Why Your Kid Should Go On A Trip With Explore America

So early in the middle school year my daughter heard about a school trip to Philadelphia and New York City.  It was through Explore America. Chaperones are teachers from the school, so no, parents can't come. I know some people were wary about letting their kids go, but I was like, you know, they have to grow up some time. Plus I knew it would be a wonderful experience for Natalie. 

The students are well prepared for the trip--there's a meeting every month about it so they know what to expect. In May there is one for parents where a lot of info is given:

If your child has allergies, they'll be okay! You just fill out a form:

Natalie doesn't have allergies, but I thought the chaperones should know this:

There are many reasons why I feel like all students should go on a trip with Explore America, and here are some of them:

1. You see some cool places. This is the room where the declaration of independence was signed:

And yes, of course a trip to the Liberty Bell was in order:

Natalie liked the mascot:

She said the Battleship New Jersey was awesome to explore:

2. The tour guide from Explore America is knowledgable and friendly. Natalie liked her. 

3. Yup, they get security in the hotel rooms. So you don't have to worry about your kid being taken or sneaking out to explore the town. They stayed at a Best Western in Philadelphia and NYC, so they aren't scary hotels. Breakfast is free, so that's another plus. 

4. You can make payments! We opted to do this, and it worked out. Plus, if you start to pay early, you get a bit of a discount. We saved $50 from signing up earlier in the year. 

5. Almost EVERYTHING is included in the price. That's airfare, hotel costs, food costs, entry costs for the places they stop at, 24 hour emergency care if needed. The only money your kid needs to bring is for snacks and souvenirs. 

6. Your kid can communicate with you while they are gone. Natalie called every evening and sent texts throughout the day. You also get the number of the chaperones and the Explore America people so you can ALWAYS be in contact with someone. 

7. Did I mention the cool places? In NYC, they went to the following, plus many more. They went to Ellis Island and saw The Statue of Liberty:

This is the spot where the Twin Towers used to stand:

They went to Times Square:

The Empire State Building:

Natalie took this photo on top of the building:

They watched Phantom of the Opera on Broadway:

Natalie was moved by the 911 Memorial Museum:

And Natalie is a tween girl, so she laughed at this when they went to The Met:

They do a ton of walking, so proper shoes are a must. When they aren't walking, they are taken by a bus. Natalie said the bus driver Tim was funny. They did do one subway ride. 

Also, they are all given a backpack so they are easily spotted:

Look, my daughter came home in one piece:

She said she had a wonderful time. Here's just some of what she brought home. (Not pictured: stuffed animals, shirts, plus the snacks she tried..)

Would I recommend Explore America? Yes! If we had the funds, Natalie would go every year but alas, I told her to pick one, and naturally she picked the first. Next year at her school they are doing Washington DC and NYC. She loves history, so she was all about this trip. She freaked when she saw Alexander Hamilton and Eliza's graves:

If you're curious if your school participates, click here.


Has your child ever been a trip without you?

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