Planning for a student trip is essential for a family to properly prepare for the financial and logistic aspects of a student trip. Although it may seem intimidating to send your child on what may be their first trip across the country, 7th and 8th grade students have risen to the occasion for over 23 years traveling with us to Springfield, St. Louis, and Washington DC.
4th, 5th and 6th grade students and parents are encouraged to complete the trip interest form below to help ensure that you are aware of future signup and application dates during 7th and 8th grade. Providing your information is not an obligation of trip participation, and is simply an effort to ensure that you do not miss out on this great educational opportunity.
FAQ
7th Grade Springfield/St. Louis Trip Information
- Open to IPSD 204 7th grade students in good standing.
- Information meetings and signup for the trip takes place in late January of 7th grade year
- The trip takes place over Memorial Day weekend.
- Students will ride a luxury coach bus from their home school to Springfield, IL and to St. Louis, MO
- Along the way, students will tour the New State Capital, Old State Capital, Lincoln Museum, Lincoln Tomb, Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Illinois Korean Veterans Memorial, Illinois WWII Veterans Memorial, Abraham & Mary Todd Lincoln Home, St. Louis Arch and Six Flags Missouri.
8th Grade Washington DC Trip Information
- Open to IPSD 204 8th grade students in good standing.
- Information meetings and signup for the trip takes place in late September.
- The trip takes place over Presidents’ Day weekend.
- Students will fly to the D.C. Area and tour Washington D.C. on a luxuary coach bus for three days.
- During the DC tour we will visit Mt. Vernon, US Capitol Building, Ford’s Theatre, Newseum, Holocaust Museum, National Archives, Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center, Rec Center, National Air & Space Museum, American History Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, Changing of the Guards at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Pentagon, and many Monuments and Memorials (Vietnam, World War II, Korean War, Air Force, 9-11, Washington, FDR, Lincoln, Jefferson, MLK.) If time allows, we will visit additional Smithsonian Museums and local sites. Our personal tour guide is a wealth of knowledge about local history and sites.
What’s Included
- The tour price includes all transportation, tickets, hotel, guides, food.
- Coach bus transportation to airport. (DC Trip)
- Round Trip flight (DC Trip)
- Luxury coach bus will give students front door access to our sites.
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner choices give students flexibility for meals.
- Deluxe hotel accommodations
- Experienced tour guides provide students with details you don’t learn in class.
- Opportunity for essay winners to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the DC trip. The same ceremony that presidents take part in on Veterans day.
- Let you child’s first trip away from home be supervised by veteran certified teachers.
- Optional Trip Insurance will refund your money if you need to cancel for any reason. (Included on Springfield trip)
Q: HOW ARE ROOMMATES CHOSEN?
A: Students are first given the opportunity to choose roommate if they would like to. Teacher/Chaperones will then use their knowledge and familiarity of students to match student with others who will room well together. Keep in mind that you are only with your roommate for the few hours we are sleeping at the hotel. If you don’t know your roommates, you may end up with several new friends by the end of the trip.
Q: WHAT IF I DON’T KNOW ANYONE ON THE TRIP?
A: Past trip participants have told us that they have formed many new friendships on this trip. You are touring, eating, and traveling together. This trip gives you something in common with everyone else on the trip. Nothing sparks a new friendship like a common experience.
Q: WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH THE TRIP?
A: This trip is a true all- inclusive trip. All flights, fees, food, lodging, tickets, tips, and a souvenir poster photo are included. The only additional money you may want to bring is for additional souvenirs.
Q: ARE THERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FINANCIAL HELP?
A: Exciting new fundraising, planning, and scholarship tools are being offered by our touring partners. Read more about these programs on our fundraising & scholarships page.
Planning ahead is really the key to sending your child on this once in a lifetime trip. If you start planning in 6th grade, $40/month will ensure you have collected the necessary funds for the Washington DC Trip. Early signup opportunities the year prior to your trip, will also offer discounts on the total trip price. Check the announcements page for details.
Q: HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO VISIT SO MANY SIGHTS IN ONLY THREE DAYS?
A: If you were to visit Washington D.C. on your own, you would discover that parking near tourist attractions is a challenge. Once you find parking, you will many times have quite a long walk to your destination. During our tour, we are picked up and dropped off at the front door of our destinations. This means we can focus all of our time on touring and not parking. Our personal tour guide also gives us access to “tour group only” entrances at many of our destinations, helping us to avoid long lines. We do more in three days, than most tourists are able to do in a full week.