Kaleidoscope Adventures offers student groups a variety of experiences that help create lasting memories.  We can customize an itinerary that is fun and meets your educational and/or performance objectives.

For more information on St. Augustine, Florida, please contact us.

Boston Tea Party Gaining Museum

Politicians, in power suits, conferencing in meetings or over a power lunch—this is our nation’s capital.  Power drives politics, and politics is what Washington DC is all about. Student groups traveling to DC on a class trip may ask how they can learn not only about the history of America, but how the political process helps shape our country too.  Fear not student groups.  Even though you may not have top-secret security clearance, DC has plenty to offer you in your quest of becoming a beltway insider faster than Congress can pass tax reforms.

With so many museums, monuments, national landmarks, historical places of interest and houses of government, a student class soaking it all in should earn an honorary college degree.  Yet, our nation’s capital is not a dry, educational overload destination.  It is alive with intriguing opportunities for student groups to witness the political city in action.  For example, a group can watch the House of Representatives or Senate in session, or observe money being printed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  Moreover, by means of planning ahead of time with your local Congressman and going through numerous security clearances, student classes can tour the White House and see portraits of past presidents and encounter the hustle and bustle of the West Wing.  Groups can also experience guided tours of the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court (when not in session) and Library of Congress.  Each tour guide is well-versed in how the political process works as well as having great knowledge of the historical aspects of landmark court cases, the types of bills being passed, and more.  With so many opportunities available, student classes are definitely afforded the opportunity to learn the political process and how it works.

Amid all of this political madness, the historical aspects of Washington DC are incredible as well.  The National Mall’s monuments, memorials and museums guarantee hours, really days, of educational exploration. With nineteen Smithsonian museums, student classes studying history, art, science and more will certainly be intrigued by the numerous exhibits each museum has to offer.  In fact, the only thing more impressive than the shear diversity of the Smithsonian museums is that they are free.  Located west of the museums is West Potomac Park where the Washington Monument and Lincoln, Jefferson and FDR Memorials are found, as well as memorials honoring veterans of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.  Surrounding all of these memorials is Constitution Gardens where one will find a necklace of cherry trees, whose spring blossoms merit a festival each year.  Just north of the Washington Monument lies the White House, residence of the President of the United States.  In addition, a tour of Arlington Cemetery, where visitors pay homage to the Tomb of the Unknown, the Kennedy gravesites and the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial, is definitely worth your time.

Outside of the National Mall’s aegis lie many other group-friendly museums, attractions and tours that will surely intrigue student classes including:

• Ford’s Theater and Peterson House
• Historical Walking Tour of Alexandria, Virginia
• International Spy Museum
• Mt. Vernon (George and Martha Washington’s home)
• National Museum of Crime and Punishment
• Newseum
• United States Holocaust Museum
• Washington National Cathedral
• Woodrow Wilson House

Overall, many of Washington DC’s historical monuments, memorials and museums commemorate important chapters in American history.  Yet, having your class see the political process and the power associated with it firsthand, will give your student group an opportunity to learn about modern-day politics.  Therefore, becoming a beltway insider will be easier than you think.  At Kaleidoscope Adventures, we call this experiential learning.  A student class trip to Washington DC is truly educational in many ways.

For over 18 years, Kaleidoscope Adventures has organized class trips to Washington DC for thousands of schools.  We are experts in booking student tours and specialize in planning complete travel services for any student group.  We plan everything from A to Z, thus giving you peace-of-mind.  We even give you a tour director who helps you every step of the way during your trip.

Put your trust in us to meet all of your student travel needs.  Why not give your group an exciting class trip to Washington DC and its surrounding areas?  Let us bring your classroom to life and create lasting memories for your student trip.

By Greg Dotson

Extra, Extra! The Tony Nominations were recently announced to celebrate the year in Broadway. In case you missed them, Disney’s newest musical Newsies is the “King of New York!” With eight nominations, Newsies is celebrating in a big way as the little show that the Fansies brought to Broadway. Based on the 1992 Disney film flop starring Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, and Ann-Margret, this movie has been given new life at the Nederlander Theater with a fresh score by Alan Menken and book by Harvey Fierstein. Our student groups that have visited New York City this spring have loved this show from start to finish and always leave singing and dancing. With so many amazing shows on Broadway this year, student group travel to New York City has never been more exciting!

