Scotland and England Cultural Arts - July 8-17, 2020 (10 Days) - Experience America
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Welcome to our Scotland and England Program Welcome to our Scotland and England Cultural Arts program! Thank you for choosing Experience to share this amazing cultural exploration of Scotland and England. We have curated and designed the service and support to guide your experiential learning program. Before students pack their bags, we ask that you please read through the contents of this welcome package. Within these pages we discuss arrival, orientation, accommodations and program activities, so you can properly prepare for the program ahead. Additionally, we cover our health and safety standards, which is a great place to start if you have questions or concerns to address. Our educational travel programs empower students to connect with the world around them and learn, while supported by the safety and security of our dedicated team. Contact information for our Travel Experts is included in this welcome package, so you can get in touch with us if any additional questions arise. From all of us at Experience: Welcome to our experiential learning family! Learning Outcomes During our nine days on this wondrous Scotland and England adventure, we introduce students to centuries of preserved history and the inspirations that sparked the curiosity of countless academics, writers and artists. A scavenger hunt of Victoria Street teaches students to work collaboratively and use critical thinking skills. Broomstick Training at Alnwick Castle invites students to engage their imaginations. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and a West End show demonstrates theatrical arts in a whole new way. Explore hundreds of years of history in the castles, fortresses and other remarkable works of architecture. Among the many site visits, academics and artists have found inspiration. We encourage students to exercise their own creative muscles in preparation for the program, during the trip and as they reflect on their experiences.
Program Overview Great Britain From the Scottish Highlands to the lowlands of Southern England, go on a cultural journey through Great Britain. Students are invited to live their dreams in Scotland on adventures to castles, misty mountains and Harry Potter settings. Tour the marvelous castles of Scotland, seeing the crown jewels at Edinburgh Castle and witnessing history brought to life at Stirling Castle. Explore the beautiful landscapes, from Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park to Seacliff Beach. Go on a Harry Potter Adventure, traveling to Alnwick Castle for Broomstick Training, finding the inspiration for the stories on a Victoria Street scavenger hunt, picking up souvenirs at Diagon House and reading the tombstones at Greyfriars Kirkyard. Depart from Scotland for an adventure through the English countryside. In York, students discover the city’s medieval history and listen to scary stories still haunting the streets. Go on a walking tour of the colleges in England’s oldest university city and see the inspiration for multiple Harry Potter film settings at Christ Church Cathedral and College. The rest of the journey is spent in London, the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. London is an influential city with a rich history among the many sights, including Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. Discover the most popular landmarks in London, from high in the sky on the London Eye and walking through the streets to Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Inspire students with the legacy of William Shakespeare while visiting the Globe Theatre. End the trip with a farewell dinner, reflecting on all the magical memories and sharing favorite experiences.
Daily Itinerary (10 Days) DAY 1 CHARLOTTE OR ATLANTA TO SCOTLAND • Visit Stirling Castle Depart from home and fly overnight to Scotland. • Meet owls at the Scottish Owl Centre • Dinner at accommodations in Edinburgh DAY 2 SCOTLAND, TROSSACHS TO INVERNESS When the flight lands in Scotland, meet the Tour Director and DAY 5 EDINBURGH start with an adventure through the Trossachs. The stops on This morning, walk up the Royal Mile to explore Edinburgh this sightseeing tour of Scotland’s first national park highlight Castle, housing crown jewels and the 15th-century cannon, the rugged mountains and the setting for Sir Walter Scott’s Mons Meg. Journey back down on a guided tour of Edinburgh most popular poem, “The Lady of the Lake.” Along the way, that’s Harry Potter themed. Explore the places that inspired shop at a woolen mill. Arrive in Inverness in time to check in to J.K. Rowling, including Victoria Street, Royal Mile, Grassmarket accommodations and have dinner. and Greyfriars Kirkyard. Perhaps pick up some Harry Potter • Arrive in Scotland memorabilia at Diagon House. Discover how Victoria Street • Sightseeing tour through Loch Lomond and Trossachs may have inspired Diagon Alley on a scavenger hunt. National Park • Explore Edinburgh Castle • Shop at a woolen mill • Guided tour with Harry Potter theme • Check in to accommodations in Inverness • Shop Diagon House for Harry Potter memorabilia • Victoria Street Scavenger Hunt DAY 3 INVERNESS, CAWDOR AND LOCH NESS Start the day at Cawdor Castle, a family fortress that is DAY 6 EDINBURGH, ALNWICK TO YORK hundreds of years old and built around a holly tree. Get to Travel to Northumberland to visit the mighty fortress of know the myth of the Loch Ness monster and other mysterious Alnwick Castle, the setting of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft sightings at The Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition. Set on the and Wizardry from the Harry Potter movies. Learn to fly and edge of Loch Ness is Urquhart Castle, a fortification blown capture a photo to prove it in Broomstick Training, where Harry up by the Jacobites, where there are still ruins to explore and Potter learned. Continue onwards to York and start off at York towers to climb. Minster, a centerpiece of the city due to the stunning medieval • Visit Cawdor Castle architecture and history dating back to Roman times. Walk • Discover The Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition along the longest walls in England, built in medieval times, and • Explore Urquhart Castle then wander around the city streets, known as The Shambles. • Return to Inverness for dinner After dinner, take a haunting tour of York to hear the ghostly tales of the past. DAY 4 INVERNESS, STIRLING, WHITBURN TO EDINBURGH • Travel to Northumberland and explore Alnwick Castle In the morning, travel to Stirling Castle, where costumed • Participate in Broomstick Training characters bring the history of the Stewart kings and queens • Continue to York and visit York Minster to life. Afterwards, meet the owls at the Scottish Owl Centre • Walking tour along the walls of York and around The Shambles and experience a flying demonstration, if there’s availability. • Dinner and check in to accommodations in York Continue to Edinburgh in time for dinner at the hotel. • Ghost tour of the city on foot
