Attractions across America offer student groups educational components as well as fun
NEW YORK CITY Student groups can fly over the Statue of Liberty, ride the Cyclone roller coaster and experience other New York City landmarks at NY SKYRIDE, the virtual tour simulator attraction on the second floor of the Empire State Building. Its latest add-on package, for groups of up to 80, is a meal plan ($6 a person) at Rosa’s Pizza, inside the city’s tallest skyscraper. NY SKYRIDE, an entertaining introduction to America’s largest city, offers free, downloadable school curriculums (certified by the State of New York for grades 6-12) and walking tours. In the virtual tour, the city comes to life via specially designed seats and a platform that move in sync to a two-story-tall HD screen. The narrator is actor Kevin Bacon. Groups can combine SKYRIDE with Fast Track admission to the Empire State Building Observatory, reducing wait time by 75 percent. The combo plan for student groups is $26 a person. Many groups, though, just do the SKYRIDE ($12), according to Renee Wilson, assistant director of business development. (212-299-4904, skyride.com)
Standards, is designed to empower educators with the tools they need to deliver lessons in areas such as history, political science, social studies and media before and after visiting the wax museum. The Presidents Gallery, one of the museum’s special features, will have life-sized wax figures of all 44 U.S. presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama.
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The gallery is expected to be complete by February. Madame Tussauds offers an array of buffet dinner options in conjunction with an evening group visit. Popular choices include pasta bars, pizza parties and hot sub sandwich bars. Catering is provided by La Prima Catering. (888923-0334, madametussauds.com)
CAST IN WAX Student groups at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. can add an educational seminar or scavenger hunt to their visit. Current seminars are available in two subjects: art history and marketing and public relations pertaining to the tourism industry. Scavenger hunts are offered in short (20-25 questions) and long (40-50 questions) formats. Madame Tussauds has a mini-educational curriculum guide and poster featuring the 44 U.S. Presidents. The guide, developed in accordance with the U.S. Department of National Social Studies Standards and National Council for the Social Civil Rights Movement Studies LeisureGroupTravel.com
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