Other new shows that have received multiple nominations are Once, based on the Academy Award winning film, with eleven nominations, and Nice Work If You Can Get It, starring Broadway staples Matthew Broderick and Kelli O’Hara, and directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, with ten nominations. The star appeal is even greater in the Broadway Revival Category with returning classics such as Evita, Follies, The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Jesus Christ Superstar. With stars like Ricky Martin playing Ché in Evita, four- time Tony Winner Audra McDonald as Bess in The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and legends of Broadway including Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell and Elaine Paige having graced the stage in the Stephen Sondheim classic, Follies, this is a great year to see a show!

Other student favorite shows include Godspell, currently starring High School Musical alum Corbin Bleu, Sister Act: The Musical, starring a grown up Raven-Symoné, and Spiderman – Turn Off The Dark. And, of course classic shows such as The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Memphis, The Phantom of the Opera, War Horse and Wicked are sure to please any student group. This fall promises to bring another great student option when the classic Annie returns to Broadway!

Of course, there is so much more for student groups to do in New York City besides see a show. Our student group itineraries are filled with attractions, tours, restaurants, and shopping from start to finish. There are incredible museums including the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum located right off of Central Park. A visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is a must. And, the new National September 11 Memorial & Museum is a moving tribute to the city and the lives lost in this tragedy that pulled our nation together.

This summer the Space Shuttle Enterprise will be permanently displayed at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. This fitting tribute to the U.S. Space program will be on display on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid until her permanent facility is constructed. There are tours available of the Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, NBC Studios, as well as movie tours, walking tours, bus tours, boat tours, and more. Sports fans have plenty to cheer about with the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Liberty or Rangers throughout the year. And, a visit to the Big Apple would not be complete without a stop in Times Square.

Kaleidoscope Adventures loves New York City, and we are sure that your student groups will, too! We are excited to work with all types of student groups to customize a trip that is perfect for you. The opportunities in New York City are incredible and a visit to this destination is sure to create memories that will last a lifetime. Let Kaleidoscope Adventures start planning your student group travel to New York City today!

Philadelphia’s rich history and long list of attractions make the “City of Brotherly Love” a natural classroom for student groups.  Made famous for the birthplace of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, Philadelphia is a dynamic student group travel choice for learning about Colonial history and the Revolutionary period.  Combine Philadelphia’s fascinating historical sites with its world-class museums, exciting attractions, fantastic entertainment, professional sports, signature shopping and delicious food, you then will have a recipe for both an educational and entertaining student tour, one that will touch your groups’ hearts and minds.  Philadelphia not only retells the powerful stories of our nation’s past, but is willing to accommodate and entertain student groups as few other cities can.

Philadelphia’s Historical Sites

The historical aspects of Philadelphia are fascinating.  Being both an indoor and outdoor museum of history, Philadelphia is famous for its role it played in forming our first republic government.  As part of your trip, you and your student group should include the Historical Independence Walking Tour on your itinerary.  The 2+ mile guided tour walks you through old city Philadelphia to 11 significant historical sites including:

• Independence Hall
• Liberty Bell Center
• Declaration House
• Carpenter’s Hall
• Supreme Court
• Congress Hall
• Franklin Court
• Elfreth’s Alley
• Betsy Ross House
• Fireman’s Hall
• Christ Church and Burial Ground

Make sure your student group wears comfortable walking shoes before taking this tour as it is centered in the historical section of Philadelphia where cobblestone streets abound.

If you decide to visit the more popular historical sites without taking the guided walking tour, then the following would meet and/or exceed your educational objectives.


