Class Field Trips?

**Michelle** · 12-01-2005, 03:43 PM

Do you know in advance the upcoming field trips for your child? This is Kathryn's second field trip this year, and I've gotten a week's notice to come up with the money for them. The first time it was $17, and this time it's $20. I don't have the money for this. Grrrrr

**YankeeMom** · 12-01-2005, 04:24 PM

We usually get a week or two's notice. But we have never had to pay for their field trips. Not in this school district anyway. When we were in AL, they rarely had field trips but when they did the parents were expected to foot the bill. Those who couldn't afford it got to stay back at school in the library for the whole day

**Ssindi** · 12-01-2005, 04:27 PM

I know some teachers do that.We always planned our trips well in advance and gave parents plenty of time to pay, or timed payment around the first of the month.Then, we never had a trip over $10.Grade levels that had more expensive trips tried to do some type of fundraiser to help defray cost.Our school policy is also that no student be denied the trip for lack of funds.

**mommy2many** · 12-01-2005, 05:10 PM

We get about a week's notice and it costs anywhere from $5-$10 I have two in grade school and each has already gone on four trips this year yep that's right about $70 already this year!

**bevjean** · 12-01-2005, 05:36 PM

My oldest sons school only has one field trip at the end of the year. I think it usually costs $10 for a class Tshirt. They get to wear the shirt for track and field day and then for the field trip. So I guess that isn't too bad.

**AmyBoz** · 12-01-2005, 05:48 PM

We do small field trips in 6th and 7th grade. If there is a fee, the parents are told well in advance, and we do fundraisers to raise money for students who cannot go.

In 8th grade, we take our 8th graders to Washington, DC. This trip costs $250 per student. The notice goes out in September, the trip is in May. There are 3 deposit deadlines...$50 in October, $50 in January, $100 in April. We do two huge fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for students who cannot afford to pay for the trip. If you can pay, you are encouraged to do so, and parents are also encouraged to send in extra if they are able. I had one parent in my homeroom send in a check for $750. It paid for her son and 2 other students. They have the money and when I thanked her profusely, she said "We are so blessed to have this money...it means nothing if we don't use it wisely and generously."

**SHOPGIRL** · 12-01-2005, 06:03 PM

Well, I've been planning a bunch of field trips this year. Parent's usually get between 7-14 days from the time a note goes home till the time payment is due. If we know a field trip is coming up, we do let the kids know ahead of time of the cost. If we let kids have the paperwork too early, they lose it, forget about it, etc.... Our school doesn't cover any field trips at all. Our parents club helps out with $400 per 100 kids. This barely pays for the bus for one field trip. The hourly rate for school busses is $36, and if we have to use a private company, it is $52 an hour. We do raise a little money from the annual dance we sponser, and that helps defry costs some. Just about everything we do has an admission fee. So far this year, we've gone on 2 field trips. The first one was for a special program about democracy and the Henry Ford and that cost was $13 each, and the bus was another $8 per kid. The last trip we went on was to see a professional production of "The Christmas Carol", and that was $25 for the ticket and the bus. The next one we're going on should be about $10.

You might want to ask the teachers at the beginning of the year what sort of field trips they go on and the cost so you can budget for them. If money is really tight, it's important that you let the school or teacher know. Usually, money can be found to help kids who can't afford to attend. As a teacher, I have no access to this information. I have kids that don't go on field trips, but I don't know if it is financial.

Field trips are A LOT of work. It's not something we as teachers have to do. We try to pick interesting things to do that kids may not have the opportunity to do on their own. A lot of parents don't travel with their kids or make use of the cultural places in their area.

Also, sometimes parents have called me and I've accepted money a week later if they needed more time.

**Mom23boys** · 12-01-2005, 07:13 PM

We are planning a field trip next Thursday with our class. We sent home notes today. They are asked to send $3 for the trip. We have never asked for more than $4 for any trip we have every taken.

Mine DS#1 and 2 have went on field trips when they were in the 8th grade that cost $200. We were able to pay $50 every other month.

The local ISD usually sends home a note the week before and the money is due ASAP.

**Katybird** · 12-01-2005, 11:07 PM

It sure makes me appreciate my kids schools. My kiddos are all grown now but when they were in school, we never had a field trip that cost over about $5, that was usually for a meal that they would eat out on the way home. I would hate to have to come up $20 or $25 several times a year especially if you have several children in school. I guess like the old song says "the times they are a changing"

.

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 12-02-2005, 07:57 AM

none of my kids have ever had a field trip over $5 that i can remember.......WOW $20....THATS ALOT OF $$$$$$$$can i ask what kind of field trip it is?????

**Michelle** · 12-02-2005, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by MOMMYDEAREST
none of my kids have ever had a field trip over $5 that i can remember.......WOW $20....THATS ALOT OF $$$$$$$$can i ask what kind of field trip it is?????

Sure. It's a field trip to see The Polar Express on IMAX.

http://www.imax.com/ImaxWeb/imaxExpe...whatImaxSelect

The cost of the field trip doesn't even include lunch, which I have to send in with her too.

I agree that notices sent home a month ahead of time may be lost or forgotten about. However, I don't think it would be a big deal to send home a couple of notices to prevent that problem and also give the parents more of a heads up.

Again, I am mostly upset at the timing of this. There is a newsletter that goes home at the beginning of the year (from K's teacher) that mentions all the upcoming field trips. Not how much they are or when they are, just what they are. There was no mention of this one.

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 12-02-2005, 10:42 AM

i would of been in trouble with that kind of notice because i probably wouldn't have had the money $$$$$. you could go buy polar express on dvd for that kind of money........lol. i think thats asking alot of parents tos end that much money in for 1 field trip.....just my opinion. well i hope your child has a good time........lol

**Michelle** · 12-02-2005, 10:44 AM

Originally posted by MOMMYDEAREST
you could go buy polar express on dvd for that kind of money........lol. i think thats asking alot of parents tos end that much money in for 1 field trip.....just my opinion. well i hope your child has a good time........lol

I agree--hence the post

**Darlene** · 12-02-2005, 11:14 AM

That seems like a fun trip not an educational one. (Not that educational ones can't be fun) I've been known to keep my kids homebefore and let them have a day "off" if I thought a trip was a waste of time/money aka "stupid". They were happy, I was happy.

**Michelle** · 12-02-2005, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by Darlene
That seems like a fun trip not an educational one. (Not that educational ones can't be fun) I've been known to keep my kids homebefore and let them have a day "off" if I thought a trip was a waste of time/money aka "stupid". They were happy, I was happy.

Kathryn is really looking forward to this one, so she'll be going.