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8th Grade Expedition 2021 – Puerto Rico Adventure CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF STUDENT ADVENTURES in Hingham

DearHinghamFamilies,

Overthepast15years,the8thGradeExpeditionhasofferedover800studentstheopportunitytolearnaboutandtraveltotheNationalParksoftheU.S.WehavevisitedGrandCanyon,Zion,BryceCanyon,CapitolReef,Canyonlands,Arches,GrandTeton,Yellowstone,Glacier,KenaiFjordsandDenaliNationalParksinAlaska,aswellasthePacificNorthwest,RockyMountains,thevolcanoesofHawaii,DeathValleyandYosemite.TheExpeditionprogramhasbeenbothadefiningmiddleschoolexperienceandturningpointinthelivesofsomanystudentsfromHinghamandweareexceptionallyproudofalltheadventuresthatwehaveshared.Thisannualadventureisofferedexclusivelyto8thgradestudentsinHinghambutitisnotaschool-sponsoredtripaswetraveloutsideofthedatesoftheschoolyear.

TripOverview:ThisyearweareofferinganopportunityforoureighthgraderstovisitPuertoRico,the“IsladelEncanto,”ontheirownoutdooradventureexperience.WelearnaboutthehistoryandcultureinoldSanJuan,explorelimestonecaverns,ziplinethroughthecanopy,andgotubingonwhitewaterrapids.OurgroupwillspendtimeatPlayaSuciaandkayakatnightinthebioluminescentbay.Wewillmeetlocalcoffeefarmersandlearnaboutsustainableagricultureandconservationeffortsontheislandandevenlendahandvolunteeringtohelpwithhurricanerestorationefforts.TimewillbespenthikingintheonlytropicalrainforestintheU.S.inElYunqueNationalForest.WewillvisitthetropicalislandofCulebraandsnorkelthecoralreefsalongFlamencoBeach.Wehaveevenmoreactivitiesthatareindevelopmentbut,asyoucansee,ouritineraryisnotsimplyavacation;itisanepicstudent-traveleducationalexperienceandoutdooradventure.ThisExpeditionwillberememberedasamilestoneinyourchild’seducationanditwillbuildafoundationforafuturefilledwithexcitingtravels!

TripLogistics:Wewillbetravelingfrom6/17-6/23,2021.Alongwithourexpertguides,wewillbeleadingthegroupwiththehelpofourexperiencedteacherteamofchaperones.Asalways,wewillbecoordinatingourtravelsthroughourdearfriendsattheprofessionalstudent-travelcompany,GrandClassroom.Theywillbeassistingusineveryaspectofourtripfromtheinitialplanning,registrationandaccounting,tothebookingofflights,hotels,mealsandevents.GrandClassroomtakescareofalltravelers’needstoensureasafe,exciting,andmeaningfultravelexperience.

Pre-TripEvents:Throughpre-tripprogramming,the8thGradeExpeditionteachesmiddleschoolerstobeconfident,immersed,andreflectivetravelers.StudentsareexpectedtoparticipateineventsthroughouttheyeartoprepareforthechallengesthattheExpeditionpresentstothem.Thetripisaccompaniedbyanin-depth,custom-built,destination-specificcurriculum.Thiseducationalcontentpreparesthetravelerstotakealltheycanfromourdestinationsinthesubjectsofregionalhistory,geographyandscience,andcurrentenvironmentalissuesandawareness.Ithelpsgrantthemownershipoftheirtravelexperience.Wewillallalsoparticipatecommunity-buildingeventsincludinganoutdooradventureleadershipactivityweekendinthespringtohelpbuildourteam.ByJune,wewillhavecreatedasociallycohesivegrouptoenablealltravelerstofeelsupportedandincluded.Alistingofeventsandatentativecalendarwillbeavailableonourwebsiteat8thgradeexpedition.com.

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8th Grade Expedition 2021: Puerto Rico – Registration Information

TripPricing:Ourexcitementandambitionsforthisyear’striparehigh,asareouropportunitiesforadventure.Thecostofthistripis$3,995andisall-inclusivefortheweekoftravel–flights,on-tripcoachbustransportation,full-timeexpertguideservices,hotelsandlodges,meals,admissions,events,equipmentrentals,24-7guides,andGrandClassroommedical/dentalinsurance.ThispricealsoincludestheGrandClassroomTRP+travelinsuranceprogram*alongwiththe“8thGradeExpeditionFee”,whichcoversallHingham-basedpre-tripmaterials,events,andairporttransportation.

Afterregistration(instructionsbelow)thepricecanbepaidinfullorwithacustomizedbudgetplanthatyousetupwhichworksbestforyourfamily.PaymentinstallmentscanbemadeoverthecourseoftheyeardirectlytoGrandClassroomandyouraccountmanager,LauraFriedman,ison-calltoansweryourquestionsat434-975-2629.