Liberty Bell Center – Having a new home in recent years, the Liberty Bell is now located across the street from Independence Hall.  The center is equally powerful and dramatic as the Bell itself.  Throughout this expansive and historical center, larger-than-life historic documents and graphic images explore both the facts and myths of the Bell.  Tradition tells of a chime that changed the world on July 8, 1776, with the Liberty Bell ringing out from the tower of Independence Hall summoning the citizens of Philadelphia to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.  X-Rays give one an insider’s view of the Bell’s crack and inner workings.  Short historical films trace how abolitionists and other groups adopted the Bell as its symbol of freedom and liberty for all.

Independence Hall – Being the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, Independence Hall is one of the most important historical landmarks in the United States.  Major steps towards independence were taken here by delegates of the English colonies, amongst them George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.  The Declaration of Independence was signed in this building on July 4, 1776.  Independence Hall was also the site where the American Flag was first unveiled in 1777.  In 1781, the Articles of Confederation uniting all thirteen colonies were ratified here as well as the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

Photo Courtesy of National Constitution Center

National Constitution Center – On July 4, 2003, the City of Philadelphia opened the doors to the National Constitution Center.  This captivating center tells the story of the U.S. Constitution by means of more than 100 interactive multimedia exhibits, photographs, sculpture, text, film and artifacts.  The Kimmel Theater, a 350 seat star-shaped theater, features “Freedom Rising,” a multimedia production combining film, a live actor and video projection on a 360° screen to tell the stirring story of “We the People.”

Christ Church and Burial Ground – Christ Church, founded in 1695, is an interesting place to explore Colonial and Revolution-era history.  Its burial ground, which includes the tomb of Benjamin Franklin, is an authentic historic site for learning about the lives of early Americans.


Betsy Ross House – The Betsy Ross House is recognized as the place where Betsy Ross lived when she made the first American Flag.  Built around 1740, the house is located just blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center.

Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Historic District

Old City Hall – Old City Hall was Philadelphia’s second city hall and served as the home of the United States First Supreme Court between the years of 1791 and 1800.

Valley Forge National Historical Park – The picturesque, rolling hillsides of 3,600 acre Valley Forge National Historical Park are a peaceful reminder of freedom won by men’s sacrifices long ago.  It was here that General George Washington forged his Continental Army into a fighting force during the winter encampment of 1777-78.

Overall, Philadelphia provides student groups a fascinating historical education about the beginnings of our first republic government and Colonial history.  In addition and not even mentioned in this article are other world-class attractions and museums like the Adventure Aquarium, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Fels Planetarium and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.  Unlike any other city, Philadelphia provides student groups with unlimited attractions, museums, historical sites and monuments.  As one can see, Philadelphia has it all!

For over 18 years, Kaleidoscope Adventures has organized historical and performance trips to Philadelphia for thousands of schools.  We are experts in booking student tours and specialize in planning complete travel services for any student group.  We plan everything from A to Z, thus giving you peace-of-mind.  We even give you a tour director who helps you every step of the way during your trip.

Put your trust in us to meet all of your student travel needs.  Why not give your group an exciting performance/historical trip to Philadelphia and its surrounding areas?  Let us bring your classroom to life and create lasting memories for your student trip.

Performance Opportunities in Boston

Three of the most popular performance sites in Boston include the Boston Conservatory, Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market and Six Flags® New England.

The Boston Conservatory, the oldest performing arts conservatory in the nation, offers student performance groups an award-winning theater that is newly renovated. The Conservatory just recently completed a $32 million, 16-month-long renovation and expansion project that effectively adds 16,000 new square feet of rehearsal and performance space to the building, as well as a completely renovated, state-of-the-art 300-seat theater with new orchestra pit, air conditioning and a host of technical upgrades and accoutrements. Conductors are constantly raving about the incredible acoustics within this theater.

At Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, there are numerous locations for your school band, orchestra, choir or dance ensemble to perform in the most historic location in Boston. Your ensemble can perform outdoors where thousands of people shop and dine each day, giving you a large audience. Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market is one of the most visited historical attractions in Boston.

