Be Safe! Have Fun! Be Safe!
When we travel to California, there are many things to do, get ready for, and participate in while on the trip, especially to prepare to be safe and have fun!
1. Be Safe...Utah is a very safe place to live and travel. You need to be more cautious in other areas, around the country or away from your home and school. KEEP CLOSE TO YOUR FRIENDS AND OTHERS ON OUR TRIP. It's a good idea to stay in groups and around people that you know. JUST USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! Watch for each other and if you go to leave an area, bathroom, store, amusement park line, etc., look around you and make sure others are coming with you, or you are bringing someone with you! All the other students in your room are now your "BUDDY SYSTEM." Watch out for each other and get each other's cell. phone numbers so if you happen to get separated, you can call or text each other. Also, when we go to a new location, have a meeting place and make a time to meet there, just in case you accidentally get separated from your group. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR STUFF AND YOUR BUDDIES! Also, know the itinerary and listen to the Chaperones carefully for meeting times and where they say the bus will pick you up and the times to meet!
2. Money and valuable items are to stay with you at all times. Wear a wallet or sling pack or purse that is securely on you. Your camera and other electronics can be taken easily so keep them in sight and close to you. While in an amusement park, don't carry too much stuff and if you have your camera, or other items, have someone hold it while you are on the ride and keep things in a pocket or pack. Store money so that it won't fall out from your pockets. A wallet is a good place for your I.D. and money.
3. WE ARE GOING TO BE NEAR WATER AT THE BEACH! This will be fun, especially for us that live in the mountains and are not used to beaches and the surf. If you wade in the water of a beach, be very careful, waves can come when you are not looking and knock you over and worse, pull you out into the surf. The waters of Southern California are cold (especially in Winter and Spring months) and sand is course and rocky, so be careful around the water. IT'S ALSO NOT FUN SITTING IN WET CLOTHES ALL DAY! Take a beach towel and sun screen, especially on the days we will be at the beach. Sunglasses are also a good idea and lip balm. You may want to take an extra pair of shoes, pants or shorts and socks to change into, if you get clothes wet. Again, watch your items and have a friend hold valuables if you need to leave them for any reason. CLEAN OFF YOUR FEET AND CLOTHES FROM SAND, BEFORE YOU GET IN THE BUS AND DON'T SIT ON THE SEATS WITH A WET BEHIND!
4. We will be traveling via a very large bus (motor coach). We are renting this motor coach which is very expensive and we want to leave it better than we found it. Traveling on the bus can be fun but long. If you get motion sick, ask your parents about you taking a motion medication (usually found over the counter at the grocery store) that will help. Take a pillow and a light blanket for sleeping. Also an iPod and headphones will make it a little more comfortable and enjoyable. You may also want to take some cards or a game that you could play with others or play a solitaire card game. Of course there are many games, movies and music to watch and listen to on your iPod devices. KEEP QUIET AS WE TRAVEL ALL NIGHT, SO OTHERS CAN SLEEP AND YOU CAN SLEEP AS WELL! We will be riding all afternoon down to California and all night long back to the high school so try to sleep on the bus as much as possible, especially on the ride back. Be considerate of others, while on the bus! Bring a few snacks to keep your tummy happy between meals.
5. YOU ARE AN AMBASSADOR FOR OUR SCHOOL AND YOUR GOOD FAMILY NAME! You want to look clean and good, wearing appropriate clothes and acting calm and having fun in an appropriate way. We want everyone, at the places we visit, motel, amusement parks, museums, aquariums, etc., etc. to say, when we leave them, that they comment that we were the best large travel group they have ever seen or been with. We want to treat each other with respect, especially the adult "Chaperones" on the trip! We will be visiting exciting locations, eating in restaurants, staying at a nice motel, attending a large sporting event, and sharing our behavior with everyone and people that we meet on the trip. Make sure that you are acting good and appropriate, be a good example for those around you!!!
6. We are staying at a motel with other guests that will be staying above, below, or next to our rooms. Be quite in your room, especially at night when other travelers are trying to rest and enjoy their stay. Curfew is 10:30 P.M.! Lights out at 11:30 P.M.! DO NOT LEAVE THE MOTEL GROUNDS OR YOUR ROOM AFTER 10:30 P.M.! If you need anything, after this time, text or call the Chaperones that are assigned to your room! Once we get to the motel and you check into your room, you are responsible for that room and any damage to it. This means you are acting calmly, no jumping, running, hitting, throwing anything around the room. Make it like you own it and IF YOU BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT AND IF YOU DISRUPT OTHERS AROUND YOU, YOUR PARENTS WILL BE CALLED AND WORSE, HAVE TO DRIVE TO CALIFORNIA TO PICK YOU UP!!! Keep your room clean and tidy as well! Don't leave clothes on the floor and keep your valuables out-of-site. Try to keep everything in your suitcase, especially when you leave for the day, just keep things organized, clean and reverent! DO NOT MESS WITH THE T.V. SYSTEM! This is the most expensive item in the room.
