DS' school takes 5th-8th graders who want to go on an international trip every other year. The opportunity this year is to Ecuador and the Galapagos next July. The head teacher going has gone on three other trips with this company previously. They provide a 24/7 guide, most meals and all lodging is included.
Two of DS' really good friends are already signed up. Other friends I have talked to are split between "wow that's a great opportunity" and "holy sh*t, you're thinking about sending your just 13 year year old overseas without you". We have traveled quite a bit within the US the last few years with him but he has only been to the Bahamas internationally. If he goes on the trip we will have just gotten back from Italy a few weeks before so there will be some new, fresh experience.
He is still deciding if he wants to go. If he does it will likely mean missing all of our annual beach trip with "family" (super great friends and 3 boys around his age that are his closest "cousins") and possibly his birthday (dates aren't set in stone depending on if our district fills the whole bus or has to join with another group). Any things I need to think about and/or prepare him for/send with him for the trip? He didn't express interest before the informational meeting so I didn't get to attend. I'm sure a lot more info will be forthcoming if we sign up.
Post by ellipses84 on Oct 16, 2021 17:54:04 GMT -5
I swear I was just listening to a podcast where someone’s kid had gone on that same trip. I don’t remember who though. Are they doing service work having to do with plumbing for a town in Ecuador?
I’d be hesitant at that age. With Covid and countries without the best medical care I’d skip it the next year or two. In high school I would absolutely allow it but prefer it relate to language because I think the best way to truly learn a language is to live somewhere it’s spoken (my kids attend a dual language school). Plus I’m selfish and I’m realizing we have so few years left before our kids are grown and I’d rather have them on the family trip. If my kid had been begging for months and it’s all they wanted in life I might consider it but if they are meh I probably wouldn’t.
My school used to take this trip (we dropped it because of the equity issues involved). I would have sent my 7th grader in a heartbeat. I've chaperoned these trips -- they're safe. That said, COVID makes me say no way this year.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Plus I’m selfish and I’m realizing we have so few years left before our kids are grown and I’d rather have them on the family trip. If my kid had been begging for months and it’s all they wanted in life I might consider it but if they are meh I probably wouldn’t.
This is kind of where DH is but we barely see DS the entire trip. We make a day out of stopping at breweries along the way. Once we are there it’s super low key. We drink and play games on the beach all day and play cards all night. DS plays with the other boys on the beach, they come in and eat dinner and then play games and electronics together all night. DS will sometimes come up and play cards with us but not frequently.
It’s not a work trip. Just educational/sightseeing.
That and getting stuck in Bogota. That was a medical rescue and not carefree but we wondered if we were going to make it home. So at this point I have zero desire to go back to SA.
I would definitely send my kid if they wanted to go (DS1 is 14). My school did international trips starting in middle school so this doesn’t seem like an odd concept to me. I think travel is such a growth opportunity, and travel with new people/not family can be even more so.
DS1 goes to 7 weeks of overnight camp each summer though, so I’m obviously already ok with my kids doing big things without us.
Also DS1 misses family trips each summer due to camp and it’s ok. It’s another good lesson for him in that he can’t do everything so he has to make solid decisions on what he wants to do. He loves camp so it’s an easy choice for him usually.
It would somewhat depend on the cost for me. Also, I really want to go to the Galapagos, so I’m going to be honest that I’d be a little salty about my middle schooler going before me.
Out of curiosity, is this a private school where everyone paying the tuition can basically afford to go? Equity issues would be one reason I might hesitate to participate, but if money isn’t really an object or if there are multiple scholarships so everyone who wants to can go, that isn’t a factor.
Doing this trip changed my life at 14. I’d definitely do it. But would think twice in times of covid. Our school won’t allow these trips now due to covid but hopefully in the future.
I always wanted to do stuff like this but I look back at my 5th - 8th grade self and was definitely not mature enough to handle this or process the significance of being able to see the Galapagos at such a young age on a school trip. I'm looking at my DD who will be in 5th in 2 years and I can't fathom sending her to the Galapagos. I can barely send her to retrieve something in the supermarket without worrying she will end up lost trying to get back to DS and me with the shopping cart. I almost lost her in a small theme park 2 weeks ago. No way is she mature enough for international travel even if it's in a group. Now I get why my dad didn't send me on a People to People trip to Australia when I was in 7th grade. That and the fact that we couldn't afford it but he would never say that.