Just an hour and a half outside of Boston is Six Flags® New England. Like all Six Flags®, this theme park is exciting and has some of the fastest, tallest, wildest, gut-wrenching rides in the country including rollercoasters like Batman – The Dark Night, Bizarro, voted the #2 steel rollercoaster in the country, and the Cyclone, one of the largest wooden rollercoasters in the U.S. New to Six Flags® New England this year is Goliath, a heart-pounding roller coaster. With over 40 exciting amusement rides, an exhilarating water park and fantastic entertainment, Six Flags® New England will surely provide thrills and exciting times your student group will always remember. Six Flags® New England provides marching bands, concert bands, jazz bands, choirs, orchestras and dance ensembles an opportunity to perform in front of thousands of spectators at various sites throughout the park as well.

Historical Sites in Boston

The historical aspects of Boston are fascinating. Boston is both an indoor and outdoor museum of history and architecture. As part of your itinerary, you and your student group should include the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is 2.5 mile walking tour through Boston that takes groups around 16 significant historical sites including:

• U.S.S. Constitution
• Bunker Hill Monument
• Copp’s Hill Burial Ground
• Old North Church
• Paul Revere House
• Faneuil Hall
• Boston Massacre Site
• Old State House
• Old South Meeting House
• Former Site of the Old Corner Bookstore
• First Public School Site and Ben Franklin Statue
• King’s Chapel and Burying Ground
• Granary Burying Ground
• Park Street Church
• Massachusetts State House
• Boston Commons.

Guided tours are available for student groups. However, the Freedom Trail is well-marked and can be self-guided. To obtain guides for your group, The Freedom Trail Foundation offers maps and other resources for educators at www.thefreedomtrail.org .

Opening Soon: Scheduled to open June 25 in Boston is the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Most of the museum will be located on a barge anchored next to the museum pier on the Fort Point Channel. In addition to state-of-the-art technology, the museum will have actors dressed in period clothing and the original Robinson Tea Chest that was thrown into the Boston Harbor on Dec. 16, 1773. Students will have the opportunity to throw a tea chest over the sides of the Beaver, Eleanor and Dartmouth, replicas of the original ships involved in the Boston Tea Party.

Other Historical Sites in the Boston Area

Don’t forget to include historical sites around Boston including Lexington and Concord, where the great patriot Paul Revere is best remembered for his ride through the countryside warning the Minute Men that “The British are Coming!” Lexington and Concord are also known as the first sites of battle in the American Revolution as well as the site of the Old North Bridge where the American militia defeated the British soon after the “shot heard ’round the world” was fired.

Just north of Boston is Salem, a town known for the Salem Witch Trials, one of the darkest episodes in American History. Salem is a fascinating town that features The Salem Witch Museum which takes students back to Salem in 1692. The museum offers a dramatic history of the Witch Trials and witchcraft, bringing the past into a present day perspective. In addition to the museum, a tour of the House of the Seven Gables, complete with a hidden staircase and history of Nathaniel Hawthorn, will inspire students’ imaginations.

Lastly, a trip to Boston wouldn’t be complete without a short jaunt south along the coast to Plymouth. Here students can view Plymouth Rock where the Pilgrims first landed in 1620, experience the Mayflower II, and visit the living outdoor history museum, Plimoth Plantation. Known as the site of the first colony, Plimoth plantation recreates life in a Wampanoag Indian village and a 1627 English settlement and how they co-habitated. Students will gain a fantastic education of Native American and Colonial history.

Overall, Boston provides performance groups with fantastic performance options and a historical education about the American Revolution. In addition and not even mentioned in this article are other fantastic attractions like the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Science and whale watching excursions. Unlike any other city, Boston provides student groups with unlimited attractions, museums, historical sites, monuments and performance sites. As one can see, Boston has it all!

For over 18 years, Kaleidoscope Adventures has organized performance and historical trips to Boston for thousands of schools. We are experts in booking student tours and specialize in planning complete travel services for any student group. We plan everything from A to Z, thus giving you peace-of-mind. We even give you a tour director who helps you every step of the way during your trip.

Put your trust in us to meet all of your student travel needs. Why not give your group an exciting performance/historical trip to Boston and its surrounding areas? Let us bring your classroom to life and create lasting memories for your student trip.

