Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions about the trip:
REGISTRATION
How do I register for the trip?
Answer = Click this link: registration
click on "GO TO MY TRIP"
Enter the code: ne2024dc
How do I contact Academic Expeditions?
Answer = Contact Information Directory
REQUIRMENTS
What are the student requirements for the trip?
Answer =
make the required payments with Academic Expeditions
complete all required paperwork and online registration
student behavior must be trusted while in Washington D.C. (NEMS administration reserves the right to remove a student from the trip for behavior).
PAYMENTS
Does the security deposit count toward the total trip cost?
Answer = Yes. If you do not drop out, the deposit counts toward your trip. If you drop from the trip the deposit is non-refundable.
Where do I send payments?
Answer = NO FORM OF PAYMENT SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SCHOOL. All payments are made through Academic Expeditions.
When do I make payments?
Who do I contact about payments for the trip?
Answer = Katie Johnson (917-626-4742) or kjohnson@academicexpeditions.com
CHAPERONES
How many chaperones per bus?
Answer = Each year one bus has three teachers and approximately five parent chaperones (dependent on available seats).
How do I become a chaperone?
Answer = register for the trip
If I sign up to be a chaperone, but end up not being able to go, can another family member take their place?
Answer = Simple answer is no. Some exceptions can be made. Please contact kjohnson@academicexpeditions.com for more information.
How much is the cost difference for being a chaperone?
Answer =
Student Quad Occupancy $1150
Parent Double Occupancy $1400
Single Occupancy (Chaperone) $1900
*price is based on 48 or more travelers per motor coach
Can chaperones sign up for a quad occupancy to save money?
Answer = The single and double occupancy is the adult price for chaperones. If a student is wanting to be in a double room they have to pay the double occupancy rate. Parent chaperones must pay either single or double occupancy.
As a chaperone, can I request a roommate?
Chaperone roommates can be requested if a chaperone is paying for a double occupancy room. Chaperones may room with their children, but will be required to pay the double occupancy rate for both.
Is there a limit on the number of chaperones?
Answer = No
HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS
How do hotel rooms work on the trip?
Students are expected to sign up and pay to be in a quad occupancy room. Rooms typically have two queen beds. Students will have to sleep in the same bed with another student. Students are not to sleep on the floor.
My student has a concern sleeping in the same bed with another student. What can we do to fix this?
If there is a concern about being in the same bed with any student, the you may want to contact Mr. Stewart. Students should NOT sign up for single occupancy due to safety concerns. The single and double occupancy is the adult price for chaperones.
Does my student get to pick their roommates?
In February there will be a mandatory meeting for students at school. Students will receive a notice with plenty of time before the meeting to make plans with another student about the possibility of rooming together. At this meeting, each student will sign a form with another student. Students have to be present at the meeting to select a roommate request. We will do everything in our control to get these two students in a room together. In rare occasions there are circumstances that could keep these students from being paired (health, financial, administrative removal, etc.)
Why do we only get to request one roommate when there will be four in the room?
The simple answer is logistics. Due to the unique needs of all students, it is too difficult to get four requests in the same room.
FUNDRAISERS
When do fundraisers start?
Answer = Around the beginning of October, around Thanksgiving, and sometime in January. These are estimates or approximate times.
How much money is earned from the fundraisers?
Answer = This is dependent on how much the student sells. Students have completely paid for the trip in the past, some have paid for half their trip, and some have reduced their trip cost by a few hundred dollars. The percentage of student profit is determined by the vendor of the supplies being sold and varies between those vendors.
Where does my student's fundraiser profit go?
Answer = Each student has an account where the fundraiser profits are placed.
Where can I view my student's fundraiser balance?
Answer = Contact Academic Expeditions c/o Katie Johnson (917-626-4742)
What happens to fundraiser money if we end up not going on the trip?
Answer = The money stays with the trip and goes toward trip incidentals and possible scholarship opportunities.
What happens if I raise more money in fundraising than the cost of the trip?
Answer = Academic Expeditions will get you check for the difference and could be used as spending money.
MEDICATION
Where do I bring my student's medication for the trip?
Answer = Must be the parent! Must be dropped-off at the school on the designated drop-off night. This is TBD, but will be approximately a week before the trip.
How does distribution of medication work on the trip?
Answer = A staff member has the responsibility of administering the medications at the appropriate times on the trip.
WHAT TO BRING
What should be packed in the bag for the trip?
Answer = About two weeks before the trip, students will be given a packing list.
Should my child bring the school-iPad on the trip?
Answer = No, the students traveling on the NEMS D.C. trip are NOT allowed to bring a school-issued iPad. Personal iPads that are owned by the student and/or parents may be brought at the owners' discretion.
How much cash does a student need on the trip?
Answer = There is no set amount that is actually needed. All meals are paid for and bottle water will be provided throughout the trip. We have recommended no more than $100 spending money. $50 would be more than sufficient for nice souvenirs.
Are students allowed to bring bathing suits on the trip?
Answer = No, there will be no swimming allowed at the hotel at any time.
Are students allowed to bring snacks and drinks?
Answer = Yes, students are allowed to pack snacks and drinks to have on the bus and/or in the hotel room. If the student is on the "No Nut" bus, then it is the students' job to pack snacks that are 100% free of ALL nuts. All other items would coincide with the NEMS student handbook.
TRAVEL
What are the exact travel expectations that my child needs to be prepared for?
Answer = The bus trip will take approximately 11 hours (non-stop). All passengers will eat lunch on the bus on Wednesday as they travel to D.C. There will only be 1-2 pit stops made on the way there, but there are bathrooms that are available for any student who needs them in between the short stops. Once in D.C., the typical travel time on the bus is 15 minutes between stops.
What will the bus ride be like?
Answer = We will be traveling on nice, comfortable charter buses with entertainment, outlets, reclining chairs, and restrooms.
What happens if my child gets car sick easily and is sick on the bus?
Answer = The bus nurse will administer medicine as prescribed and parents will be contacted.
How will I know if my child made it to D.C. safely? When will I know that they have returned to the school Sunday evening?
Answer = Students will call or text 30 minutes before arriving back to school.
THE TRIP
What happens if my child is left behind or gets lost while touring D.C.?
Answer = NEMS DC has never lost a student. Checks are done on a routine basis. If by chance as student is not immediately within sight, a phone call will be made home to the parent. Academic Expeditions also provides a safety hotline on the student's lanyard. A member from the company will work with chaperones until the student is located.
If there is a discipline issue on the trip involving my child, how will that be handled?
Answer = ALL discipline issues will be handled by the teacher chaperones on your child's bus. Any discipline will be handled on a case by case basis with student safety being the number one priority and school conduct in mind. Depending on the issue, parents could be called at any hour of the day and if severe enough, students will be sent home and dismissed from the trip immediately at the parent's expense.
What if my child gets sick or injured on the trip?
Answer = A teacher will contact the parent and make the best decision of the student. In the event that a students needs to go to the emergency room, a teacher will accompany that student for the duration and stay in contact with the parent.
Is there security at the hotel?
Answer = Yes. Included in the cost is overnight security on each of the hotel floors where we have students staying.