Who can sign up to be a Trekker?

• Students sign up as 6th and 7th graders to travel the following year when they are 7th and 8th graders.

• We like to travel with up to 26 students.

• If a student changes their mind and cancels, we will offer their spot to students on the waiting list.

What does the Explorica cost cover?

• Transportation (charter bus and plane tickets)

• One carry-on and one personal item (if we are flying)

• Hotel accommodations

• Meals

• Fees for entry to national and state parks, tours, and activities

• 24/7 Tour guide

• Hotel security at night

• Gratuity

• Nurse

What does the Explorica cost NOT cover?

• School bus transportation to and from the airport

• Spending money (souvenirs, gifts, snacks, etc.)

• Breakfast and lunch on arrival day 

• Lunch and dinner on departure day 

• Airline-imposed baggage fees (this includes checked bags and overweight bags)

• Explorica's optional Travel Protection Plan

How does pricing work?

• The price is based on the number of students who enroll and travel.  

• The price will be reconciled 95 days before our departure.   Price increases are explained on the Explorica site.  

• You can pay in full, or set up an automatic or manual payment plan.

• If you pay off your balance and the price reconciles for less than the original price you will receive a refund for the difference.

What sort of supervision will be in place?

• We travel with at least two teacher chaperones from PALMS.  This year, the chaperones will be Allison Burley Mary Arlia, Thomas Bold, and a nurse.  

• Explorica provides a guide who will be with us 24/7, once we reach our destination.  

• At the hotel, we enforce a curfew.  At this time, we will check in with each room and make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be for the night.  Explorica will provide a security guard who will monitor the hallway until morning.  They are responsible for making sure students stay in their rooms and also alerting chaperones if there are any problems during the night.

• At every point of arrival and departure, as well as multiple times at each location, we take a headcount of all of our travelers to make sure that everyone is accounted for.  No Trekker left behind!

Does my child need ID to fly?

• Travelers under 18 do not need ID, as they are still minors. We require that our trekkers bring their student ID just in case of an emergency, but minors won’t need anything specifically to get through security at the airport.

• Travelers who are 18+ need a federal-issued ID to get through TSA.  See the TSA Identification Information page for valid forms of identification.

How are hotel rooms organized?

• Students are allowed to pick their roommates.  If there are students who do not have a group, then we will assign those students to rooms.

• There are four (same-sex) students in each room, and each room has two queen-sized beds.  This means two students share a bed.  If you want your child to have their own bed, contact Explorica to upgrade for an additional cost.  If you upgrade, your child will be in a room with one or two other students, rather than three.

What if my child takes medications?

• You must submit a Medical Authorization Form and a Medication Administration Consent Form, even for over-the-counter medications.  

• Bring the medication to the PALMS nurse, Nikki DiMarco, in its original packaging and a labeled ziplock bag the week before the trip.  Our traveling nurse will hold onto all medications and administer them to your child during the trip.  

• All medications must be in their original, prescription packaging.

What will communication look like prior to and during the trip?

• Prior to the trip, we will send emails to share and request information. Please make sure we have an email address that you check regularly.

• There will be a virtual parent meeting one month before the trip. 

• While we are traveling…

  • You can log in to Explorica to see a travel diary that will be updated by our tour guide daily.  

  • We will be sharing pictures in a shared Google Drive folder.

  • We will be posting regularly on Instagram (@nptrekit).

  • You can email us if you need to reach us, as we will be checking our emails regularly.  Please understand that service is limited in the national parks. 

How much spending money is needed for the trip?

• This is up to you.  There are gift shops at most of our stops and Trekkers also tend to buy extra snacks whenever they get the chance! 

• Trekkers will need money for breakfast and lunch on the day of departure and lunch and dinner on the day we return.

• We recommend that Trekkers use a debit card or a virtual debit on their phones since some establishments are cashless.

What/how should I pack?

• You are allowed to bring one carry-on and one personal item on the plane.  

• You have the option to purchase checked baggage.  This is not encouraged, as it can get lost.  

• We will provide an itinerary-specific packing list as the date gets closer, but you can check out our basic packing list if you want to get a head start.

Will there be fundraising?

• We will look into fundraising opportunities based on interest.  

What if there is a serious behavior concern on the trip?

• When we are in school, PALMS is the authoritative body that handles issues related to discipline.  However, when we are traveling, hotels, businesses, and airlines have the authority to involve local law enforcement or the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) if a student engages in inappropriate behavior or makes poor decisions that impact other guests or travelers.

• It is Explorica's policy that if a child gets into trouble on a trip, the tour director and the World Assist team will contact the parents and make flight arrangements for the child to return home, at the parent's expense.

Are there eligibility requirements?

• This is a trip that is non-curricular in nature.  Any extracurricular activity is governed by board policy 122.1 which requires students to maintain passing grades in all but one course. Our Trek trip will also follow these eligibility requirements in order to attend the trip: 

  • • No combination of 2 failing grades is allowed at the end of the first marking period and/or 100 days before departure.

    • Students should not accumulate more than 5 referrals 100 days before departure.

    • Students are not permitted to exceed 4 unexcused absences up to 100 days before departure.

• If you are denied the privilege of attending the TREK trip after you are enrolled, a cancellation fee will be imposed and a partial refund may be issued. This will be in accordance with the timelines, travel protections, what is covered, and cancellation policies of Explorica.  

What if we sign up and need to cancel?

• You can purchase a Travel Protection Plan when you enroll with Explorica.

• Travelers selecting the basic Travel Protection Plan must enroll for this before making their final payment. 

• Travelers enrolling in the Travel Protection Plan PLUS with Cancel for Any Reason coverage must do so within 14 days of their enrollment.