I was wondering if you all could tell me when you take your children on field trips during school do they give you a discount if you don't go with a group. I do belong to a homeschool group but I thought if we went and did anything without the group could I get in as discount price if I tell them I homeschool :?: Do I have to show them anything to where I homeschool :?: Thanks Kristy TX
I have found that it doesnt matter if you are a school or homeschool. It is the group size that matters. It might differ from state to state or place you visit. I usually get a group discount - my seven kidos, me and hubby and grandma to help. Most places want at least 10 people. :lol: It doesnt ever hurt to ask. So if you are planning a trip call and ask! I ask almost every where we plan to go. Love those discounts! :wink:
Crystal is right, Kristy. Today we were supposed to go on tours of a local paper and a book factory, but my car said NOT! I called the places to see if we could go another time, and one of them said flat out that they won't do a tour for just a family of two or three. They want groups. Crystal, did you ever hear of Mason-Dixon Farms in Gettysburg? They did a tour just for us three.
Hi Kristy.... Here is a link for field trips in Texas http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/trips/TexasTrips.htm Also, do you know about TAFFIE (Texas Advocates For Freedom in Education). It is a mailing list for events in Texas. Do a search and you will go right to their website. Click under events and you will see all local events and all events going on statewide. This site is on the top of my bookmark. It keeps us connected statewide. A few pointers that I have found that works is to let everyone know that if we don't have X number of people we will have to pay the higher price. Everyone needs to agree. Obviously everyone has good intentions on going,but unexpected things happen,like sickness and car trouble. So I always try to get 2 or 3 more above the number required to get the discount. When you call ahead, I usaully tell them we homeschool. Its not new, they are use to it. No, I have not ever had anyone ask me for ID. We show up with TONS of kids, they know. :lol: Some things we had planned, did and are going to do are making pizzas and eating them at Cici's, trip to bakery to make Kolaches, trip to airport to ride in a plane, trip to police station, we are hoping on putting one together to visit a local Tv station, horse riding ranch with hay wagon ride, civil war reenactment and visiting a working pioneer farm in the 1880's. Oh, and we have some caverns nearby that some are wanting to go to. Hope this helps! TinaTx
No, Becky I havent heard of that farm. Is it nice? We have been to Gettysburg. My cousin graduated from Gettysburg College. Thats nice that they did a tour for just your family. Tina, I want to know how you scheduled a trip to an airport to included an air plane ride. :lol: I know a group of kids that would love that!!
Crystal...... The group I'm in scheduled it. Sheila actually moderates the group, but the only rule for the group is that at least each parent has to plan a trip or take the lead in it. What works is that you choose a small airport, not the local municipality one. Its too small. Of course, not the major airports, its too big! But one that services like one or two major airlines. Its just right! LOL :lol: Since we have a college town nearby that is not close to any major cities, we have just the right size airport for little commuter airplanes. We missed that field trip since we had family down, but hopefully we'll plan it again for any that missed it and new members. They also had restrictions that you had to be like 3rd grade and up before you went to certain sections of the airport. So everyone met at the front section, then they divided and the big kids went on. Sheila posts the pictures on the group site, it was real nice. Hope that helps! TinaTx
Crystal--- The airport in Allentown a few years back we took a group on a self guided tour. We found a pilot who was fascinated with homeschoolers that he let us into the plane showed the kids the cockpit and had the stewardesses give us drinks. That was however before 9/11 You can call the airport and ask if the do tours yet but if you are going us 5 want to be in your "group". You have enough i9n your family for the group tours at roadside America and the teacher gets in free!!!! I am a freebee person I love doing stuff for free/almost free. Us PA ladies should plan a trip out to the state museum in Harrisburg and the capitol building. That is all free and if we pack lunch like before we can have a great ibexpensive day (again) So if you check with you visitor bueru you can get a visitors guide that will have tons of stuff to do for free or cheep. I just got a new one and cant believe the things I never knew about our area!!!
we're ready! Jimmie Lu~ We're ready for the field trip, whenever you want to do it! Just let us know. Heidi
There is a very small airport 5 minutes from me and another slightly larger about 20 minutes from me. I think I will make some phone calls. Tina do you know what sort of cost was involved in a field trip like that? I would like to compare. Jimmie Lu - We havent been to the capital building in years. I would really like to go sometime this year. What guide did you get that had field trip ideas?
I've found that things vary a lot from place to place. I went on one field trip where they refused to count preschoolers as part of our "school group" (they had to pay full price), and would only allow a certain number of adults (again, any more would have to pay "full price"). The idea being that a REAL school field trip wouldn't include the "younger" children on the trip, and if they did, they'd have to pay seperate. And a REAL school field trip would only have so many teachers/chaperones so it's not fair to allow EVERYONE'S Mom and Dad to come for free..... I considered writing them a letter that would be quite "ministering" to them (as Tina put it in another thread!) concerning their misconceptions of homeschooling..... However, the Historical Society in Ohio is more considerate to homeschoolers. Any time I go to one of their sites, I tell them we HS, and they let us in at the School Rate, regardless of when or how many. We can even get the reduced price on the weekends!
Crystal.... I can't remember the price off the top of my head! I'll pick Sheila's brain when she gets back from vacation and let you know...... Jackie...I found that I've been *ministering* a lot lately :lol: It really makes ME feel good when I get finished with the person :lol:
Have those of you in Texas heard about the Palestine to Rusk Train? Until Labor Day they are letting 5 children per paying adult in FREE! Many movies have been filmed here because it is an authenic train - 1880's style! They have recently added an air conditioned car. We have planned a trip for August 28 and can't wait! Past field trips - the Brookshires ice cream(we got to eat it after the tour) and milk factory and distribution center, Fire Station, Post Office, Fisheries Center, Arboretum, Fishing and Camping, the Zoo, TV Station, Glen Rose Dinosaur Area and Creation Museum - GREAT! Some of our field trips are free, others are because a parent works there and can get free tours arranged. I get a Texas State Travel Guide every year for FREE! It is great. The last years we use to make scrap books of places we have been and it has history of each historical site in Texas, beautiful color pictures, they send you a full size map, accomodations guide and events calendar. Can't explain how wonderful this is!! It is generally about 275 pages. The number to request a copy is 1-800-452-9292. Address is Texas State Travel Guide, POBOX 149249, Austin, TX 78714-9249
