Salem State Collaborative Travel Program for Teachers and Students

We are pleased to inform you of a new program that the Salem State Collaborative is sponsoring. As you are aware, each year we look to expand the opportunities that we offer to teachers. We know the value of teachers being able to bring first hand knowledge into their classrooms as they introduce topics to their students. In order to help you obtain this first hand knowledge, the Collaborative has reached an agreement with the National Education Travel Council (NETC) to sponsor two types of travel programs: trips exclusively for teachers and their families, and trips for teachers with their students.

Who is NETC? NETC is a dedicated community of teachers, travel experts, and international professionals whose belief is that the benefits of educational travel extend far beyond sightseeing and touring. NETC promises to provide top tier major airlines, three and four star hotels, authentic local cuisine along with a full time tour director for each of our trips. The hotels will be selected in the major cities close to sights and local transportation. NETC recognizes the importance of security in today’s changing world and has taken a leadership role through membership in the US Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council. Tour directors are extensively trained in leadership, logistics, safety procedures and crisis management.

NETC ‘s team of experts and advisors continually develop unique, new and innovative student programs and are commonly recognized as international leaders in the educational travel industry. Their programs emphasize participation, exploration and involvement. From hands-on activities to debates to role playing, students and participants are engaged. Visit their website at www.EducationalTravel.com.

For the school year 2008-2009, we have made arrangements for four trips. Two teacher trips will be offered during the February, 2009 vacation period and these trips are repeated as teacher/student trips during the April, 2009 vacation period.

Teacher Trips

We are sponsoring trips that can fit teachers’ needs in the classroom as well as provide an enjoyable vacation experience for the teacher. Teachers are eligible to earn non-degree graduate credit for their participation on any of these trips by attending two classes, and completing a project. The collaborative will be providing coordinators for each trip who will be responsible to deal with any questions that participants may have. The trips are open to any teacher grades k-12 as well as family and friends of attending teachers. The trips are limited to 36 participants but we need a minimum of 20 teachers to run the trip.

Teacher/Student trips

These teacher/student trips are open to teachers who are able to bring 10-12 of their students along on the trip. These trips are designed to help teachers who may not be able to form a large group to handle their own private trip. Teachers and students will be linked with other teachers and students from this area. We hope that this joint participation will allow for communication to continue after the trip between students and teachers. Each trip will focus on at least one academic area in the high school curriculum. We hope that schools may consider cross curricula opportunities available as well (our trip to Costa Rica is clearly a science program but could be considered a language or cultural program as well.) The teacher accompanying the students will be able to travel at no charge. The collaborative will provide two coordinators to handle all questions and concerns of teachers and students.

Trips:

Costa Rica

This nine day trip will begin in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. You will visit the Arsenal volcano, the “Green Mountain” of Monteverdi, the cloud forest, Bolanos Bay, the Santa Rosa National Park and much more. For the scientist, you will see the “Butterfly Garden”, savannas, swamps, tropical dry forest, sea turtles, along with the splendid night views of the fiery bursts of lava from a volcano.

Student Cost Worksheet for Tropical Ecosystem Trip (pdf file)

Teacher Cost Worksheet for Tropical Ecosystem Trip (pdf file)

Road to the Renaissance

This nine day trip will begin in Florence. You will visit Siena, Perugia, Assisi, Pompeii, Capri, Rome and the Vatican. Just a few of the sights you will see are Michelangelo’s David, medieval villages, the Basilica of St. Francis, the summer home of the Roman Emperor Tiberius, the Colosseum, the Sistene Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica.

Student Cost Worksheet for Renaissance Trip (pdf file)

Teacher Cost Worksheet for Renaissance Trip (pdf file)

Pricing:

We feel that we have secured fair pricing for these programs. Students and teachers will be receiving multiple discounts totaling around $300 if payments are received promptly. Included in the pricing is breakfast and dinner for all of our trips. Lunch may be exchanged for some dinners based on travel issues.

Application Process

Details of the trips being offered as well as price sheets and registration forms are available at our website (www.salemcollaborative.org). Teachers and students must complete an application available on our website and return it with the initial deposit to Jim Kearns, 47 Harvard Street, B102, Charlestown, MA 02129. The registration deadline for reservations will be May 15^th to receive the $100 discount and June 30^th for all others. We need to submit payments to NETC by June 1^st for teachers receiving the discount. NOTE: The application indicates to mail the form to NETC, please mail the form to Jim Kearns as we need to add the trip coordinators information to each registration form.

Student-Teacher Enrollment Guide (pdf file)

If you have questions about any of the programs or are unable to download any of the forms, please contact Jim Kearns vie email at salemregistration@hotmail.com.