Post by SusanBAnthony on Oct 17, 2021 7:28:09 GMT -5
I have a 6th and 8th grader and nope nope nope.
It's not that we couldn't afford a school trip, or that I worry about safety.
I just think it's ridiculous to send middle schoolers on an international school trip. They aren't going to get much out of the destination on a group trip. And no way am I sending my kid somewhere like that when I haven't even been. They are going to be derpy middle schoolers caring more about friends and social media and generally acting their age.
Now if it was a trip to somewhere in the US where they are going to museums or to see a historical site or a national park, absolutely, 100%. That I would send my kid on.
Seperately from all that, I wouldn't send a kid alone on an international trip at all right now with Covid.
They aren't going to get much out of the destination on a group trip
I agree with this. I went on a trip with my school in 8th grade to Washington DC and I got literally zero out of it in terms of learning about the sites. All I cared about was who was kissing who, gossiping that someone brought booze in water bottles, what we were wearing, spending my souvenir money on candy.
I took a trip to Italy with my school as a freshman in college and it was life changing. I was super into the tours, history, etc.
I'd send my middle school anywhere within the usa with the purposes of gaining independence, travel experience, etc, but the Galapagos islands seems like such an unnecessary reach.
Post by georgeglass on Oct 17, 2021 9:03:50 GMT -5
My son went on a 7th-8th grade school trip where they lived and worked in an indigenous community in Central America. The community specifically requested the help of a group that works with schools, so I felt okay with it. My son's group (all boys) dug drainage ditches. They lived with indigenous families who only spoke Spanish. It was an incredible opportunity for him and he matured tremendously. I did worry the whole time - they were about 3 hours from medical care should there have been an issue, and there is stuff that I'm glad I didn't know until they got back (" hey mom, we swam across this river and went to another country!").
It was not a super expensive trip (the airfare was the primary cost) and the school offered assistance to anyone who wanted to go and couldn't afford it.
No way during Covid. I’d be too stressed as it is but adding Covid would be a no go for me. Being in another country during Covid times - I’d just worry too much. My dd is in 8th grade and she should be going to DC this year for school trip. That makes me nervous enough, but I seriously doubt our school will allow it this year.
As for getting something out of the trip, I think it depends on the kid. I went to Scotland with my parents in 6th grade. It was one of the highlights of my life. I loved it. So I don’t think an international trip is a complete waste on a middle schooler. But for other reasons along with I’m sure expense (even if I can afford it I’m sure it isn’t cheap!) I’d be hesitant.
I've been thinking about this. I don't think I would have my kid go, in your position, unless he was absolutely dead set on it and then I would think about it.
My kids don't even go on an OVERNIGHT with school (we did camp trips here and there when I was little), so this is a lot to me for middle schoolers.
1. I imagine this is really expensive. Selfishly, if my kid is just 13 (and will have just been lucky enough to go to Italy!), I'm saving that Galapagos $$ for a trip for ME!!
2. He has more years yet in which he could possibly go, right?
3. The Covid factor/still really young for international travel in the unlikely event that someone gets sick or hurt
4. The special family trip you go on is something I would lean toward preserving. I'm biased, b/c we go on a family cabin trip every year as a long-standing tradition, and I treasure those memories even more as I get older. It's amazing to go somewhere new, but there's also something special about "growing up" in the same place. Who knows how much longer your trip will go on as kids get older and things like this come up more and more.
I love the idea of travel and kids having adventures, but this is....kind of like too much, too soon for me, plus the Covid factor. I'd be more likely to consider it in 8th grade or in high school. I'm glad I don't have to decide, though. I imagine it's really hard if his friends are going and will come back talking about how awesome it was.
I’m sending my middle schooler to DC on a school trip next year. But no way, no how would I send her to an international destination without me right now. I might feel differently for an older high schooler.
Sounds like an amazing trip, but it wouldn’t be right for our family.
I’m also curious about the equity issues. In 10th grade, my entire orchestra was invited to play in New York and everyone went but me.
Our teacher knew that I paid for everything myself - my instrument rental, t-shirts, etc. Whenever she handed out a notice that something needed money, she was kind enough to discretely tell me to ignore the due date and pay after my payday (and I always did). But she never said BOO about helping me go on that trip with everyone else. It’s a double whammy - having to miss a week of work AND pay $1,000 (or whatever it was). I think about that often as I send my kids places, and I always offer to cover the cost of someone that couldn’t otherwise attend. I’ve never been taken up on it for a trip though. It makes me sad, because I know that there are kids out there missing out.
