educational travel consultant who is experienced in music festivals and touring New York City. Whatever a student group trip planner chooses for entertainment and dining — a qualified student travel consultant will assist in building an excellent trip to New York City designed specifically for the high school band. Email info@educationaltravelconsultants.com.

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A Senior Class Trip to Washington D.C. with Some Fun Sprinkled On Top

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by Howard Clemens

For high school seniors, two events define their final year: the senior class trip and the prom. Spring is the time to celebrate senior year together by taking one last trip as a class. For those student trips looking for excitement and world class entertainment, a trip in and around the Washington D.C. may be in order. Here are some ideas on what to include on an itinerary for a senior class trip that will be unforgettable.

A Day at the Beach: Ocean City Maryland
What better way is there to spend at least one day on the senior class trip then at the beach relaxing, sunning and enjoying the surf. Ocean City, Maryland is just a short bus ride from Washington D.C. and provides one of the widest beaches and largest boardwalks on the East Coast. Students can spend some time on the beach, then head for the boardwalk to visit arcades, amusement parks, and shop for souvenirs.

Go to the Game: See the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitols in the Spring or the Baltimore Orioles in Summer or Fall
Many students who visit from different areas of the United States do not live in towns or cities where there are major league baseball, hockey or football teams. A visit to the Washington D.C. area is the perfect opportunity to have a night out at the ballgame. Baltimore Orioles or Washington Nationals are an introduction to the major leagues for many students. In the early spring, student trips can see the Washington Wizards play basketball or the Washington Nationals play professional hockey. Whatever the student group leader’s preference for the choice of game, attendance is bound to be a great experience.

Spend the day at Six Flags America Theme Park
Just a half hour from downtown Washington D.C. is a student favorite: the Six Flags America Theme Park. There are serious roller coasters and other thrilling rides as well as a water park. Entertainment includes live music and performances all day long and into the evening. Student groups can enjoy a diverse choice of food, shopping, and games when they take a break from rides.

Dance the Night Away on a Spirit D.J. Dinner Dance Cruise on the Potomac River
Washington D.C. Spirit Cruises has a special event that appeals to young audiences: they host some of the best DJs in Washington D.C. for the evening. Students will definitely remember the Dinner Dance Cruise on the Potomac River. They will have a Grande Buffet Dinner and enjoy a three-hour cruise of Washington harbor with panoramic views of the city, including some of the monuments.

Take in a Show: Medieval Times Dinner Show or a Broadway Dinner Show
Students trips that journey a short distance into Maryland will be intrigued by the Medieval Times Dinner Show, which includes a jousting tournament with knights in armor who also fight with swords as entertainment. A four-course meal is served during the tournament. If the group is not in the mood for a medieval tournament, then perhaps a Broadway Dinner Show would be in order. The Broadway shows that make it to Washington D.C. are on par with those performed regularly in Manhattan. Many of the most popular Broadway musicals, such as Wicked and High School Musical have been performed in the area.

For a senior class trip, the choices for entertainment in and around the Washington D.C. area are interesting, fun, and memorable. Washington D.C. is more than the nation’s capital; it is also a diverse, large urban area with many different choices for dining and entertainment. Remember to book a senior class trip to Washington D.C. with a qualified educational travel consultant.

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Take a Student Trip to Lowell, Massachusetts and Journey Back to the Beginning of the Industrial Revolution

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by Howard Clemens

When bringing a student group to tour Boston, you may also want to consider adding a short excursion to Lowell, Massachusetts. Lowell was founded as a manufacturing town in the Merrimack Valley and is considered the “cradle of the American Industrial Revolution.” Also the birthplace of author Jack Kerouac, Lowell is rich with history and stories of the beginning of the United States.

Historical Sites of Interest to Student Groups
Lowell is home to the Lowell National Historical Park, a 141-acre park. Though it is not the first urban national park, it is the largest in the country. The park includes a Visitor Center, and many restored and un-restored sites from the 19th century. The Visitor Center provides a free self-guided student tour of the history of Lowell, including exhibits such as the patent model of a loom by local inventor S. Thomas. The visitor center also includes a 20 minute video entitled “Lowell: The Industrial Revolution.”

Right Outside of Boston, Mass. Lowell Provides Insight into the Industrial Revolution
The Boott Mills sit along the Merrimack River, on the Eastern Canal, and are the oldest and most fully restored manufacturing sites in the district. The Boott Mill provides a walk-through museum with living re-creations of the textile manufacturing process in the 19th century. Adjacent to the Boot Mills is the Tsongas Industrial History Center, a hands-on center where weaving, creating canals, testing water wheels and working on an assembly line are some of the interactive activities for students.
A walkway along the river leads to several additional un-restored mill sites, providing views of restored and un-restored canal raceways once used by the mills. Additionally, the park includes the Patrick J Mogan Cultural Center, which focuses on the lives of Lowell’s many generations of immigrants.