Oftentimes overshadowed by larger cities such as New York City, Washington DC or Chicago, Atlanta offers student groups an exciting and educational destination for any size group with many student-friendly options including:

Georgia Aquarium: The world’s largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium provides students with the ultimate experience in aquatic life. The Georgia Aquarium captures the life of marine mammals, shellfish and fish off the Atlantic coast of Georgia as well as freshwater fish, mammals, reptiles, etc. that are indicative to the state of Georgia, Africa, South America and Asia. The Georgia Aquarium has many exhibits, a 4D theatre and excellent educational programs for student travel groups. Lesson Plans and Aquatic Fact Sheets are available for grades K-12 as well.

World of Coca-Cola: The Coca-Cola museum has many exhibits (a lot that are interactive) that span the history of Coke. There are many works of art that show Coca-Cola’s impact on pop culture and the world of art. Students can also sample Coca-Cola’s best sodas from around the world.

Six Flags Over Georgia: Being Atlanta’s official one and only theme park, Six Flags Over Georgia has some of the most exciting amusement rides in the country! With 11 pulse-pounding roller coasters including Batman, The Ride, and over 30 other amusement rides, Six Flags Over Georgia will provide your student group with some of the fastest, wildest, tallest, gut-wrenching rides and thrills they crave.

Stone Mountain: Being “the largest exposed piece of granite in the world,” Stone Mountain extends nine miles underground and 1,686 ft. above ground. Student groups can hike the mountain or take an aerial sky ride to the top. The view from the top is amazing, especially on a clear day. One cannot only see the entire city of Atlanta, but also the mountains of north Georgia, which happens to be a two hour drive away from Stone Mountain. The park sports a fantastic laser show each evening (mid-April through the summer) as well as a train ride around the mountain, a kid’s park, many gift shops and more.

CNN Studios Tour: Many students are not aware that CNN originated and is still headquartered in Atlanta. Students can tour a 50-foot globe where they can search 25 years of CNN footage via informational kiosks. Still housing CNN’s 24 hour Headline News, students will experience an overlook of the live newsroom, control room, black box studio and more. Student groups will also see a demonstration about weather broadcasts.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History: While visiting the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, student groups can learn about the geological history of Georgia, beginning with the piedmont and ending on the coastal barrier islands. Students can also see an exhibit of the oldest pottery found in North America as well as an IMAX theatre showing educational films on a daily basis. Of special interest, the exhibit “Giants of the Mesozoic” features a close up view of pre-historic life in Patagonia, Argentina, where some of the largest dinosaur skeletons in the world have been found. On a frequent basis, Fernbank also unveils special exhibitions that are educational and cater to student groups.

Zoo Atlanta: Zoo Atlanta has plenty of exciting exhibits including the Ford African Rain Forest, Flamingo Plaza, Masai Mara (a replica of East African Plains) and the Ketambe Exhibit, where rare Sumatran Tigers are housed. Moreover, Zoo Atlanta is best known for housing the Giant Pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang from China.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial: Being a National Historic Site, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial gives student groups a comprehensive look at MLK’s origins. Tours include a visit to the birth home of Martin Luther King, Jr., a tour of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King, his father and grandfather preached, a trip to the visitor center and a tour of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

Centennial Olympic Park: Being the hub of educational and historical information for student travel groups, the park was originally built for the 1996 Centennial Olympics. While visiting, student groups will want to take a walking tour around the commemorative quilts from the Olympic bombings, the Quilt of Nations, and The Fountain of Rings.

Overall, Atlanta is an educational big-city destination that prides itself on southern hospitality. Imagine, for one all-inclusive price, visiting all of the above-mentioned attractions within a four day period and adding a comfortable hotel stay, dining at restaurants such as Hard Rock Café, Buca di Beppo and Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, transportation and visiting a sporting event, orchestra concert, etc.? At Kaleidoscope Adventures, we have been specializing in student tours to Atlanta for over 18 years. We have serviced thousands of schools and are experts in planning complete travel services for any student group. We plan everything from A to Z, thus giving you peace-of-mind. We even give you a tour director who helps you every step of the way during your trip.