There were definitely some tears shed by me as I sat in that orchestra room by myself while they were gone. I worked full-time in high school, was a great student, never got in trouble, and still I was left behind. It felt like I could do everything right and it still wasn’t enough. That week was so impactful on me and I can’t help but think back to that time whenever I hear about elaborate school trips.
I sent my oldest to NYC and DC after 7th grade for a school trip. Not the same, but I would 100% send a kid on an international trip with school if they were interested and it was offered. Traveling is my absolute favorite thing in the world. My kids have already been out of the country several times and are good travelers and I will encourage any other opportunities for them to explore the world independently as well. Ecuador and the Galapagos are on my list, but the logistics with a family of 5 make it challenging so we haven’t been able to get there yet. I’d send my kids in a heartbeat if I could though.
Covid wouldn’t even give me pause since presumably your kid is already vaccinated.
They aren't going to get much out of the destination on a group trip
I agree with this. I went on a trip with my school in 8th grade to Washington DC and I got literally zero out of it in terms of learning about the sites. All I cared about was who was kissing who, gossiping that someone brought booze in water bottles, what we were wearing, spending my souvenir money on candy.
I took a trip to Italy with my school as a freshman in college and it was life changing. I was super into the tours, history, etc.
I'd send my middle school anywhere within the usa with the purposes of gaining independence, travel experience, etc, but the Galapagos islands seems like such an unnecessary reach.
Ultimately, I land here. I’ve been thinking about this since last night. I’m all for travel, independence, and kids learning young how to do these things. But, the Galapagos isn’t necessary to achieve these fundamentals at middle school age. Somewhere in the US? Yes. This international, coveted place that is difficult to get to and teeming with science/history that a kid can’t completely appreciate yet as well as being expensive? I think I land on no, ultimately.
I think it really depends. As a 7th or 8th grader I was a huge science nerd (i mean, I still am, but I started young) and absolutely would have appreciated the historical and scientific significance of a location like the Galapagos, and I likely would have had the maturity to handle myself on a trip like that as long as I knew and trusted the adults. But there is ZERO chance my parents would have been able to afford to send me, and I likely would have felt devastated if others got to go on a cool trip like that and I didn’t.
So….if he really wants to go, will understand and appreciate the significance, has the maturity to handle be apart from you, you can afford it and/or there is financial assistance for students who need it, I would consider it.
I am not at all opposed to international field trips in general. (I went to Canada with the school in 8th grade and would have done an Italy trip if things had worked out)
I think I am specifically against Galapagos because it is truly a once in a lifetime trip and middle school doesn't seem like the right age to appreciate it. I have priced out Galapagos and it is extraordinarily expensive which also would weigh into the decision.
Post by karinothing on Oct 17, 2021 13:49:59 GMT -5
My kid lives and breathes science and goes to an Spanish immersion school. I would send him I a heartbeat. Only thing that would hold me back is covid.
I went on an international trip when I was 13. It was an annual trip by the school to Beijing, where one of our teachers had a friend who taught in a middle school. We would meet her and her students and then saw the city. I wanted to go since I heard about it in the 6th grade and my parents let me do it. It was an awesome trip and I would 100% encourage other young people to do something similar. That being said if he just got back from Italy I'm not sure I'd invest for this summer. I remember that being the highlight of my year and back to back trips might dull it a bit.
Addressing some of the concerns here: 1) The trip was in the summer, but starting in September kids were assigned to fundraising teams and were responsible for earning the money through projects (the concession stand at sports games was run by the China Trip groups, which was the biggest moneymaker, but we also did car washes, garage sales, and other projects). So, every kid who wanted to go and met the hours requirements of their team would have enough money for the trip. Looking back, that meant there was a sizeable parental time commitment but my parents knew how excited I was. If equity is a concern can you have the kids fundraise a smaller amount, like enough to fund 2-3 seats with the recipients unnamed?
2) Because we were meeting with other kids it was noticeable that we weren't just in Washington, DC or NYC. We also had monthly meetings in advance where we went over part of the culture and about 3 months out we sent letters to the other students with pictures of our families and then they shared the same when we were there. In High School I went to NYC with our choir and it was a very different trip. So I would recommend one with an aspect of meeting other students. For the Galapagos, are the kids studying up on the flora and fauna in advance?