7. Mornings and Breakfast time at the motel. We will be leaving each morning at 8:30 A.M. Make sure to get up early, take turns showering, and get to the breakfast area to eat with plenty of time to spare. You need to be on the bus at 8:30 A.M. NO LATER with all your items for the day. You will want a pack or a bag with your camera, sun screen, jacket or sweatshirt, hat, sunglasses, money and a light change of clothes (when we go to the beach). Look at the itinerary and decide the items you need for the day. We will not be coming back to the motel until late at night so bring everything you need for that day! If you take any medication, make sure to take it or bring it for the day, we cannot return to the motel.
8. California can be chilly, especially at night. We, in Utah, think Southern California is always warm and this may be true on most days, but many days can be rainy and quite cold and the humidity makes it feel cooler as well. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt with you each day, especially when we have things planned at night. Wear good walking shoes when you go to the amusement parks, you will be in long lines all day and walking many places. At the beach, wear sandals or flip-flops, but then bring better shoes for the other places we go. Also, carry some sort of I.D. and BRING YOUR CELL. PHONE EVERYWHERE. MAKE SURE IT'S CHARGED and that others know your phone number in case you get separated from the group. Also, bring a few snacks in case you get a little hungry in between lunch and dinner. Keep up on the itinerary for the lunch and dinner times so you don't spend money on food when you don't have to.
9. If you see another student, on our trip, doing something inappropriate. It's not telling or narking to tell the Chaperones and Leaders what is going on, they need to know and handle it prompty. If bad activity is going on, or if you are getting harassed / bullied or having problems with someone on the trip, this needs to be taken care of immediately! This inappropriate activity can ruin the entire trip for everyone and if you knew of the activity, it could get you in trouble as well. We want a safe and fun trip for everyone, DO NOT PLAY PRANKS ON OTHERS, this is called hazing and keep yourself in control, no stealing, use of bad language or act in a way to get you and others in trouble! If things get serious, the Chaperones will call the police and parents will need to drive or fly to California to pick up the problem student. We want to do these trips every year. LET'S MAKE IT FUN AND EXCITING AND VERY APPROPRIATE, as an educational tour, so we can do these trips for years to come!!!
10. Now let's go have fun in the sun in California. I know that you are excited to go, it's been a lot of planning, and lot's of money to participate in this great adventure, so let's make the best of our trip!
1. Be Safe...Utah is a very safe place to live and travel. You need to be more cautious in other areas, around the country or away from your home and school. KEEP CLOSE TO YOUR FRIENDS AND OTHERS ON OUR TRIP. It's a good idea to stay in groups and around people that you know. JUST USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! Watch for each other and if you go to leave an area, bathroom, store, amusement park line, etc., look around you and make sure others are coming with you, or you are bringing someone with you! All the other students in your room are now your "BUDDY SYSTEM." Watch out for each other and get each other's cell. phone numbers so if you happen to get separated, you can call or text each other. Also, when we go to a new location, have a meeting place and make a time to meet there, just in case you accidentally get separated from your group. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR STUFF AND YOUR BUDDIES! Also, know the itinerary and listen to the Chaperones carefully for meeting times and where they say the bus will pick you up and the times to meet!
2. Money and valuable items are to stay with you at all times. Wear a wallet or sling pack or purse that is securely on you. Your camera and other electronics can be taken easily so keep them in sight and close to you. While in an amusement park, don't carry too much stuff and if you have your camera, or other items, have someone hold it while you are on the ride and keep things in a pocket or pack. Store money so that it won't fall out from your pockets. A wallet is a good place for your I.D. and money.
3. WE ARE GOING TO BE NEAR WATER AT THE BEACH! This will be fun, especially for us that live in the mountains and are not used to beaches and the surf. If you wade in the water of a beach, be very careful, waves can come when you are not looking and knock you over and worse, pull you out into the surf. The waters of Southern California are cold (especially in Winter and Spring months) and sand is course and rocky, so be careful around the water. IT'S ALSO NOT FUN SITTING IN WET CLOTHES ALL DAY! Take a beach towel and sun screen, especially on the days we will be at the beach. Sunglasses are also a good idea and lip balm. You may want to take an extra pair of shoes, pants or shorts and socks to change into, if you get clothes wet. Again, watch your items and have a friend hold valuables if you need to leave them for any reason. CLEAN OFF YOUR FEET AND CLOTHES FROM SAND, BEFORE YOU GET IN THE BUS AND DON'T SIT ON THE SEATS WITH A WET BEHIND!
