1. Waukee 7th Grade D.C. Trip
Spring Break 2016 March 12-15

2. When will the trip take place?
Depart- Saturday, March 12th (early morning)
Return- Tuesday, March 15th (late evening arrival)
Trip is a total of 4 days & 3 nights

3. Who may participate?
Any student in 7th grade at WMS or SMS during the school year.
Parents may accompany students if space is available.

4. What is the cost? Student Price (Quad Occupancy)=
$1498 before May 22
$1598 after May 22
Parent Price (Double Occupancy)=
$1738 before May 22
-- $1838 after May 22
Deposit of only $49 secures your spot.
Trip Insurance= $159

5. What is included in the price of the trip?
The trip is all-inclusive
All meals with choice of food
Teacher chaperones, 1:10 ratio
Hotel security assigned to our group
Excellent hotel accommodations
Deluxe sight-seeing bus
Round trip airfare (charter) and transfers
Guided site-seeing with a Course Leader
World Strides Staff/24 hour service
All taxes, tips
All admissions
Personal, accident, & dental insurance
Panoramic group color photo in front of Capitol

6. Crystal City Marriott

7. Students enjoying our hotel breakfast buffet

8. Dinner at the
Hard Rock Cafe

9. Superior Tours Charter Bus

10. Will students need additional money above the price of the tour?
How much spending money is sent with students (if any) is determined by you.
All necessities are covered in the price of the trip.
Students will only need extra money if they wish to purchase souvenirs, items from vending machines at the hotel, etc…

13. We LOVE D.C.
Girls by bus
Kids by bus

14. Why are you telling me about this trip nearly a year in advance?
To give parents the opportunity to begin making plans well in advance.
Many families require students to pay for a portion of their own trip. Students can use the upcoming summer vacation to begin earning money! 
Payment plan
Scholarship Money

15. What places will we visit?
Our trip will consist of nearly 4 full days of sightseeing and 3 overnights.
We will leave the hotel at approximately a.m. and return about 8:30-9:00 p.m. We will stay busy!
A list of specific sites, with links, is provided on my website

16. Some of the places we will visit…
The White House
The U.S. Capitol
Smithsonian Museums
U.S. Holocaust Museum
Arlington National Cemetery
Lincoln Memorial
Vietnam Memorial
Korean Memorial
FDR Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
MLK Memorial
Washington Monument
Mt. Vernon
National Archives
Ford’s Theater
Iwo Jima Memorial
Pentagon 9/11 Memorial
WWII Memorial

17. Lincoln
Memorial
Lincoln Memorial

18. Vietnam Veterans Memorial

19. Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

20. The
United States Capitol

21. A perfect day at Mt. Vernon!

22. Wreath Laying Ceremony

23. Wreath Laying Ceremony

24. Waukee Wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

25. The White House

26. Sample itinerary in your packets

27. Safety & Security Night Security Doctors on Call
We employ night chaperones to ensure the safety & security of the students. Night chaperones monitor hotel hallways from late evening to early morning, so teachers & parents can rest peacefully knowing that the students are safe throughout the night.
WorldStrides has an exclusive partnership with The George Washington University Depapartment of Emergency Medicine, allowing for 24-hour in-hotel emergency care to all our traveling students, parents, and teachers.

28. WorldStrides Lanyards
Tour Central
WorldStrides Lanyards
Staff at the Tour Central offices in Washington, D.C. are available 24 hours a day via phone while we are traveling. These trained professionals are prepared to answer your questions and handle emergencies that may arise at any time.
All students are given a WorldStrides name tag to wear while traveling. The back of the tag contains the Tour Central phone number, giving every student quick access to a WorldStrides employee in the unlikely event that he/ she is separated from the group.

29. Color Groups
Our large group is divided into smaller color groups of approximately travelers.
The “go-to” teacher for all of your child’s needs while traveling
Shepherds students through the sites
Does room check at night, and makes sure students are awake in the morning
Distributes lunch money
Helps you with medications students may take.
Provides TLC 
Will begin meeting with their groups in January

30. Is this trip “like school”? 
Educational
AND Fun!
Excellent real-world connections to both 7th and 8th grade social studies classes
A certified course-leader for each bus
Guided site-seeing with “discoveries” at each location
Safe environment to practice independence 
Choice of roommates
Chance to bond and make new friends
Itinerary is geared toward a 7th grade attention span and interest level
Social opportunities embedded in the itinerary (pool, ghost tour, private museum rental…)

31. Educational
AND
Fun!

32. Discovery for Credit
Middle Schoolers cannot receive credit in our district, but can take the class for enrichment
-World Strides is fully accredited
-Upon completion of the course, student will receive official transcript
-Great practice for online courses
- FREE, 6 mos to complete

33. https://blogs.waukeeschools.org/dctrip/
What are the next steps?
Soon…
In the Fall…
Visit my website for more info to help with your decision
$49 deposit to reserve spot and set up payment plan
FLAG Scholarship?
Gift of Education?
Fundraising? (Need parent volunteers)
Monthly newsletters ( )
Choose roommates
Medical Releases/Behavior Contracts
Pre-Travel Meeting in February
Final Itinerary/Flight Details