4th grade field trip angst

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old daughter came home with a permission slip last weekfor me to sign for a field trip to the Poconos this spring. Commercial bus picks them up BEFORE 6 a.m. and returns home at least as late as 7:30 p.m. That is about 7 hours on the road for the day. Don't know yet if bus has restroom as principal has not returned my call.

I am not an overly protective parent but both DH and I are inclined to not let her go. Our rule of thumb is that we would not let the kids do something at school we would not do as a family. Never would we put our kids thru such a long time in the car for such a trip. We would stop and spend the night.

Chaperons will be there but they have to drive their own cars.

I just see a lot of waiting around for others and not being able to really enjoy the nature in such a big group. They recently went to the state capital and it sounds like it was a pretty miserable experience for everyone. No walking around, no seeing anything, just listening to a lady talk.

What do you think?

[Anonymous]

I'd let my 4th grader go, but she's got the bladder of a camel.

[Anonymous]

There has to be bathrooms on the busses. I'd let my kids go in a second. Just because aduts think it's miserable to travel a long distance for a short trip doesn't mean that kids aren't going to have fun. They're going to have the entire day to hang out and talk with friends. It will be fun for the kids.

[Anonymous]

There will be bathrooms on the bus. My kids took day trips like this all the time and had a blast.

[Anonymous]

7 hours in a car is no big deal.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like the kids already had one field trip that you weren't thrilled with.

This trip will be for 14+ hours, 7 of which will be traveling on the bus? What will they be doing there, that will be worth the long drive, that they can't do just as well, closer to home?

I wouldn't necessarily say no to this trip, just because of the long drive or concerns about the bathroom. But it sounds like you already have reason to believe the teacher aren't making great choices with field trip planning. THey should convince you that this is an excellent field trip, or I wouldn't send my child.

[Anonymous]

What is the point of going to the Poconos? What is there that cannot be seen anywhere closer?

[Anonymous]

There will be bathrooms. You should let the kid go. Trips like this can be magical even if the logistics are crazy. I remember my 3rd grade nature camp experience and it was a huge deal. If she wants to go let her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the point of going to the Poconos? What is there that cannot be seen anywhere closer?

I'm wondering the same thing. What is the kids get carsick on the way up? They they are stuck vomiting there and the way back. Neither of my kids could handle it.

[Anonymous]

OP and PP, you sound a little psycho. These are 9/10yo kids - a long bus ride will be hell on wheels for the adult chaperones, but it will be a travelling party for the kiddos. Our school does long field trips in 4th grade as well - 7am departure for the most recent one - and the kids love them. There is an amazing teacher who pours her heart and soul into planning really interesting trips. Maybe the trips at your child's school aren't as fabulous but even if the activities are dull, the bus ride will be a chaotic thrill. I'm a pretty overprotective parent, but I don't really see why you're so horrified about a field trip. If your kids can't handle riding in a bus at 10yo, then you've got bigger problems than a field trip.

[Anonymous]

I'm not an overprotective parent by any stretch of the imagination, but I wouldn't be sold on this trip. Why the Poconos? Seems like a long trip on a bus for reasons that are unknown (at least to those of us reading this).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not an overprotective parent by any stretch of the imagination, but I wouldn't be sold on this trip. Why the Poconos? Seems like a long trip on a bus for reasons that are unknown (at least to those of us reading this).

Totally agree. I kept my child home from the recent 4th grade Jamestown field trip and neither of us regret it a bit. According to those who did go, the kids had to be at school before 6am and didn't return until 7pm. They were on the bus most of the day and rushed through Jamestown in their large groups, hardly hearing what the guides were saying. It seems to just be a box-checking exercise. We plan on going to Jamestown/Yorktown/Williamsburg as a family and staying at least one night so we can actually see everything.

I also wonder: why the Poconos? Especially with so much to see and do around here. If they have to see the Poconos, at least spend the night!

[Anonymous]

I've sent a couple of my kids on the Jamestown/Williamsburg field trip, and it's a long day, but they had a blast.

I'm not familiar with what's educational about the Poconos, either. I just picture a horde of fourth graders jumping on heart-shaped beds and climbing in and out of giant champagne glass bathtub.

[Anonymous]

Our 4th graders go on a all day sojourn to Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown. The first line chaperones go on the bus, any extras can drive. There are bathrooms on the bus. My late bloomers loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've sent a couple of my kids on the Jamestown/Williamsburg field trip, and it's a long day, but they had a blast.

I'm not familiar with what's educational about the Poconos, either. I just picture a horde of fourth graders jumping on heart-shaped beds and climbing in and out of giant champagne glass bathtub.

Just for you PP.

http://youtu.be/qS7BORHs16A