2025 STEAM Field Trip
Welcome to the official website for the Westfield STEAM Trip! The Westfield STEAM Trip is approved by the Westfield Board of Education as an educational field trip and is being run through Kaleidoscope Adventures, a tour company specializing in student group travel. They have organized trips like ours for over 25 years. Each trip focuses on the core educational components of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). The trip is also a fantastic way for students to develop independence in group travel but in a well structured environment.
2024-2025 School Year STEAM Trip Information:
Westfield Public Schools is anticipating running two STEAM Trips during the 2024-2025 school year for middle school students. One trip will be for all 8th graders from both RIS and EIS. The second trip will be for all 7th graders from both RIS and EIS. Trips change each year so a participant could sign up for a completely different trip the following year.
8th Grade - 2024-2025 School Year STEAM Trip Information:
The 8th Grade Trip will take place in Florida focusing on engineering and graphic design.
Dates:
February 1st to February 4th, 2025.
** Dates may shift by 1-2 days depending on flight availability. However, the trip will be 2 weekend days and 2 school days. School days are excused absences since it is a school trip. It will most likely be Thurs-Sun or Sat-Tues.
Sign Up Information:
There are three steps to register:
CLICK HERE to fill out the interest form which puts you on the email list.
2. Trip Application Form -can be picked up from any of people below starting after spring break and due by May 10th, 2024. Hand to Mr. Belline in EIS Room 205, Mrs. Sapichino in EIS Room 208, Mrs. Scheuerer in RIS Room 308, or Mr. Bausch in RIS Room 515.
3. Non Refundable Deposit - $50 Cash or Check made out to "Edison School Fund" (even if from RIS) - submitted at same time as Trip Application. This $50 goes toward your final cost.
For more information, consider attending any of the following meetings...
RIS Student Meeting - Students Only - Monday, April 22nd from 2:50 to 3:15 in the RIS Auditorium
EIS Student Meeting - Students Only Wednesday, April 24th from 2:50 to 3:15pm in the EIS Auditorium
Virtual Meeting - For Parents and Students -Wednesday, April 24th from 7:00 - 7:30pm. Link sent via email once Step #1 is complete.
** If there are more than 45 sign ups, then there will be a lottery to pick the spots. That will be completed about a week after application due date. Students selected will then confirm their spot with the first payment in the online portal. Oftentimes, people do drop and we will have a second lottery. **
Anticipated Price: $1900-2100 per person
This is an all inclusive price...flights, hotel, chaperones, MEALS, all programs, TIPS, and everything else listed. Many camps or travel programs show one price but then participants need to pay extra for meals and tips. This is all built into our price.
2023-2024 8th Grade Trip Potential Itinerary:
The order of events will likely change.
Day #1
Flight Newark to Orlando
Airboat Tour and Info Sessions on the Florida Everglades at Boggy Creek
Dinner on Universal Citywalk
Day #2
Trip to Kennedy Space Center which will include a variety of activities including video movies of history of space travel, launch pad tour, and various simulators.
Lunch at Kennedy Space Center
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day #3
Take the Behind the Adventure Tour at Universal.
Lunch in the park
Ride some rides in the park during the afternoon/evening.
Dinner in one of the Parks.
Day #4
Free day in Universal Parks!
Return Home on Flight Orlando to Newark.
7th Grade 2024-2025 School Year STEAM Trip Information:
The 7th Grade Trip will take place in Huntsville and focus on astronomy and a simulated space mission!
Dates:
February 28 - March 3rd, 2025
** Dates may shift by 1-2 days depending on flight availability.
Sign Up Information:
There are three steps to register:
CLICK HERE to fill out the interest form which puts you on the email list.
2. Trip Application Form -can be picked up from any of people below starting after spring break and due by May 10th, 2024. Hand to Mr. Belline in EIS Room 205, Mrs. Sapichino in EIS Room 208, Mrs. Scheuerer in RIS Room 308, or Mr. Bausch in RIS Room 515.
3. Non Refundable Deposit - $50 Cash or Check made out to "Edison School Fund" (even if from RIS) - submitted at same time as Trip Application. This $50 goes toward your final cost.