Put your trust in us to meet all of your student group travel needs. Why not give your group an exciting student trip to Atlanta? Let us bring your classroom to life and create lasting memories for your student tour.

By Steve Brinkman

Trying to book a student group tour into the White House can be a daunting task, especially if you try to do it on your own.  I suggest utilizing a professional student group tour operator, like Kaleidoscope Adventures, to help you through the process.

When booking a White House tour, you must realize because of the events that occurred on September 11, 2001, accessibility for group tours has greatly diminished.  Obtaining clearance to tour the White House is not impossible, but can be somewhat overwhelming because of strict security laws.  The only way you can book a student group tour of the White House is by advance arrangement through your Member of Congress or Senator. Each Congressman is given a limited number of White House appointments per year for groups from their districts.  It is essential to begin your request process at least six months up to one year in advance to ensure your tour will be approved.  To access a list of current Senators and House of Representatives, please click on the links below.

Senate
House of Representatives

When calling or emailing your Congressman, please request the URL link to the online White House Tour Request Form.   We suggest not only filling out this form but making a follow up call to the congressional tour coordinator to notify him/her of your completed request.  Furthermore, if you have a parent, friend, etc. who has any personal connection with one of your representatives or senators, please have he/she make a personal call on your behalf.  You may be able to secure your tour quicker this way.  Lastly, you will need a list of participants and their social security numbers at the time you request your White House tour.  Once submitted, you will not be able to add people or change names.  However, if you do need to make name changes to your list, you will be required to cancel your original request/list and submit a new one.  Unfortunately, you will lose your original submit date which may reduce your chances in securing a tour of the White House.

Tours are arranged for groups of ten (10) or more and are available from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.  Most tours are self-guided, unless you have a tour director with you on your trip.  Be prepared for strict security clearance upon arrival.

Other popular museums, government buildings (Capitol Building, etc.) and student experiences, specifically The Holocaust Museum and student participation in the wreath-laying ceremony (not just observing) at Arlington Cemetery, are very difficult to schedule.  Reservations are required as early as possible.  It is highly recommended to book six months to one year in advance.  When planning your itinerary with your Kaleidoscope Adventures Travel Planner, be sure to mention if these experiences are a top priority for you and your students.  Plan and act early!

For over 18 years, Kaleidoscope Adventures has organized student trips to Washington DC for thousands of schools.  We are experts in booking student tours for band, choral and orchestra ensembles, history and science groups, class trips, sports tours, cruises and more.  We specialize in planning complete travel services for any student group.  We plan everything from A to Z, thus giving you peace-of-mind.  We even give you a tour director who helps you every step of the way during your trip.

Put your trust in us to meet all of your student travel needs.  Why not give your group an exciting experience to Washington DC?  Let us bring your classroom to life and create lasting memories for your student trip.

Whether your student group trip involves transportation via motorcoach or airline flight, you’ll need a packing list.  Bottom line when traveling:  pack only what you need!  Keep in mind you’ll be toting your own luggage on and off the bus or at the airport, and to and from your hotel.  So we suggest planning ahead and bringing what you need for each day of the trip.

On the Day of Your Departure
On the day of your departure, you will most likely stow your luggage in the storage bins under the motorcoach, hence you will not have access to these items until hotel check-in.  Therefore, pack any valuables (camera, money, medicine, etc.) and/or a change of clothes in a carry-on bag prior to departure for your first day.  Same goes for the final day of the trip.  You will not be able to access your luggage until you arrive at home as it will be stowed in the bins under the motorcoach.  Again, pack your valuables, change of clothes, medicine, etc. in your carry-on bag.

