Dear Parents of our RGS 5th Graders,
We are excited to announce that our school has been accepted to participate in the St. Christopher Barrier Island Education Program out on Seabrook Island, SC for the 2026-2027 school year! This program is highly-rated and sought-after by many schools and districts in South Carolina. The past two years’ trips have been the best field trips EVER, and we are THRILLED to be able to offer it to our students again next year!
The trip dates will be Monday, March 15-Wednesday, March 17, 2027!
While there, we will be participating in a variety of classes and programs that align with our SC State Science Standards. We will be learning about the ecology of the ecosystems found along our coast (the beach, wetlands, maritime forest, etc.), discovering the plants and animals that live within those ecosystems, and participating in some fun team-building activities. Everything is engaging and hands-on!
In order to secure your child’s spot, we are asking for a
$100 deposit to be paid via School Cash by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4!
*If you already paid your child's initial $100 deposit back in May, you do NOT need to make another deposit! The remaining amounts will open up beginning September 8!
The final cost will depend on the total number of participants, but we anticipate it being approximately $355. This cost will include ALL meals, lodging, and transportation! Please make your deposit as soon as possible! The remaining payment schedule will be as follows:
DUE May 15 OR September 4- $100 deposit (nonrefundable)
The remaining balances will not be due until the start of the next school year.
DUE September 30- $100
DUE October 30- $100
DUE November 30- Remaining balance (TBD after September 4)
Once Student Registration closes (on September 4), we will be able to begin assigning chaperones. Due to the program requirements of Barrier Island, we will be able to offer chaperone spots to 1 parent for every 4 students that we are taking. Therefore, If we have 120 students attend the field trip, we will be able to take 30 parents. Since student numbers are not yet finalized, we also do not know yet how many chaperones we will be able to choose. The numbers of moms and dads that we take also depend on how many girls and boys attend the field trip. Only female parents are allowed to chaperone in a girls’ cabin, and only male parents are allowed to chaperone in a boys’ cabin. If you are interested in having your name added to the chaperone lottery, please complete the Chaperone Interest Google Form no later than 11:59 PM on Friday, September 4. The form will stop accepting responses at that time.
If you’d like further information on the program, please visit the St. Christopher Barrier Island Website at https://www.stchristopher.org/about-barrier-island or our 5th Grade Field Trip Info Website!
Should you have any questions, please direct them to Libby Wright at eewright@greenville.k12.sc.us OR Abbie Brubaker at abrubaker@greenville.k12.sc.us.
We are very excited about this field trip opportunity and look forward to experience it with your student!
Sincerely,
The Rudolph Gordon 5th Grade Team