4. We will be traveling via a very large bus (motor coach). We are renting this motor coach which is very expensive and we want to leave it better than we found it. Traveling on the bus can be fun but long. If you get motion sick, ask your parents about you taking a motion medication (usually found over the counter at the grocery store) that will help. Take a pillow and a light blanket for sleeping. Also an iPod and headphones will make it a little more comfortable and enjoyable. You may also want to take some cards or a game that you could play with others or play a solitaire card game. Of course there are many games, movies and music to watch and listen to on your iPod devices. KEEP QUIET AS WE TRAVEL ALL NIGHT, SO OTHERS CAN SLEEP AND YOU CAN SLEEP AS WELL! We will be riding all afternoon down to California and all night long back to the high school so try to sleep on the bus as much as possible, especially on the ride back. Be considerate of others, while on the bus! Bring a few snacks to keep your tummy happy between meals.
5. YOU ARE AN AMBASSADOR FOR OUR SCHOOL AND YOUR GOOD FAMILY NAME! You want to look clean and good, wearing appropriate clothes and acting calm and having fun in an appropriate way. We want everyone, at the places we visit, motel, amusement parks, museums, aquariums, etc., etc. to say, when we leave them, that they comment that we were the best large travel group they have ever seen or been with. We want to treat each other with respect, especially the adult "Chaperones" on the trip! We will be visiting exciting locations, eating in restaurants, staying at a nice motel, attending a large sporting event, and sharing our behavior with everyone and people that we meet on the trip. Make sure that you are acting good and appropriate, be a good example for those around you!!!
6. We are staying at a motel with other guests that will be staying above, below, or next to our rooms. Be quite in your room, especially at night when other travelers are trying to rest and enjoy their stay. Curfew is 10:30 P.M.! Lights out at 11:30 P.M.! DO NOT LEAVE THE MOTEL GROUNDS OR YOUR ROOM AFTER 10:30 P.M.! If you need anything, after this time, text or call the Chaperones that are assigned to your room! Once we get to the motel and you check into your room, you are responsible for that room and any damage to it. This means you are acting calmly, no jumping, running, hitting, throwing anything around the room. Make it like you own it and IF YOU BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT AND IF YOU DISRUPT OTHERS AROUND YOU, YOUR PARENTS WILL BE CALLED AND WORSE, HAVE TO DRIVE TO CALIFORNIA TO PICK YOU UP!!! Keep your room clean and tidy as well! Don't leave clothes on the floor and keep your valuables out-of-site. Try to keep everything in your suitcase, especially when you leave for the day, just keep things organized, clean and reverent! DO NOT MESS WITH THE T.V. SYSTEM! This is the most expensive item in the room.
7. Mornings and Breakfast time at the motel. We will be leaving each morning at 8:30 A.M. Make sure to get up early, take turns showering, and get to the breakfast area to eat with plenty of time to spare. You need to be on the bus at 8:30 A.M. NO LATER with all your items for the day. You will want a pack or a bag with your camera, sun screen, jacket or sweatshirt, hat, sunglasses, money and a light change of clothes (when we go to the beach). Look at the itinerary and decide the items you need for the day. We will not be coming back to the motel until late at night so bring everything you need for that day! If you take any medication, make sure to take it or bring it for the day, we cannot return to the motel.
8. California can be chilly, especially at night. We, in Utah, think Southern California is always warm and this may be true on most days, but many days can be rainy and quite cold and the humidity makes it feel cooler as well. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt with you each day, especially when we have things planned at night. Wear good walking shoes when you go to the amusement parks, you will be in long lines all day and walking many places. At the beach, wear sandals or flip-flops, but then bring better shoes for the other places we go. Also, carry some sort of I.D. and BRING YOUR CELL. PHONE EVERYWHERE. MAKE SURE IT'S CHARGED and that others know your phone number in case you get separated from the group. Also, bring a few snacks in case you get a little hungry in between lunch and dinner. Keep up on the itinerary for the lunch and dinner times so you don't spend money on food when you don't have to.
9. If you see another student, on our trip, doing something inappropriate. It's not telling or narking to tell the Chaperones and Leaders what is going on, they need to know and handle it prompty. If bad activity is going on, or if you are getting harassed / bullied or having problems with someone on the trip, this needs to be taken care of immediately! This inappropriate activity can ruin the entire trip for everyone and if you knew of the activity, it could get you in trouble as well. We want a safe and fun trip for everyone, DO NOT PLAY PRANKS ON OTHERS, this is called hazing and keep yourself in control, no stealing, use of bad language or act in a way to get you and others in trouble! If things get serious, the Chaperones will call the police and parents will need to drive or fly to California to pick up the problem student. We want to do these trips every year. LET'S MAKE IT FUN AND EXCITING AND VERY APPROPRIATE, as an educational tour, so we can do these trips for years to come!!!
10. Now let's go have fun in the sun in California. I know that you are excited to go, it's been a lot of planning, and lot's of money to participate in this great adventure, so let's make the best of our trip!