1 UHS Travel Club: August 2017 Recruitment MeetingEurope Summer 2019 NYC Spring Break 2018
2 Meeting Itinerary UHS Travel Club EF ToursEurope Summer 2019: France, Germany, and the Alps NYC Spring Break 2018: Art History Tax Credits and Fundraising Safety and Expectations The Highs and Lows of Travel
3 What is UHS Travel Club? Mission: To provide international and domestic educational travel opportunities to UHS students. Founded in 2012 by Meg Tully (AP Euro) 2013: London, Paris, Florence, Rome (17 participants) 2014: Italy & Greece (7 participants) 2015: Spain, France, & Italy (40 participants) 2016: Venice, the Alps, & Paris (30 participants) 2017: NYC (44 participants) 2017: England, Ireland, Wales, and Paris (38 participants)
4 Educational ObjectivesAlign with school curricula to bring subjects, people, places and events to life Promote understanding, cultural respect, language learning and global citizenship Sharpen key 21st century skills, including communication and global competence Navigate new experiences and adapt to change with confidence
5 The Travel Club Team Group Leader (Europe): Meg TullyGroup Leader (NYC): Whitney Sheets Assistant GL: Mike Schmidt Additional faculty chaperones added at 6:1 ratio (Europe), 10:1 ratio (NYC) No parent chaperones (sorry!) EF Tour Consultants Full Time Tour Director (provided by EF)
6 Why EF? Safety First Most Educational Best Value Peace of MindAll-Inclusive Coverage Plan 6:1 (Europe) 10:1 (NYC) student to chaperone ratio Trained and licensed tour guides 24-hour emergency on-call service Most Educational Fully accredited, just like our school WeShare program and other enrichment opportunities Full-time personal, bilingual Tour Director Local and highly trained Tour Guides Best Value Highest quality at the guaranteed lowest prices Planning and organizing all tour logistics by travel experts Peace of Mind Should social unrest or natural events make traveling to our destination unsafe, EF will work with our group to make alternative arrangements
7 Global Presence: EF has 37,000 staff and teachers in more than 500 offices in over 50 countries
8 Europe Summer 2019: France, Germany, and the Alps
9 Summer 2019: Itinerary (11 days) May 30th – June 9th
10 Summer 2019: Itinerary (11 days) May 30th – June 9th
11 Summer 2019: Itinerary (11 days) May 30th – June 9thFrance Ile de la Cite Notre Dame Cathedral Champs Elysees Arc de Triomphe Louvre Museum Musee D’Orsay Monmarte & Sacre Couer Palace of Versaille Switzerland Lion Monument Chocolate Mt. Pilatus or Rigi Liechtenstein Neuschwanstein Castle Munich, Germany Olympic Stadium Residenz Marienplanz Munich Cathedral New Town Hall Hofbrauhaus Austria: Salzburg & Vienna Vienna Opera House St. Stephen’s Cathedral Schonbrunn Palace Belvedere Museum
12 Spring 2018: New York City Art History
13 NYC Itinerary (6 days): March 16th – 21stWalking tour of Manhattan Fifth Avenue Rockefeller Center St. Patrick’s Cathedral Bryant Park Empire State Building Greenwich Village SoHo 9/11 Memorial and Museum Times Square Broadway Show x 2 Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Guggenheim Museum Metropolitan Museum of Art Frick Museum Museum of Modern Art Central Park
14 Summer 2019: Cost & Payment Program Fee (as of Aug. 2017): $4709Early Enrollment - $200 discount until Aug. 31st Payment Options Pay in Full at Enrollment Automatic Payment Plan - $231 (staring Aug. 2017) Manual Payment Plan ($50 fee) Choose this option if you plan to pay using tax credits & donations IGNORE language about mandatory deposits and late fees! This DOES NOT APPLY TO US! $250 Deposit (enrollment fee + insurance) Paid directly to EF Tours Cannot be covered by Tax Credits $260 Deposit after Aug. 31st (insurance price increase)
15 Europe: What is Included in the Price? What is Not?Not Included Round-trip airfare and on tour transportation Hotels with private bathrooms Breakfast and dinner daily Full-time Tour Director Daily activities, tours, and entrances to attractions 2-day extension in Vienna ; Versailles & Swiss Alps Global Protection Plan Spending Money Additional tour experiences, free time activities, souvenirs, beverages, lunches and snacks ($30-$65/day) Tips For your Tour Director, bus driver, and local guides ($10/day) Passport and/or visa fees Every participant is responsible for securing their appropriate travel documentation Travel Gear/Clothes
16 Europe: Cancellation PolicyThe cancellation policies outlined below take into consideration the costs EF incurs long before groups ever depart. Notice of cancellation from an EF tour will only be accepted from the traveler, his or her legal guardian, or the Group Leader. The date of cancellation will be determined by the date on which EF receives notice. Cancellation refunds can only be made to the person whose name appears on the account. In order to qualify for refunds in accordance with EF’s standard cancellation policy, all payments must be received on time EF’s standard cancellation policy* 150 days or more prior to departure: Full refund less the $95 non-refundable deposit, all non-refundable fees, and a $300 cancellation fee. 149 to 110 days prior to departure: Full refund less the $95 non-refundable deposit, all non-refundable fees, and a $500 cancellation fee. 109 to 45 days prior to departure: Full refund less the $95 non-refundable deposit, all non-refundable fees, and 50% of the program price. 44 days or less prior to departure: No refund will be issued.
