only chaperones today. Students must fur-
on them and decide ahead of time where they
taken 3,000 participants throughout the past
nish the medical and permission forms
will be kept and how they will be distributed.
30 years from their Catholic girls high school
described in tips 5 and 6. In the Berea school
16. Tips on handling overnight accom-
in Manhattan to international destinations
district typical eighth grade trips are open to
modations for junior high students: Put girls
on six continents. They use EF tours and go
students in the sixth, seventh and eighth
and boys on different floors with a security
during the summer or on spring break.
grades. The destinations rotate over three
guard or chaperone on each floor. Choose
Many bus companies and organizations
years including one year in Washington D.C.,
rooms facing inside the hotel. Have chaper-
who set up student tours hire retired teach-
one in New York City and one in such cities
ones visit each room at curfew time. Make
ers to work for them escorting trips. If you
like Chicago, Boston, Williamsburg or
sure everyone is there (and no more.) Ask if
are honest, dependable and treat people the
Orlando. Thus giving the student an oppor-
they need anything. Tell them not to leave
way you want to be treated, you will be
tunity to travel to three different cities. In Bay
unless an emergency occurs and that you
respected by the students and teachers and
Village schools the annual eighth grade trip,
will place masking tape on the door.
requested again.
which usually consists of four or five buses,
17. To attract student bus tours, set up a
Your comments and questions on this col-
goes to Washington D.C. Budzik also includes
Web site (or add it to the one you have)
umn and suggestions for future columns are
a dinner cruise and a Medieval Feast. How-
designed to make planning student field trips
appreciated. My January column will spot-
ever, places to visit in Washington may vary
easy and fast for teachers. An example is
light ways bus companies and bus tour plan-
the following year based on survey forms at
placing a form online where teachers can
ners give back to their community. I will
the end of the trip. Teachers who have access
pick the date/time, destination and itinerary
include examples sent in by readers. I am
to people in high places may arrange for their
for their trips and submit it to you. Within one
considering a future one on 20 free places to
bus to visit them on the job. Group leaders
business day return a comprehensive price
visit in Ohio. My e-mail address is
in Bay Village set up a Twitter account to keep
quote to the sender.
cdjaeb@wowway.com. Thank you.
parents informed of where students are and how things are going.
18. Choose food stops the students enjoy. Restaurants with an atmosphere like the Hard
13. Favorite stops for Berea Junior High
Rock Café, The Rainforest and restaurants
Trips include free time in the heart of a city
with a game room are popular if time allows.
and a dinner-dance on a Spirit river or har-
Stops at fast food chains or a picnic lunch at
bor cruise with entertainment and sightsee-
a park are fast, fun, inexpensive stops.
With degrees from four universities, Dr. Charleen Jaeb has been a business professor at Cuyahoga Community College. After her retirement in 2000, she became a trip planner for the CCC retirees and Mid-
ing are two activities Andrews usually
19. Get feedback from trips to plan future
dleburg Heights Women’s Club, filling as
includes in his end-of-the year trip. Three or
trips. Circulate a survey to passengers on the
many as 15 buses each year. Jaeb and her
four hours in Rockefeller Center in New York
way home listing the stops made with a rat-
husband escorted trips for Lakefront Lines
or the Smithsonian Museum area in Wash-
ing system for each with space to make com-
in Cleveland, Ohio. She says, “It was won-
ington D.C. for shopping and exploring is wel-
ments. It gives you an idea on which stops
comed. They stay close to their chaperone.
to add and which to remove.
Andrews recommends students not bring
20. Go the extra mile for teachers if you
more than $50 to $100 and tells parents if
have been asked to plan or escort a student
they give it to them not to expect change.
bus trip. For example, contact the destina-
14. Kids are always hungry. Having snacks
tion’s convention and tourist bureau and ask
on board can help. However, some bus com-
if they would put together a welcome pack-
panies do not allow milk products or bever-
age to be given out at one of their stops. Set
ages that are easy to spill. Good suggestions
up a meeting with a city official. Ask if there
are wrapped candy, cookies, pretzel sticks and
are specific areas at the destination the
bottled water. Some teachers require all food
teacher would like the driver to drive through.
to be consumed off the bus at rest stops. If trav-
Take a group picture. Keep in touch with
eling during warm months, a good idea is to
teachers after the trip. Send them a thank
keep an ice and water-filled cooler on the bus. 15. Schedule meals at appropriate times.
you note. Let teachers know services, prices or trips that are added.
A lunch that is two hours late is a disaster. If
Kudos to my friends Sister Martha Kunesh
lunch bags are packed, be sure names are
and Sister Christine Cosgrove who have
derful and somewhat unbelievable in retirement to be able to do what you love to do and get paid for doing it.”
®
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Bus Tours Magazine / November, 2015 • 41