Knoch 7th Grade Field Trip to
Gettysburg, Harrisburg, and Hershey PA
March 4-5, 2023
Knoch 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
Seat of Pennsylvania’s government.
Hershey
Chocolate wonderland. Sweet!
KEY INFO
Trip Cost – $350
Jan 11-18
Registration – complete online information and pay $100 non refundable deposit to hold your child’s spot on the trip.
Roommate selection forms
Due to Mr. McAnallen Feb 1
Final Payment
Due Wed. Feb 8 (pay online)
Parent Meeting
Mon Feb 27 @ 6 pm
Middle School Library
Bus boards
Sat. March 4, 6 am*
Buses load at Knoch Middle School. *This time may change, check your emails closer to the trip date.
Students return
Sun. March 5, 7 pm
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 Civil War Museum, a group of reenactors passionate about the civil war and educating, 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, period dance, and treatment of wounded soldiers. 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.
Find out what makes politics so exciting when we tour the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building. Sit in the House and Senate chambers; walk through the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The beauty and art in 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.
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.
- 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.
- REFUND POLICY: If your child drops at any time, for any reason, you will receive a refund of all money you have paid except the $100 non-refundable deposit.
Hotel & Roommates
We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Gettysburg. It which features comfortable, well appointed rooms equipped with cable TV and a blow dryer. Each room has either two queen beds or a king bed and a sleeper sofa.
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 Mr. McAnallen by the due date (see KEY INFO).
Rooms of 2 or 3 will be asked to combine with another student or room.
If 2 students do not want to be combined with another group or student, a room of only 2 can be requested. Each student must pay an extra $30 (cash or check made to “Logan Tours Inc), to be given to Mr. McAnallen with the roommate selection form.
Meals & Money
Our meal plan:
Saturday
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.
Sunday
Breakfast hotel hot buffet
Lunch: TBD.
If you have special dietary needs, bring food that is safe for you. We can store a cooler 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.
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.
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 Mr. McAnallen
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 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. Bags are subject to search.
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.
- Knoch 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!
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 walks the halls 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?
Shawn McAnallen, History Teacher
mcanallens@southbutler.net
724-352-1700 x3131
Rebecca Green, Tour Coordinator
logantoursinc@gmail.com
724-355-4997