For more information, consider attending any of the following meetings...
RIS Student Meeting - Students Only - Monday, April 22nd from 2:50 to 3:15 in the RIS Auditorium
EIS Student Meeting - Students Only Wednesday, April 24th from 2:50 to 3:15pm in the EIS Auditorium
Virtual Meeting - For Parents and Students -Wednesday, April 24th from 7:00 - 7:30pm. Link sent via email once Step #1 is complete.
** If there are more than 45 sign ups, then there will be a lottery to pick the spots. That will be completed about a week after application due date. Students selected will then confirm their spot with the first payment in the online portal. Oftentimes, people do drop and we will have a second lottery. **
Anticipated Price: $1900-2100 per person
This is an all inclusive price...flights, hotel, chaperones, MEALS, all programs, TIPS, and everything else listed. Many camps or travel programs show one price but then participants need to pay extra for meals and tips. This is all built into our price.
2024-2025 7th Grade Trip Potential Itinerary:
The order of events will likely change.
Day #1
Flight EWR to Nashville
Lunch at the famous Assembly Food Hall
Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame
Explore 5th and Broadway in downtown Nashville
Dinner and a Line Dance Lesson
Day #2
Drive from Nashville to Huntsville
Lunch stop on the way
Check in at Space Camp
Dinner in Dining Hall
Develop our teams and roles for our simulated space mission coming over the next two days.
Day #3
Go through the Pathfinder Mission including learning roles for the simulated space mission, developing model rockets to launch, and more.
Lunch in Dining Hall
Complete a multi-hour simulated space mission in our teams.
Dinner in Dining Hall
Trivia night and other programs!
Day #4
Final program completion including a graduation ceremony.
Time to tour the visitor center at the US Space and Rocket Center.
Drive Huntsville to Nashville
Flight back to Newark.
Participant Acceptance:
A student must be in good academic standing to attend the trip which means:
Marking Period Grades of B (80%) or better during previous 3 marking periods in all classes
If your child has a viable excuse for a marking period grade below this cutoff, then please fill out this Eligibility Explanation Form with teacher signature and hand in with your application form prior to the due date. Students who ignore this form and are found to have grades below this cutoff will automatically be placed last in the potential lottery.
No significant disciplinary issues on record with the school
Example: Significant physical or verbal attack toward classmates or staff is no acceptable. If a student has received a suspension or significant disciplinary action this school year and would like to be considered for the trip, then please fill out the Eligibility Explanation Form.
Student must have a high level of attendance
If more than 45 students complete registration for the trip and are eligible then a lottery will result in order to fill the spots.
Hanging out at Velocicoaster in 2022!
Trip Chaperones and Organizer:
The trip is organized by Mr. Ryan Belline, an experienced math teacher at Edison Intermediate School. Besides being a middle school math teacher, Mr. Belline has 20 years of sleep away camp experience at Campus Kids Sleep Away Camp, including running the multi night tent camping trip option for middle school students and now runs those same trips with information here. Finally, Mr. Belline also coaches and organizes the Westfield Ultimate Frisbee program. The team takes 2-4 overnight trips each year to various places like Washington DC, Massachusetts, and more. Needless to say, Mr. Belline is very familiar with organizing middle school aged trips and is also First Aid/CPR certified.
Mrs. Brittany Sapichino has 10 years of experience teaching French at both Roosevelt and Edison Schools. Mrs. Sapichino has been attending and organizing the STEAM Trip for many years now and is a seasoned travel leader.
Ms. Liz Scheuerer has 26 years of experience teaching mathematics at Roosevelt Intermediate School. Ms. Scheuerer has experience chaperoning 8th grade students on spring break trips to Europe and as a senior counselor/teacher for middle school students at Fairview Lakes, NJ and TCNJ for the NJ Leadership Training Conference.
Mr. Andrew Bausch has 17 years of experience teaching science at Roosevelt Intermediate school. Mr. Bausch has experience chaperoning 8th grade students on trips to NYC and 7th grade students to the Liberty Science Center and Museum of Natural History. He has also been a soccer coach at Westfield High School for the past 11 years and has experience taking players on overnight trips to upstate NY for pre-season training.