How to Dress
Plan to dress comfortably during your trip (jeans, shorts, slacks, comfortable walking shoes, etc.).  Depending on the time of the year and your destination, it makes sense to bring informal outfits that match the type of weather you will experience.  Check www.accuweather.com to find out average temperature highs and lows of the destination you are traveling to, as well as to set up weather advisories that can be sent directly to your email or as an app on your cell phone.  Always be prepared for weather extremes, such as rain or wind with cooler than expected temperatures.  All clothing must be clean, neat and modest.  Students, your teacher/sponsor may require you to adhere to your school dress code as well.  Lastly, if your group is going to the theater or planning a fine dining experience, include one dressy outfit.

To sort it all out, we suggest packing the following items:
Clothing:

• Comfortable walking shoes and one pair of nicer shoes
• Shirts (short- and long-sleeved)
• Socks
• Underwear
• Shorts/pants/jeans
• Pajamas
• Bathing suit (if applicable)
• Dressier outfit (reserved for a theater night, special night out, fine dining, etc.)
• Raincoat, poncho or umbrella
• Sweater and/or jacket (if applicable)
• Trip tee-shirt (if applicable)
• Laundry bag with plastic liner

Keep in mind that some religious sites and churches require that shirts cover the shoulders and arms, and do not allow shorts, short skirts or flip-flops.

Personal Items:

• Soap
• Deodorant
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Hairbrush/comb
• Sunscreen
• Spare set of contact lenses/glasses (if applicable)
• Medication (if needed)

Special Note:  Remember, when flying with carry-on luggage, any liquids including shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, sunscreen, etc. as well as toothpaste can’t be larger than 3 oz. and needs to be placed in one-quart Ziploc bags.

Music Students:

• Instrument
• Extra supplies (reeds, valve oil, mallets, etc.)
• Music stand
• Folder and music
• Costume and accessories (ties, shoes, stole/robe, dark socks, etc.)

Other:

• Spending money
• ATM card (if needed)
• Pouch for storing money and passport under clothing (if applicable)
• Camera with ample batteries
• Cell phone
• iPod/MP3, etc.
• Pillow/blanket
• Notebook/pencil
• Watch
• Book
• Copy of the tour itinerary
• List of important phone numbers, addresses, etc.
• Passport (if applicable)
• Copy of prescriptions (Customs officials in both the U.S. and Canada may want to verify that a container’s contents match the label.  Therefore, all medication should be carried in its original container.)

Carry-on Bag:

Here’s a short list of items students, parents and teachers might need on the first and last days of their trip.  As a reminder, each person should have a carry-on bag with them on the motorcoach or flight (in case the checked luggage is delayed).

• Money
• Passport (if applicable)
• Airline ticket (if applicable)
• Toothbrush/toothpaste (remember, if flying, toothpaste needs to go in a one-quart Ziploc bag and can’t be larger than 3 oz.)
• Hairbrush
• Contact lens/glasses (to sleep comfortably on the bus or plane)
• A change of clothes
• Medication
• Any valuables (camera, iPod, book, etc.)
• Pillow (for travel on motorcoaches only)

This packing list is courtesy of Kaleidoscope Adventures.  For over 18 years, Kaleidoscope Adventures has organized student trips to 40+ destinations for thousands of schools.  We are experts in booking student tours for band, choral and orchestra ensembles, history and science groups, class trips, sports tours, cruises and more.  We are a Top 30 Walt Disney World Travel Planner and specialize in planning complete travel services for any student group.  We plan everything from A to Z, thus giving you peace-of-mind.  We even give you a tour director who helps you every step of the way during your trip.

Put your trust in us to meet all of your student travel needs.  Why not give your group an exciting experience on a Kaleidoscope Adventures tour?  Let us bring your classroom to life and create lasting memories for your student trip.

Panama City Beach

Known as “The World’s Most Beautiful Beach,” Panama City Beach boasts over 27 miles of breathtaking white sandy beaches and emerald green waters.  Being a natural draw for student travel with boatloads of attractions, delicious dining, exciting beach activities, great shopping, warm tropical sunshine and Southern hospitality, this destination is sure to please your student group.  Explore the best beach this side of paradise and experience all the things to do in Panama City Beach.

Kaleidoscope Adventures offers student groups a variety of experiences that help create lasting memories.  We can customize an itinerary that is fun and meets your educational and/or performance objectives.