Butler 7th Grade Field Trip to

Gettysburg, Harrisburg, and Hershey PA

March 17-18, 2023

Butler 7th Graders – It’s time for the Gettysburg field trip!  Spend two days touring Pennsylvania’s most historic areas with your friends and teachers.

Gettysburg

Site of the most epic battle in U.S. history!

Harrisburg
Interior photo of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Rotunda

Seat of Pennsylvania’s government.

Hershey
Sign outside of Chocolate World with candy bar characters

Chocolate wonderland. Sweet!

KEY INFO

Trip Cost – $360
Includes a $30 trip protection policy 

Jan 9-18
Registration – complete online information and pay $100 deposit to hold your child’s spot on the trip.

Jan 9-13
Optional Fundraiser – order boxes candy bars on this site.  Candy cannot be sold at school!

January 14
Pick up candy bars at Lyndora American Legion 150 Legion Memorial Lane (see fundraising section for details on how to order).

Sat Jan 28
Potential 2nd candy bar pick up, if supplies last.  Check site after 1/14.

Mon Feb 6
Roommate Selection Forms distributed in History class. 

Mon Feb 13
Final Payment + Roommate Forms due. 

Thur March 9
Parent meeting in Intermediate Auditorium at 6 pm.  Attendance is strongly encouraged – this is an important meeting.  Students attendance is optional.

Fri. March 17, 6 am*
Buses load at IHS parking lot. This time may change – check the site and watch for email updates. 

Sat. Mar. 18, 7 pm
Students return to IHS lot

Note:  Fri 3/17 is a snow make up day – no school.  If they lose that day off, the trip still be on.  The students are excused from school to attend.

Final Payment due 2/13

What You'll See

At Gettysburg National Park, the Visitor’s Center film (narrated by Morgan Freeman) gives a great introduction to the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg. The Cyclorama is a massive, 360-degree “Battle of Gettysburg” painting-in-the-round measuring 377 feet around and 42 feet high. The group stands in the center of this three-dimensional diorama as the events of the 3 day battle unfold in front of them, culminating with the fury of Pickett’s Charge. After this dramatic re-telling, students explore the museum exhibits at their own pace.

At the National Civil War Museum, a group of highly skilled reenactors host a variety of hands – on activities where kids get a better picture of life during the war. Areas to explore include musket firing, marching in formation, a signal corps station, and a surgery station. Kids will love the museum scavenger hunt!

A licensed battlefield tour guide will board each bus as we embark on a two hour tour of the town and battlefield of Gettysburg. History will come alive as the students get out and explore the infamous Peach Orchard, Devil’s Den, and the site of Pickett’s Charge. These guides are awesome with kids, bringing history to life with sensational stories and fun activities.

The Pennsylvania State Capitol Building is home to the PA House and Senate chambers and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The beauty and art of this majestic building serve as the backdrop for a lesson in Pennsylvania history and state government.

At Hershey’s Chocolate World, you’ll learn how chocolate is made on the chocolate world ride. Browse the gift shop for souvenirs to bring home to family and friends.  For an extra cost. you can make your own chocolate bar or Hershey Sundae.

Evening fun includes a pizza dinner party, then dodgeball,volleyball, games, and a run/walking track at a local YMCA.

Trip Cost

  • The trip price covers transportation, professional planning, reenactors, admissions, lodging, and meals. $30 of the cost is a school-required trip insurance that guarantees a full refund if we have to cancel the trip, or if your student is unable to go, for any reason.
  • Trip may be limited due to interest and capacity at the hotel and at the places we visit.
  • Payments can be made on securely on this site by check or credit card (3% fee).
  • There will be a fundraiser to help offset the price.  Check the website for fundraiser information.
  • There is a limited amount of scholarship money available for students in need.  See Mrs. Casher EARLY to pick up an application.  The application, essay, and teacher recommendations are all due no later than the trip registration deadline.
  • REFUND POLICY: $30 Trip Protection is included in the deposit.  If your child drops at any time, for any reason, you will receive a refund of all money you have paid so far (except fundraising profit, and the $30 Trip Protection fee).
  • Refund requests must be made before we depart for the trip, and in writing to Denise Casher or Rebecca Green.