The park includes a 5.6 mile power canal system. Boat and trolley tours along the Pawtucket Canal are offered late Spring through fall. Reproductions of 1901 electric trolley cars operate Spring through Fall. Other exhibits include canal boat tours exploring some of the city’s gatehouses and locks and the River Transformed/Suffolk Mill Turbine Exhibit, which shows how water power, namely the Francis Turbine, was once used to run Lowell’s textile factories.

Lowell is also home to Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Vandenberg Esplanade, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell Radiation Laboratory which houses a small nuclear reactor. Lowell is the birthplace of Jack Kerouac and Academy Award-winning actress Bette Davis. Jack Kerouac’s gravesite is in Lowell’s Edson Cemetery. Another literary historical site of interest to student tour groups is The Worthen House, where Edgar Allan Poe allegedly wrote “The Raven,” a story known to all American students.

Women’s History in Lowell, MA
The term “Lowell Mill Girls” is used to describe the city’s 19th century female textile workers, who comprised about 75 percent of the city’s textile workforce. In 1845, the women organized a group called the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association and demanded a ten-hour workday. The petition they sent to the Massachusetts General Court led to the first government investigations into labor conditions in the United States.

Lowell is also the birthplace of Mary Hallaran, former director of the United States Women’s Army Corps. When asked by a superior what someone of her short stature could do for the military, she famously replied, “You don’t have to be six feet tall to have a brain that works.”

Touring Lowell with Student Trips
The Western Avenue studios provide an artistic picture of Lowell’s culture for student groups. A converted mill on Western Avenue which houses over 160 working artists and musicians, the studios are open to the public on the 1st Saturday of each month from 12-5 p.m.

With Lowell’s textile history, it is particularly suited as home to the New England Quilt Museum. The Quilt Museum includes 150 quilts which showcase the history of American textiles in quilts and quilt tops. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and has special hours on Sundays from May through December. The museum also offers discount tickets to students.

Lowell, MA. is the Perfect Add on to a Boston Student Trip
The city uses old freight lines to run streetcars from the center of the city to many of the city’s historical destinations. It also runs a public transit bus system throughout the city and is connected to Boston through commuter rail making it easy for educational groups visiting Boston to add Lowell, Massachusetts to their itinerary. Your educational travel consultant can help you make the best arrangements for your student group.

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Learn the Importance of Science and Math: Plan a Student Trip to Boston, MA

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When it comes to science and math, student trips offer some of the most memorable and insightful experiences of a young person’s academic life. Boston, MA has long been considered one of the brightest spots for educational tours, as it offers customizable class trips to exciting destinations such as: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), The Boston Science Museum & the New England Aquarium. All of these venues showcase eye-opening exhibits highlighting: engineering, chemistry, space exploration, technology, medicine and much more.

Student Trips to MIT Celebrate the History of Science

MIT is home to some of the most innovative and profound breakthroughs in math and science in the world. If you’re planning a student trip, be sure to visit the Edgerton Center Corridor Lab (http://web.mit.edu/Edgerton/www/CorridorLab.html). This lab is filled with interactive displays that give students a hands-on demonstration of various scientific and engineering properties. The MIT Museum (http://web.mit.edu/museum/) has its share of wonders as well including Kismet, the world’s first sociable robot. Whether it’s holographic, oceanic or architectural, students are bound to find something that’s truly captivating.

The List Visual Arts Center is also located on MIT campus. Here students can explore the creative arts, science and mathematics, especially in the mixed-media art gallery. There are over 1,500 permanent pieces on display, and the center also frequently hosts temporary exhibitions by world-class artists such as Pablo Picasso and Michael Heizer.

Have a Hands-On Class Trip at the Boston Science Museum

The Boston Science Museum is a perfect destination for an upcoming math field trip, as space exploration is one of its most extensive exhibits. The museum includes over 700 permanent exhibits, as well as countless temporary exhibits and shows. For students of astronomy, the museum offers a planetarium with shows scheduled throughout the day. For students craving more visual stimulus, the museum also includes a high-end laser show, an HD 3D theatre that requires no glasses to witness, and an IMAX theatre. All in all, the museum offers an in-depth, exciting look into life sciences, earth and space sciences, math, physics and nanotechnology. And best of all, group rates are available for student trips.