3) It was chaperoned, so we didn't get into too much monkey business. Local overnights for high school sports were waaay worse. Some of the chaperones were more lax than others and there were times it was just you and the chaperone, so make sure you're ok with whoever your kid will be assigned to or understand that structure. For the Galapagos they may be with a professional guide the entire time, but I remember we had free time and went out to a market with our chaperone, and she got a little lost on the way back. It turned out fine, but probably wasn't what my parents had in mind. Ours was not through one of the major companies, and I'm not sure if they still run it or if that was a 90s thing.
Our school does a trip to Panama and one to Japan in middle school. However, because of Covid, it hasn't been offered for two years. My 13 year old is going to the Grand Canyon in the Spring with school (they start overnight trips in 5th grade).
I did Europe in 9th grade for 2 weeks and Russia when I was 15 for 3 weeks, both without my family and with school. I loved it.
My first gut instinct is that I would prefer an international trip to be in high school not middle school. I think in 5th and 6th grade I wouldn’t really consider it at all; that seems so young! This year it would be a no because of Covid. And the Galapagos specifically is probably a no for my family because it’s very high on my husband’s list of places to go, so I think we will eventually go there as a family.
Having said that there were absolutely years in middle school where we focused on specific science and historical events where a trip to that location would have been amazing. I remember discussing the Galapagos but I can’t remember if it was middle school or high school when that was a really interesting and exciting topic. If the trip location aligned really well to a subject in school that my kid really enjoyed, I would consider it even in middle school.
They aren't going to get much out of the destination on a group trip
I agree with this. I went on a trip with my school in 8th grade to Washington DC and I got literally zero out of it in terms of learning about the sites. All I cared about was who was kissing who, gossiping that someone brought booze in water bottles, what we were wearing, spending my souvenir money on candy.
I took a trip to Italy with my school as a freshman in college and it was life changing. I was super into the tours, history, etc.
I'd send my middle school anywhere within the usa with the purposes of gaining independence, travel experience, etc, but the Galapagos islands seems like such an unnecessary reach.
See, I disagree. I think it’s child dependent. I went to DC in middle school & it changed my life. We weren’t well off & this was one of my first travel experiences…anywhere. Thus, it opened my eyes to the bigger world & I soaked up everything. It was also empowering knowing I could be OK without my mom with me. My mind would have been totally blown going to South America especially as I was learning Spanish at the time.
That said, I’d be a bit wary bc of Covid & would investigate Ecuador’s access to vaccines & vaccination rates.
Beyond that - $$ would be the next issue! But assuming we could afford it - I would want to gauge how much DS really wants to go. We've traveled with him a lot - including overseas. He's a good traveler. I feel he would be fine. And- having traveled as much as he has, he does have an appreciation for seeing a new place and learning about it. He would absolutely get caught up in the "I'm here with friends!!!" aspect too, no doubt. But I doubt it would be an unmemorable blur for him.
I'd be jealous of him going to a location we haven't been to yet, but... eh, that's going to happen at some point anyhow. I wouldn't keep him from going purely based on me/ DH not having been yet.
Post by tacoflavoredkisses on Oct 18, 2021 8:45:47 GMT -5
I did an exchange program for a month in the UK when I was 14, and was thrilled by the historical places we visited. It was my first time on a plane, first time on a real trip! The only reason I even was allowed to go was because it was free for my family.
In a normal time, if my child was well behaved and someone I knew could respect the wildlife and the tour folks, I’d send them. But I think my hesitation at this point would be with covid. I don’t know enough about Ecuador to know how they’re handling/equipped to handle Covid.
I still struggle with how elite (or something?) this trip is. Obviously, it's an amazing opportunity, but also offered to really young kids, and it's way beyond what MOST kids their age get to do. Still unsure how the $$ part works and if there is fundraising, etc, so that anyone could go. Usually fundraising doesn't cover everything.
I wish the school would save this for when they were older and not put families in the position of making this call. I feel on some level that the kid would be JUST as excited and have just as much fun on some kind of cool trip within the US that would be cheaper & easier to manage. Sure, they will love the Galapagos (!), but they would also love a national park or similar within the US.