DAY 7 YORK, OXFORD TO LONDON • Guided tour of Westminster Abbey Depart York after breakfast and start the journey to London. • Walking tour of Westminster Stop in Oxford en route for a walking tour of the colleges in • Witness the Changing of the Guard England’s oldest university city, which highlights the Sheldonian • Tour the Tower of London Theater and the Bodleian Library. Afterwards, tour Christ • Spend time in Covent Garden Church Cathedral and College, where moments in the Harry • Attend a West End show Potter films were set and the inspiration for dining halls in other DAY 9 LONDON academic institutions, including Harvard and Cornell. Continue Get a bird’s-eye view of the city in the morning from the top to London and check in to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day of the London Eye. Afterwards, visit Shakespeare’s Globe walking around Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, where Theatre, where many of Shakespeare’s plays were designed there’s a statue of William Shakespeare. and first performed. Stand in front of Platform 9 ¾ in King’s • Journey from York to London today Cross Station, where students of Hogwarts meet their train, and • Stop in Oxford and take a university walking tour shop for magical treats at The Harry Potter Shop at Platform • Visit Christ Church College and Christ Church Cathedral 9 ¾. Explore the extensive collection of world-famous art • Arrive in London and check in to accommodations and artifacts at the British Museum. Finish up any last minute • Spend time around Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square London shopping along Carnaby and Regent Streets. DAY 8 LONDON • View the city aboard the London Eye Go on a guided tour of Westminster Abbey, where royalty has • Visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre been crowned since 1066, featuring the Poets’ Corner and the • Go to Platform 9 ¾ in King’s Cross Station and shop for Tomb of St. Edward the Confessor. Walk around Westminster, Harry Potter souvenirs viewing the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Downing Street, • Enter the British Museum Horse Guards Parade, Trafalgar Square, St. James’s Park • Shop along Carnaby and Regent Streets and Buckingham Palace. Witness the Changing of the Guard • Enjoy a farewell dinner Ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Visit the Tower of London DAY 10 LONDON TO CHARLOTTE OR ATLANTA to see the historic structures, Crown Jewels and ceremonial Leave London and return home with wonderful stories to share. regalia up close. Spend time in the Covent Garden area, perhaps watching street performers at the famous Piazza and on James Street. After dinner, attend a West End show.
Payment Terms and Conditions Payment Terms Option 1: Pay in full at the time of enrollment. Option 2: Set up automatic payments in three equal installments. Three-installment plan: • 1/3 of program cost at the time of enrollment. • 1/3 of program cost on February 18, 2020 (110 days prior to departure) • Final payment due March 18, 2020 (80 days prior to departure) Cancellation Terms Official cancellation requests must be mailed to Experience at help@experienceamerica.com. The parent or guardian of the participant may contact Experience to inquire about specific cancellation policies and procedures. • At 149 to 110 days prior to departure, participants are eligible for a full refund minus the nonrefundable fees and a cancellation fee of $400. • At 109 to 45 days prior to departure, participants are eligible for a full refund minus all nonrefundable fees and a cancellation fee of 50% of the program cost. • At 44 days or less prior to departure, participants are no longer eligible for a refund.
Student Travel Preparation To get ready for the trip, make sure students have the appropriate identification for travel and all registration forms are completed. Transportation information, accommodation details and packing lists will be sent 30 days prior to the trip. Arrival Information Insurance Our Tour Director meets students when they arrive Our international programs have the added benefit by motorcoach. We are happy to help with luggage of travel insurance, which provides protection in and ensure that students arrive safely at their the case of accidents, illness, flight interruptions accommodations. and loss of baggage. We give you security, so you have the freedom to explore. Orientation Our Tour Director starts the students off with an Health and Safety orientation, introducing the program ahead and Our friendly and experienced team is available at getting them accustomed to their new environment. all times over the phone to ensure students have Additionally, this is an opportunity for our team to the best support possible. During the program, our get acquainted with the students and set the tone Tour Director will supervise students alongside for experiential learning. your Program Leader and we will provide a night chaperone to ensure security in the hotel. If, for any Accommodations reason, a student gets sick during our program, we For this program, students stay in local will make sure they receive immediate care. accommodations near their destinations in Burgos, San Sebastián, Oviedo and Madrid. Groups of All of our trips are equipped with our proprietary 2-3 students under the age of 23 and of the same security software, keeping everyone connected gender* share rooms. Program Leaders are responsible in real time. We provide peace of mind for parents for assigning which students will room together, and and educators wherever students go, with features Experience will assign room numbers. that find students immediately and improve communication efficiency. Meals and Dining Please let us know in advance to departure Two meals are provided daily, breakfast and dinner, all necessary health and medical information with the freedom to explore local dining. We love to for your student. We welcome all students to introduce students to new foods and our favorite participate and would like to work alongside cuisine in the area. Please let our team know if there your Program Leader to accommodate for are dietary restrictions for any of the students, so we prescription medications, health concerns, can prepare for them in advance. allergies, dietary restrictions, special needs Activities and Education and disabilities. Our Northern Spain program is customized with Additional resources are available on our website, educational experiences that expand cultural such as Fundraising and FAQ. awareness and artistic exploration. All transportation *Experience is committed to nondiscrimination on the and admission costs of our scheduled activities are basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. For more included in the overall price of the program. information, please contact our Travel Experts.
