Veteran Group Trip Leader Gives Insight on Scholastica Experience

Lakeside Junior High Students at the White House (photo: Tina Kirkingburg)

About the Author: Tina Kirkingburg is currently an 8th grade special education teacher at Lakeside Jr. High. This is her 16th year of teaching in the district at the junior high level. She started out in Social Studies and has always had a strong interest in American History. She was always excited to chaperone the class trips. After 7 years, when the teacher in charge retired, she volunteered to be in charge of the class trips.

Scholastica Travel Experience

This is my 16^th year traveling with Scholastica Travel Inc. and my 9^th year in charge of the trips. I was very nervous taking over this big job, but quickly learned Scholastica had my back. Working with the team at Scholastica made the entire process from planning to sightseeing to returning home simple.

I take a group of 100-150 7^th and 8^th graders each year. We rotate between Washington DC, Philadelphia/Gettysburg, and Chicago. Scholastica plans an affordable, exciting, and educational trip for the students and the chaperones. For many of our students, this is the first time they have been out of our little community or the state. This gives them the chance to experience history first hand, learn new information and interesting facts, and have fun while doing it.

Students at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (photo: Tina Kirkingburg)

Our trips begin Friday afternoon and end Sunday evening. Participants, both chaperones and students, find it hard to believe how much we get to see and also that we cover such a variety of sites. There is a little something for everyone.

Tour Leader engaging students in the memorials (photo: Tina Kirkingburg)

Scholastica offers the best package deal for the students. The tour guides from Scholastica, Roby and Bob, are knowledgeable and connect with the students. Scholastica takes care of everything and even includes activities for before the trip and after. One new item they tried this year was to give all of the tour participants a lanyard and name tag. This was terrific in helping the chaperones identify our group of students.

I just finished with the trip at the end of March and I am already thinking about the trip for next year. I will begin planning, by choosing a date, at the beginning of July. Look out Chicago, here we come!!