Believe it or not, it is time to begin making plans for our big end of year field trip. This trip is designed to be a culminating activity for our river unit as well as an experience that will give students practice with extended day field trips. Since 4th and 5th grade Target students traditionally take overnight field trips, extended day trips are a great way for third grade students to become familiar with procedures and responsibilities required for longer trips.
The end of the year trip for the river unit will be a whitewater rafting adventure on the Nantahala River in North Carolina. The trip will be on Friday, May 11th, and we will leave from the flagpole at the front of Vaughan at 4:30 a.m. (All students and chaperones will need to report to the front flagpole no later than 4:15 a.m.)
We will travel by bus to the Nantahala and will begin our day with team building activities and the opportunity to climb an alpine tower. This will give the third grade Target students a chance to develop strategies, solve problems, and work together as a group. It will also give them a chance to overcome some personal limitations and challenge themselves with new skills.
After the team building activities and alpine tower, we will enjoy a deli style picnic lunch before embarking on our afternoon adventure- a whitewater excursion on the Nantahala River. We will enjoy a fully guided tour of this river with mild rapids and beautiful scenery. The Nantahala is a great river for beginning rafters and is approved for children 7 and older. Students will wear life vests during their entire time on the river. After enjoying the rapids, we will change into some warm, dry clothes for evening activities.
The first order of business will be a buffet dinner, and then we will enjoy a campfire and smores. We will leave the Nantahala at approximately 8:00 p.m. and will return to the front flagpole at 11:00 p.m. The cost of this trip will be approximately $185 per person (depending on number of participants). In order to get an exact price and to be able to send in our deposits, I need to have an accurate count on the number of people who will be attending the trip.
As always, I will need several parents who would like to join us, so if you would like to be considered for a chaperone position, please fill out the chaperone information in the packet (sent home 1/27) and return to me no later than Friday, February 17th; I will be unable to accept late forms for chaperone positions. If you do not wish to chaperone, then please make sure you have sent in the form for your child by Friday, February 24th. As soon as I have an accurate count I will send home the exact amount of the trip and payment envelopes. I will need a $50 deposit per person by Friday, February 24th in order to hold our reservation with the Nantahala Outdoor Education Center. Because the company will not refund deposits, all deposits are non-refundable; sorry for any inconvenience that may cause. I am looking forward to a fun and educational experience to wrap up our river unit in May; as always thanks for your support and willingness to provide great experiences for your children.