Discover the Seas at the New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium is a must-stop venue for any class trip. The aquarium sees over 1.5 million visitors per year, and they have experts standing by for customized educational tours (http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/index.php). With over 20,000 animals on site, student tours will get an intimate look at African penguins, Atlantic Harbor seals, sea dragons, and even a giant Pacific octopus.

One of the aquarium’s greatest draws is the 200,000-gallon salt-water tank. It stands over four stories tall and gives guests the opportunity to see a Caribbean ecosystem first-hand. The tank has over 600 species inside and can be viewed from all angles, including a view straight down into the coral reef from above.

For student groups interested in a Whale Watch, schedule a time to take the Voyager II, a high-speed catamaran that takes groups 30 miles off the coast of Boston to the whale feeding grounds. Voyager II leaves from the New England Aquarium dock. Whale watching is seasonal so check with an educational travel consultant to see if it is in sync with the student trip being planned.

Explore More on a Student Trip Boston

Boston has long been considered one of America’s brightest cities. Student trips can also include popular historic destinations in and around the city such as the Boston Commons, the Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, the Freedom Trail, Salem, Walden Pond, Faneuil Hall, the U.S.S. Constitution, Quincy Market and more. Its streets are lined with history, and its universities are admired throughout the world. An educational science tour through the halls of MIT will undoubtedly make a lasting impression. And whether it’s the vast expanses of space at the Museum of Science or the brimming life in our oceans at the New England Aquarium, one cannot help but feel a rare sense of awe and wonder at the utter complexity and magnificence of planet Earth and all its inhabitants.

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Boston, Massachusetts is Ideal for Student Trips

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If you are looking for a great destination for a history or social studies tour, Boston is an ideal choice for an educational trip with students. Boston, MA is a city steeped in American history from the Puritans who founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 to the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution to America’s first subway. Student tours in and around Boston are easily managed in what is known as the “Walking City.”

Boston is an indoor-outdoor museum of history and architecture. All educational trips to Boston should include at least a portion of the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is 2.5 mile walking tour through Boston that winds its way around 16 significant historic sites from the USS Constitution to the Boston Commons. Guided tours are available for student groups but the Freedom Trail is well-marked and the Freedom Trail Foundation offers maps and other resources for educators at www.thefreedomtrail.org.

Educational Travel to Boston: Excursion to Lexington and Concord
Boston was one of the epicenters of the American Revolution. It was home to many famous patriots including Paul Revere, best remembered for his ride through the countryside warning the Minute Men that the British were marching toward Concord. Lexington and Concord, the sites of the first battles of the American Revolution, are just west of downtown Boston. Here history students can come face-to-face with the Daniel Chester French’s Minute Man statue and the Old North Bridge where the Massachusetts militia defeated the British shortly after the “shot heard ’round the world” was fired.

Adjacent to the Old North Bridge is the Old Manse, the ancestral home of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Nathaniel Hawthorne lived and wrote in the Old Manse for three years and Henry David Thoreau tilled a garden there for Hawthorne and his wife. Not far away, students can visit Walden Pond where Thoreau lived and wrote in semi seclusion for two years. History, social studies, and American literature almost come to life for students in Concord and Lexington, Massachusetts.

Student Trips to Boston Should Include Salem
A short jaunt north along the coast takes student groups to Salem, a town associated with one of the darkest and most fascinating episodes in American History: the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Museum takes student visitors back to Salem in 1692. The museum offers a dramatic history lesson through the use of stage sets, life-size figures, and a narrated overview of the Witch Trials. The museum also has an exhibit, Witches: Evolving Perceptions, examining the changing definitions of “witch” and “witchcraft,” stereotyping, witch hunts, and even the modern practice of Wicca. This exhibit also includes contemporary examples of witch hunts based on the “fear + trigger = scapegoat” formula, bringing the past into a present day perspective for students.

A Salem, Massachusetts building that will inspire students’ imaginations is the House of the Seven Gables, complete with a hidden staircase. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne, a descendent of Witch Trial judge, John Hawthorne, spent time in this house owned by his cousins, the Ingersols, when he was a child. Stories he heard about it merged with his family’s history in his dark romantic novel of the same name as the house. Hawthorne’s birthplace is now located on the grounds of the House of the Seven Gables as well.

Include Plymouth in Student Trips to Boston
A field trip to Boston, Massachusetts wouldn’t be complete without an excursion south along the coast to Plymouth. Here students can see Plymouth Rock where the Pilgrims first landed in 1620, visit the Mayflower II, and visit the living history museum, Plimoth Plantation. The plantation is located at the site of the first colony in New England. It recreates life in a Wampanoag village and a 1627 English settlement bringing two worlds together and to life making a great experience for students studying Native American and Colonial history. Teachers can find a variety of resources and curriculum guides for Plimoth Plantation on the museum’s Web site, www.plimoth.org.