17 Europe: Cancellation PolicyTravelers who purchase a Global Travel Protection plan have the opportunity to cancel the trip until 60 days prior to departure due to reasons not covered by the insurance underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company and have the option to rebook to another EF Educational Tour within 30 days of such cancellation. Traveler is responsible for finding a new tour, and final placement is based on availability. Such tour needs to take place within 180 days from cancellation, and any difference in price will be covered by the traveler (non-refundable fees from the original tour will not be put toward the rebooked tour). This benefit is not an insurance provided by United States Fire Insurance Company. Cancellation with replacement** 150 days or more prior to departure: Full refund less the $95 non-refundable deposit and all non-refundable fees. 149 to 110 days prior to departure: Full refund less the $95 non- refundable deposit, all non- refundable fees, and a $100 substitution fee. 109 days or less prior to departure: Replacements can no longer be accepted and EF’s standard cancellation policy will apply. **Cancellation with replacement refers to a traveler who cancels but finds a person to replace him or her for the same program. The replacement’s Enrollment Form m
18 NYC Spring 2018: Cost & PaymentProgram Fee (as of Aug. 2017): $2679 Payment Options Pay in Full at Enrollment Automatic Payment Plan - $446/month (6 months) Manual Payment Plan ($40 fee) Choose this option if you plan to pay using tax credits & donations IGNORE language about mandatory deposits and late fees! This DOES NOT APPLY TO US! $95 Deposit (enrollment fee) Paid directly to EF Explore America Cannot be covered by Tax Credits
19 NYC: What is included in the price? What is not?Round trip airfare/bussing On-tour transportation Hotel accommodations Breakfast & dinner daily Full-time Tour Director Guided tours and activities Professional overnight security All gratuities Mandatory Protection Plan Spending money Baggage fees (for checked bags) Travel Gear/Clothes
20 Anytime Protection PlanNYC: Protection Plans Anytime Protection Plan Basic Protection Plan Cancel for any reason Cancel at anytime Maximum refund (does not include Protection Plan fees or any Non-Refundable fees) Rolls into your payment plans $179 Cancel for any reason Cancel up to 45 days before departure Maximum refund (does not include Protection Plan fees or any Non-Refundable fees) Rolls into your payment plan $129
21 All Trips: Cancellation & Tax CreditsTax Credits cannot be used for the $250 deposit. That must be paid out of pocket and is non-refundable. Tax Credit & Donation Fundraising should not exceed the total cost of the trip (minus deposit). In the event that a participant raises more money in Tax Credits/Donations than is required for the program cost the “overage” will NOT be refunded to the participant. The money must stay with UHS Travel Club. Refunds of Tax Credits = Tax Fraud!
22 Fundraising: Tax Credits & DonationsThe BEST way to fundraise for your individual trip $70,000 $50,000 $100,000+ Tax Credit Arizona taxpayers ($200/individual, $400/married couple) Money is reimbursed by the state on your next tax return Tax Deductible Donations Anyone in the U.S. Only limitation is 50% of gross income/year Donate DIRECTLY to UHS Travel Club instead of EF NO EMPLOYER MATCHING We cannot guarantee that the funds will be received in time for the trip
23 Fundraising Example Sally Smith – Europe 2017 ($4140)$400 Tax Credit – Parents $400 Tax Credit – Aunt/Uncle $400 Tax Credit – Family Friend $200 Tax Credit – Grandparent $1400 Total Tax Credits $2000 Donation – Grandparents (out of AZ) $740 Donation – Parents $2740 Total Donations
24 Opportunities for DiscountsEarly Enrollment Discount Europe 2019: Register and place deposit by Aug. 31st for $200 off the program price Repeat Traveler Discount Europe 2019: $100 off program price for repeat travelers Host an International Exchange Student with EF HSEY 10% off total program price (Europe & NYC) Spring semester and full-year hosting options
25 Safety & Expectations (EF & TUSD)EF’s Peace of Mind Program: Cancelling or rescheduling (time or location) of tour if area is unsafe Re-routing while on tour Also applies if district cancels tours Protection Plans are MANDATORY (per TUSD) Travel or Cancellation insurance All trips are district sanctioned activities Terrorism and Travel Safety and normalcy are our priorities. We make changes based on the recommendations of EF Tours/Explore America. Group Leader has full discretion on whether to re-route tour. Parents may purchase a plane ticket and request that their child be sent home at any point, and are responsible for any additional expenses incurred with additional travel or chaperone escorts.
26 Safety & Expectations (UHS Travel Club)All travelers MUST complete the UHS Travel Club Behavior Contract ASAP after enrollment! Students will be sent home for drinking/drugs/smoking/sexual activity/assault/extreme disrespect Students are assigned to a Teacher Teams (6-10 students/team) Primary point of contact Nightly room-checks/Morning wake-ups Free-time Usually 1-2 hours for lunch Students must stay in groups of 3 or more; no use of public transport without chaperone All students have contact information for chaperones and Tour Director Be on time; Don’t do anything stupid; Have as much fun as possible!
27 The Highs and Lows of TravelRealistic expectations – not every moment will be spectacular… Exhaustion, tummy aches, dehydration, homesickness, social drama, flight delays But also, many unforgettable moments! How to maximize your experience: Be polite Be positive Be prompt Be patient Hear from former and current student travelers!
28 Now What? Sign Up! Complete “Exit Slip” and return to Ms. Tully, Ms. Sheets, or Mr. Schmidt Visit for online registration Complete the following paperwork ASAP: UHS Travel Club Contact Info UHS Travel Club Behavior Contract Available on website! Questions? Stick around and chat with us!