Hotel & Roommates

We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Gettysburg.  This newer hotel has clean comfy rooms with cable TV, blow dryer, and 2 queen beds.

Students choose their own roommates using a form that will be distributed in Social Studies class.  All forms for a room should match, be stapled together, and submitted to Mrs. Carlson by the due date.

Students who do not have roommates will be encouraged to find other students in the same circumstance and ask to room with them.  Mrs. Casher assists with the room list.

Students should have 4 students per room.  If there are fewer than 4 in a room, a student may be added to make a room of 4.  The other students in that room will be notified if this occurs.

Meals & Money

Our meal plan:

Friday
Breakfast: Not included – send healthy snacks on bus.
Lunch:  Subway cold cut trio or turkey 6″ sub, chips, dessert, & water.
Dinner: All-you-can eat pizza + soda.

Saturday
Breakfast  hotel hot buffet
Lunch:  TBD

If you have special dietary needs, bring food that is safe for you.  We can store a coller under the bus, if needed. 

Spending money:  $30-$50 will be enough for vending and small souvenirs.  More will be needed if you plan to purchase T-shirts or sweatshirts.

Food and beverages are permitted on the buses and in hotel rooms.  Our first meal is lunch on Saturday. Eat breakfast before you leave or bring something easy to eat on the bus.  Only drinks with resealable containers are allowed.  Students are expected to discard waste and keep buses and rooms clean. If not, snack privileges will be revoked.

Student Behavior

  • Students are expected to abide by all applicable school policies while on this trip.
  • The District has the right to deny a student from participating based on disciplinary or other issues that arise before the trip (e.g., fighting, bullying, etc.).
  • The “Good Night” time on the itinerary is the last time that any student will be permitted in the hotel hallways.  Errands, such as obtaining soft drinks, ice, or asking questions of the chaperones must be carried out before that time.
  • Butler staff and students have gone on the Gettysburg field trip for decades.  They’ve always been well received by the hotel, restaurants, and tour sites visited.  Help us keep up our good reputation!

Packing & Preparing

What to Bring:
Take all items on board the bus that you plan to use throughout the day, including phones, jackets, spending money, snacks/drinks.  If you want gym clothes for the evening activities at the YMCA, bring those on the bus, too.

Everything you’ll need at the hotel (sleepwear, toiletries, games, more snacks & drinks) goes in a bag that can be put in the under-bus storage.  You won’t be able to access it throughout the day.

Medication:  must be given to the chaperones before boarding.

Weather:  We will be outside and walking A LOT!  Wear comfortable shoes.  Check the forecast and bring the right clothes, including jacket/rain coats.

Phones and other screens:   Students are responsible for their possessions, so use discretion.  Label these items with name and parent phone number in case they are misplaced.

Music and video: Must be played through headphones. No flash photography after dark.  No laser lights.  Movies rated G or PG only.

What NOT to Bring:  Don’t bring anything that isn’t allowed at school. You and your luggage will pass through metal detectors and will be searched thoroughly before boarding the buses.  Please triple check that there are no items that would be prohibited in school, or you may not be able to attend the trip.

Safety

Student Safety is the most important aspect of this tour. The following procedures are in place to ensure safe travels:

  • Chaperones and tour coordinators have required clearances. Most are district employees who know the students and are familiar with the places we visit.
  • Experienced tour coordinators travel with the group at all times. They explain meeting times, places, etc. in advance of each stop. They will alert students and chaperones to any changes that need to be made, and are in contact with the bus drivers at all times.
  • Students travel in groups with their roommates and their bus chaperones.
  • The places we visit have strict security and/or police on site.
  • Hotel rooms do not have exterior exits. Hotel rooms have landline phones and students are told how to contact chaperones during the night.
  • A security guard is present all night. Mechanisms are put in place to ensure students do not visit one another’s rooms during the night.
  • Only experienced drivers are used, and we strictly follow federal laws pertaining to driver safety.

Questions?

Jess Carlson, History Teacher
jessica.carlson@basdk12.org
724-214-3400, ext.5543
Denise Casher, School Liaison

denise.casher@basdk12.org
724-214-3405 (office)
724-822-1208 (mobile)

Rebecca Green, Tour Coordinator

logantoursinc@gmail.com
724-355-4997