Educational Trips to Boston are Enriching Experiences
Educational travel to Boston, Mass. can include many other points of interest like the New England Aquarium and the Museum of Science. Student trips to Boston can also feature whale watching trips or even a Boston Red Sox game. Contact an experienced educational travel consultant to help you plan the best trip for your student group.

Articles, Washington D.C.

Planning an Exciting Band Trip: Educational Student Tours Near Washington DC

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In today’s modern world planning student trips everyone will enjoy can be a daunting task. Planning a trip for the high school or junior high band can add even more complexity. Band trips can be designed to have something for everyone. If a student group plans to attend one of Washington D.C.’s most popular festivals, the trip can be designed to suit music and art students. Here are a few suggestions for your next student band trip.

A Band Trip to Washington D.C.: The Annual Cherry Blossom Festival

In 1912 Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gave the gift of 3,000 cherry trees to the city of Washington D.C. in honor of the relationship between the United States and Japan. In 1915 the United States returned the sentiment with a gift of flowering dogwoods for the people of Japan. By 1935 the first Cherry Blossom Festival was held and the tradition has continued ever since. Currently over one million people visit Washington DC each year to see the cherry trees in full glory and to enjoy different festival events, which include the annual Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is one of the highlights of the festival each year. Huge parade balloons, musical performers, celebrities, marching bands and more fill Constitution Avenue while TV stations broadcast the parade live. The parade features a wide variety music including:

1. Singers like American Idol finalist (2nd season) Kimberly Locke, Grammy winner Thelma Houston, Disney Radio star Joey Page and Miss America 2009 Katie Stam.
2. Student Performers come from far and wide to play at the festival. Students from the Creative and Performing Arts High School in Philadelphia, the All-Star Tap Team and Youth Choir and marching bands from as far as Elko High School in Nevada make it to the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.
3. Broadway performances by the cast of Chicago and songs from Mamma Mia! have also been part of the festival and the Broadway tradition will likely continue.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is the perfect destination for a high school band trip to Washington DC, whether students want to watch on the sidelines or participate in the parade fun. To plan an extra special band trip consider attending the 2012 Cherry Blossom Festival, the centennial anniversary of Japan’s beautiful gift to the nation’s capital. Always plan at least a year or more in advance to schedule band performances in the parade. Be certain to work with a qualified student travel professional that has experience in putting together band trips.

Make Sure to Wear Green on Your Student Trip to the Washington D.C. St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Another great plan for a high school band trip is to attend or participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Washington, DC. Started in 1971, the annual St. Pat’s parade is a community endeavor supported by the Irish American Club and city officials. Each year a noteworthy person is chosen as the parade Grand Marshall. A parade theme is announced and the honored title of Gael of the Year is bestowed on a deserving member of the community.

Invitations are sent to marching bands, performers, organizations, floats and groups the parade committee feels are appropriate for the parade celebration. Student band trip itineraries can be created to secure great seating to watch the parade or groups can schedule time to perform in the parade. To learn more about receiving an invitation for your band visit the parade web site at www.dcstpatsparade.com.

A Band Trip to Virginia Students Will Love: The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival

Each year more than 250,000 visitors descend upon the small town of Winchester, Virginia to enjoy a week of fun activities that comprise the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. For student trips headed to Washington D.C. the Apple Blossom Festival is a great addition. Since 1924, the annual festival has grown to include parades, dances, band competitions, floats, a 10K run, music, a carnival, a circus, sporting, events, car shows, craft shows, delicious food and the traditional Apple Blossom Pageant.

High school band trips, student musical tours and student performance trips to Washington D.C. can all be planned around the Apple Blossom Festival. Musically inclined students may enjoy seeing some famous faces. In the past the Apple Blossom Festival has been proud to host celebrities like Fantasia Barrino, Wayne Newton, Sea Astin, Dan Akyroyd, Katie Couric, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Lucille Ball who have served as grand marshals. In 2009 American Idol star Bucky Covington will headline the week’s concerts.

A must see event for band trips and student groups is the Coronation of Queen Shenandoah and the annual Pageant. The coronation ceremony is fashioned after the ceremonies of the British monarchy and the Pageant originally featured a performance by over 1,000 local school children. The annual Pageant has been held on the steps of Handley High School since 1925 and the traditional Royal Command Performance is presented by the Handley Singers.

If you are planning a band trip, student performance tour or a simple group excursion festivals can be an excellent plan whether you are in Washington DC, New York City, Philadelphia or anywhere else in the United States. Email info@educationaltravelconsultants.com or Request a Quote for a student travel company that can help manage all of the details, itineraries and events.