*GrandClassroomTRP+programinformation(thehighestleveloftripprotection)canbefoundat:https://grandclassroom.com/parents/terms-and-conditions

Pleasevisitthe8thGradeExpeditionwebsitetolearnmoreabouttheprogramandtripoffering:8thgradeexpedition.comGrandClassroomhasalsosetupawebsiteforourtripathttps://trips.grandclassroom.com/Trip/Index/8thGradeExpPR2021

Twostudentandparentinformationsessionswillbehostedonlineon

Tuesday,Dec8thandThursday,Dec10that7:00pm.

RegistrationwillopenonlineonDec11that9am

The8thGradeExpeditionwillbelimitedtoonecoachbus-thefirst45registrations.Thistripfillsupeveryyear.Ifyouarenotoneofthefirst45toregistertherewillbeawaitlistcreatedintheorderofregistrationandstudentswillbemovedontothetripif/whenspacebecomesavailable.

$99.00isallittakestoholdaseatonthe8thGradeExpeditionPuertoRicoAdventure.Thisdepositwillbecreditedtoyourtotal.Afteryouregister,youwillbesentaconfirmationemailwiththevariouspaymentoptionstosetupyouraccountonline.IfyouhaveanyquestionsyoucancalltheprofessionalsatGrandClassroomat434-975-2629,oremailusatGreggW@8thgradeexpedition.comorMcCulloch@8thgradeexpedition.com.Wesincerelylookforwardtoprovidinganexceptionaleducationaladventurethatyourchildwillrememberforalifetime.

GreggWachtelhausenandMarkMcCulloch-8thGradeExpeditionDirectors

GOOGLEMeet

Tues,Dec8th–7pm

https://meet.google.com/tak-xfxa-ptu?authuser=0

GOOGLEMeet

Thurs,Dec10th–7pm

https://meet.google.com/evg-qmhc-otx?authuser=0

8th Grade Expedition – Traveler Commitment Agreement This form must be signed by traveler and guardian, and endorsed by personal character reference and submitted to the 8th Grade Expedition Directors to finalize student registration for the trip.

Student participation, regardless of online registration, is not complete until this signed document is returned.

I ________________________________ (traveler name) understand that the 8th Grade Expedition is a special opportunity – one that I am privileged to be a part of. Through this agreement, I am committing to my involvement in the Expedition program as an enthusiastic participant all aspects of the Expedition including pre-trip training events and pre-trip curriculum.

I hereby agree that the Student Code of Conduct as set by the Hingham Public Schools will guide my level of conduct and responsibility. I understand that the 8th Grade Expedition is not a school-sponsored trip, however, I agree that suspension from school or school events, significant in-school disciplinary actions, removal from or loss of privilege to participate in school trips and events, or out of school illegal activities will result in my ineligibility for the 8th Grade Expedition program and/or immediate removal from the trip at the discretion of the 8th Grade Expedition Program Directors and teacher chaperone team.

I understand that this is a non-negotiable set of behavior conditions as this policy is designed to safeguard the other travelers and their respective positive experiences with the 8th Grade Expedition program.

This agreement is valid from the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year until the date of departure on June 17th, 2021. Following the conclusion of the school year, the ‘Behavior Contract’ outlined by Grand Classroom will guide all expectations for traveler behavior. Any financial refund (full or partial) following withdrawal or removal from trip is based on the refund policy by Grand Classroom as per the Terms and Conditions set by Grand Classroom at registration. The additional pre-trip “Expedition Fee” included in Grand Classroom payments may be refunded by the Expedition Directors upon student withdrawal (if withdrawal is after April 1st, 2021) depending on the stage of pre-trip preparation and the schedule of payments made on behalf of individual students for pre-trip events and transportation arrangements.

______________________ _____________________ ________ Traveler Signature Parent/Guardian Signature Date

Personal Reference/Endorsement:

Travelers registering for the 8th Grade Expedition are required to provide a personal reference, which must be endorsed by signature on this document. This endorsement must be from an adult (18+), non-immediate family member (ex: teacher, coach, mentor, tutor, etc) who can attest to the child’s strength of character, maturity, and dedication to all of the aspects of the 8th Grade Expedition program. These program goals include traveler meetings, online pre-trip curriculum, training events, teambuilding, and preparedness for the trip in June 2021. By signing this document the personal reference agrees to receive communications from the 8th Grade Expedition Directors, if necessary, and understands that he/she may be called upon for additional support/motivation throughout the 8th Grade Expedition year.

____________________ ______________ ___________________ Personal Reference Signature Relationship Contact e-mail

Additional questions on this document can be directed to: Gregg Wachtelhausen and Mark McCulloch – 8th Grade Expedition Program Directors

GreggW@8thgradeexpedition.com McCulloch@8thgradeexpedition.com

PLEASE RETURN THIS DOCUMENT TO MR. MCCULLOCH IN ROOM 303 WITHIN A WEEK OF REGISTRATION TO SECURE YOUR SEAT ON THE 8TH GRADE EXPEDITION: PUERTO RICO ADVENTURE

Updated Dec 2020