MCPS run international trips

[Anonymous]

I recall someone mention to me that they spend a few thousands for their daughters to Europe for spring break, and it is run by MCPS HS. Is it only specific for certain HS or maybe MS? Is it worth it?

[Anonymous]

No they are run by for profit companies and it’s misleading if teachers to advertise through school means and imply that they are endorsed by the school or a school trip.

[Anonymous]

OP some MCPS teachers lead trips. They are permitted to publicize the trips via school email and they recruit teachers to serve as chaperones, but the trips aren't sponsored or run by the county. Some are well-run and are a good experience for the students.

[Anonymous]

OP did you just post a similar question on the DCPS forum? Which school system do your kids go to?

[Anonymous]

Yes, they are run by outside companies, often EF Education, which is a great company. I would think they happen at most high schools, and some middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No they are run by for profit companies and it’s misleading if teachers to advertise through school means and imply that they are endorsed by the school or a school trip.

This. Teachers probably get a free trip and paid through the company. It’s crazy expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP did you just post a similar question on the DCPS forum? Which school system do your kids go to?

OP here. My kids go to MCPS, so I only post it on MCPS forum. I guess someone may have similar questions just like I do in DC, lol.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I think it is quite expensive, and I am not sure if kids can get anything out of it for knowledge or just for fun. We can squeeze out budget to make it work, but I wish we would rather use the money towards our family vacation trip. It might be cheaper if we plan our international trip to get there by ourselves, but I bet teacher lead/organization lead must be more educational and more fun for tween/teens.
Of course kids would love to go with friends once they get the opportunities, it is just parent decision to make the final call.

[Anonymous]

It’s too expensive for what it is if you can afford to travel as a family, in which case you can get much better food and lodging for the same price.

So I feel it’s only for families who cannot afford to go themselves, or have the money but not the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No they are run by for profit companies and it’s misleading if teachers to advertise through school means and imply that they are endorsed by the school or a school trip.

This. Teachers probably get a free trip and paid through the company. It’s crazy expensive.

probably free for teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s too expensive for what it is if you can afford to travel as a family, in which case you can get much better food and lodging for the same price.

So I feel it’s only for families who cannot afford to go themselves, or have the money but not the time.

I don't think the pricing is bad when you consider they are providing professional tour guides and chartered buses for transportation.

[Anonymous]

My kid went on a MS trip last year.

It was entirely run by a private company (which handled things like air and hotel reservations and hired a local tour guide.) There was a company website that helped with logistics. But the head teacher was the main contact (I never spoke to or heard from the company; the teacher did all of the info sessions, etc.).


There was a chaperone for, I think, every 4 or 5 kids (this was MS; I'm guessing perhaps fewer for HS). The head teacher chose chaperones, who I think were all employed at MCPS but they wouldn't have had to have been-- not all were from our school; some were teachers at some other school. The chaperones get their trips paid for (which means that the kids' fees are enough to cover travel arrangements for those chaperones).

My kid loved it. I mean, loved it. Other kids were homesick. A couple of kids misbehaved and there was a threat that they would be sent home but they weren't (and I've no idea how that would have worked logistically, which is probably why they were not.)

From a distance, it seemed like pretty much any other tour group (bus tours between cities; stops at castles and cathedrals and whatnot) but with friends (which is really what makes a trip good or bad).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s too expensive for what it is if you can afford to travel as a family, in which case you can get much better food and lodging for the same price.

So I feel it’s only for families who cannot afford to go themselves, or have the money but not the time.

I don't think the pricing is bad when you consider they are providing professional tour guides and chartered buses for transportation.

Our school had a lot of extra fees for optional trips. It was insanely expensive. We told our kid no.

[Anonymous]

I looked a couple years ago at our MS, and it was like $4k for a trip to Paris to sightsee and take french classes. I wouldn't pay that, unless it was for our family of four to get to Europe! LOL I know airfares are higher now, but still...

What happened to low-key exchange programs, where you have kids from a school come to your school for a few weeks and vice versa?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s too expensive for what it is if you can afford to travel as a family, in which case you can get much better food and lodging for the same price.

So I feel it’s only for families who cannot afford to go themselves, or have the money but not the time.

I don't think the pricing is bad when you consider they are providing professional tour guides and chartered buses for transportation.

No, it's bad. The company is making a hefty profit. When you plan the same trip for your family, it's all at cost. You could absolutely plan a better trip.
You do realize you too can get professional tour guides that don't cost the earth? And that when they're in a group, kids don't listen? Your kids will get a lot more out of it if they go with you.

- French person who looked at the EF French trip, out of curiosity, and could have done better for less. Granted, I'm French and know the ropes in that country, but I think that with a little research you could take any destination offered and do better.