Student Rules and Regulations We promote an atmosphere of support, where educators and students share genuine respect for one another. By holding ourselves and one another responsible for respectful behavior, we cultivate an atmosphere that embraces cultural inclusivity with an awareness of our global citizenship. Student participants are responsible for maintaining high standards of conduct and awareness of the effects of their actions. We request that students treat everyone they meet on this trip with honesty, courtesy and consideration. Experience is responsible for providing an environment for faculty, staff and students that is free from discrimination and harassment on the basis of categories, including race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. Students must comply with all laws, policies and regulations. Any violations in regards to the Student Code of Conduct will result in appropriate disciplinary measures. Our mission at Experience is that our programs are educational, safe and enjoyable for everyone. Code of Conduct • General Behavior – Students are expected to respect their tour leaders, fellow travelers and the local culture, and follow the directions of any chaperones, Program Leaders and Experience staff during their tour. Following the rules and regulations as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct is also a required part of these behavior standards.
• Safety – Student health and safety is our number one priority. If a student does not feel safe for any reason, they should report to a chaperone, Program Leader or Experience staff member as soon as possible. • Personal Property – Good common sense, respect and consideration for others as well as their property should be practiced while traveling. Students are responsible for any loss, theft or damage to their own belongings, and are financially responsible for any damage caused to property or facilities during their trip. • Facilities – Third-party facilities such as classrooms, transportation, hotels or homestays may be a part of your tour. It is the student’s responsibility to keep their surroundings clean and respect the room and facilities at all times, including keeping noise to a minimum. • Substances – No use of tobacco for anyone under 18 years old or nonprescription drugs is allowed. All consumption and purchasing of alcoholic beverages and nonprescription drugs is strictly prohibited, even if the student is legally of age. • Illegal Activities – Local laws at the student’s travel destination must be followed at all times. Students are subject to legal consequences and may be dismissed from the program at their own expense. • Discipline – Failure to comply with all rules and regulations outlined in the Student Code of Conduct, or directions given by chaperones, Program Leaders or Experience staff will result in consequences at the Program Leader’s or Tour Director’s discretion.
Technology That Makes School Trips Safe and Simple Our proprietary security software innovates student travel, keeping everyone connected in real time. We provide peace of mind for parents and educators wherever students go, with features that find students immediately and improve communication efficiency. Every educational tour with Experience is equipped with our travel technology, available for use by educators, students and parents. Save Time • All forms are available to fill out online, including student registration and parent permission slips. • Share trip itineraries within the school district, so other educators can easily select a recommended program. Improve Safety • Track students and assign chaperones in real time. • Instant support is sent to students with one click of the emergency alert. Make it Easy • Access trip information all in one place, organizing itineraries and logistics. • Manage activities in real time, including transportation, chaperones, students and ongoing updates. • Included in every Experience program!
CONTACT We are here for you every step of the way! Our team looks forward to getting to know you throughout the program. Please feel free to get in touch with our Travel Experts before, during or after your trip. Experience 800.410.6088 hello@experienceamerica.com www.experienceamerica.com facebook.com/experienceeduc Meet Your Representative Becky Pieters is a mother and avid traveler residing in South Carolina since 2009. The travel bug began in Australia when she was 18 years old. Heading down under as a solo student, she quickly learned that there was a lot to see and experience outside of her hometown. After college, with aspirations of traveling the world, she found her dream job as an international tour guide leading groups around Europe. Her travels led her to Holland where she met her husband, Maurice. Together they moved back to the states and started Dream Catcher Tours, specializing in corporate international travel. Becky loves meeting new people while absorbing new cultures. She believes travel challenges your comfort zones, while testing your ideas of what life means, and how we fit into this great, big world. She can’t wait to share her love of travel with you and help you conquer new horizons! Becky Pieters | Dream Catcher Tours 630.863.4445 becky@jetsetevents.net www.jetsetevents.net
Contact Us IN PARTNERSHIP WITH www.experienceamerica.com Travel Expert: Becky Pieters 4556 University Way NE Ste 200 becky@jetsetevents.net Seattle, Washington 98105 630.863.4445 © 2020 Experience
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