Other chaperones are selected based on the number of sign ups and will be Westfield Public School teachers and staff who are experienced and eager to work with overnight travel. Also, there will be a licensed school nurse on the trip with us who assists with first aid and administers daily medication.
Perks of Westfield STEM Trip:
Only School Sponsored Middle School Overnight Trip!
School certified Registered Nurse attending
District Insurance and Best Practices
High Level of Support including guidance counselors, school nurses, and school administration to handle any issues
All Inclusive Pricing - including meals and tips
Most camp/travel programs anticipate tips or participants to carry cash for meals
Food vouchers included in our trip
Most experienced chaperones
Over 20 years of middle school travel experience
Previous Trips:
The 2024-20254 school year will be the 9th and 10th Westfield STEAM overnight field trip. Our first trip in 2017 was to Universal Studios in Orlando. 27 students attended and were able to go behind the scenes at the parks. In 2018, we traveled with 26 students to Walt Disney World in Orlando. Both years we also explored Kennedy Space Center, Mote Marine Laboratory, and Ringling College. In 2019, the trip grew massively and we took 63 students to Space Camp and Nashville! In 2022, over 70 EIS students visited Kennedy Space Center and Universal Studios! And, then in 2024, we started running two trips every year due to massive demand.
To see press releases of previous trips, please click on the links below:
2022 Trip to Universal Studios and Kennedy Space Center
Testimonials from Parents
I thought everything was so well done. My daughter enjoyed everything, and actually said, "I'd like to go to college here (Ringling)." It was her first time showing such enthusiasm for her future. The Remind pictures were so fun to see, and the amount of adventures throughout the trip was fantastic. I was jealous that I could not go! Much more exciting than my overnight trip to DC with Edison back in the late 80's!
The exposure to real-world STEAM related orgs. that are directly related to the fields of _____’s interest- (She dreams of working in design for Disney parks). She loved the design school, and the behind-the-scenes tours at the parks. The whole trip was a life changing experience for ______ - fueling her drive to pursue her dream. We loved that she was safe, with friends, and so stimulated for her first trip away from home on her own.
I'm a huge proponent of travel in general. I try to foster a sense of curiosity, wonder and respect for cultures and the planet with my kids and there is no better way to do that than to experience things first hand. This trip was no exception and did not disappoint. It lived up to every expectation that we had.
I can't say enough good things about the trip. My child had an amazing time and we feel lucky that he was able to have this opportunity and experience. We thank you very much for organizing such a wonderful trip, with lasting memories.
Having our child attend this interesting and fun experience was amazing for our child’s sense of independence. We can already see the maturity and growth since returning. It is also a fantastic way to get to meet new students and teachers and form new bonds. We cannot recommend this experience enough and hope to travel with the group again next year!
Mr. Belline and the rest of the staff run an incredible STEM trip. My both of my kids have been on the trip and loved it. As a parent I felt my kids were in great hands. Highly recommend!
Testimonials from Students
I will remember a lot from Kennedy Space Center because I thought seeing the Atlantis Space Shuttle in person was really cool.
It was such a phenomenal experience and I would recommend this trip to anyone.
I will remember our trip to the aquarium the most because I learned a lot in the aquarium itself and I had a lot of fun catching animals in the brackish water and learning about them
I think Full Sail definitely highlighted how interesting video editing and filming is with a boom, camera, and green screen was! I think I now will consider video filming for movies or TV now as a possible career instead of something fun to watch or do on the side for fun. The video editing experience was definitely one of my favorite experiences on the trip.
The trip was so fun. It was educational but in a great hands on way, this trip consists of many once in a lifetime experiences which I will never forget. Being with friends, and being more connected with teachers are so fun. A great thing about the trip was being with students from the other school so we could get to know each other before high school
I had the best time!
A group hanging out at Universal Citywalk in 2022
Editing videos at Full Sail University in 2022
Hanging in front of the Universal sign in 2023
Taking an airboat ride in the Florida Everglades in 2023