How do we register for the trip?
Registration must be completed through Academic Expedition’s website. This process will open after our parent meeting on September 16! No payment or registration will be accepted at school.
What is the payment schedule?
Information on the payment schedule can be found on the DC Trip flier. The payment schedule is as follows:
- Upon Registration - $100 (initial deposit) + $60 (CFAR insurance, done separately)
- October 3, 2025 - 25% of trip cost
- November 7, 2025 - 40% of trip cost
- December 5, 2025 - 55% of trip cost
- January 2, 2026 - 70% of trip cost
- February 6, 2026 - 85% of trip cost
- March 6, 2026 - 100% of trip cost
Please note this schedule is provided to help with the structured payment plans. The initial deposit and CFAR insurance must be paid by Thanksgiving break with the final balance due by March 6, 2026. Registrations made after this date will only be accepted if there are open seats remaining.
Students who participated in the fall fundraiser, along with those from previous school years, will have their profits sent to Academic Expeditions directly from the school.
Will there be fundraisers to help offset the cost of the trip?
There will be 2-3 fundraisers held during the year for families to participate in. Information regarding these fundraisers will be communicated to students and families as they come up. Students will also be able to begin fundraising in 6th grade to be held in an account at school which we will use to distribute when your student has reached 8th grade.
Why are there multiple prices for this trip?
Student price is based on quad occupancy and is lower. All students attending the trip MUST choose the quad occupancy rate.
Do I have to purchase the Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance?
Yes, it is a requirement to purchase the CFAR insurance. It is marked as “optional” as the travel company can’t mandate the addition of the insurance, but it is a requirement from Walled Lake Schools. This allows cancellations up to departure for any reason for medical, discipline, or personal reasons. The cost is an additional $60 and must be added at the time of registration. There have been times in the past where families did not purchase insurance and their student was removed from the trip and no refund was given. You will have 30 days from your initial registration to take care of this step.
Are you taking parent chaperones?
No. Chaperones are generally staff members of Sarah Banks Middle School or Walled Lake Schools. Many of our chaperones have been on this trip before and will ensure your student has a fun, safe, and memorable time on the trip. Parents will have the opportunity to meet and talk with their student’s chaperone before, during, and after the trip.
What happens if my student no longer wants to attend the D.C. trip? How about if they are removed from the trip?
Students who no longer wish to attend the D.C. trip should have their parents reach out to Mr. Yu and he will send a cancellation form from Academic Expeditions. Students who are removed by building administration for disciplinary reasons will receive an email with the same link from Mr. Yu.
Refunds are only available for families who purchased the CFAR insurance. Several emails were sent out and reminders made available to purchase the insurance during the allotted time frame. Families who did not purchase the insurance will not receive a refund.
How do students select room partners?
Students will be allowed to select their room partners later in the process (around January). Please remember that students must have rooms with a total of 4 students. When they create their group it is best to hit the 4 student number. If there are incomplete groups submitted, they will be filled with other Banks student travelers who had incomplete groups. In the event your student is in a group of 3 due to an odd number of students, you will still be charged the lower quad occupancy rate. Every student room will have 4 students.
Will students be able to see their friends from other groups? Can we request a particular bus?
Absolutely! Students will be assigned to their bus depending on what chaperone they get so we are not able to accommodate specific requests. Lead chaperones per bus work hard to ensure we have good student combinations on each bus. However, we generally travel together so there will be opportunities for the students to see each other at rest stops, museums, monuments, and meals.
Can we bring food and drink on the bus?
Part of your trip cost is snacks and water on the bus. After years of being on this trip I assure you no one will go hungry or thirsty. Every year we end up with extra snacks at the end of this trip. That being said, you can bring small snacks on the bus that can be closed tightly. Drinks with screw top lids are just fine, but nothing else. Students will be expected to clean up any messes made on the bus.
What if someone becomes ill on the trip?
We will contact the listed emergency contact and take whatever action is needed. Each bus will have a medical bag with over-the-counter medication and emergency supplies.
What about medication?
Medication forms will be given out when we are closer to the trip date. During the trip, each bus will have a medication leader who will carry the medication and make sure it is taken at the appropriate time. Please see the medication information for additional information.
What about allergies?
Please let us know about allergies on your permission slip. We will provide a list of restaurants and rest stops ahead of time to help students plan where they will eat at various food courts. Stops we make with set meals will have alternate menus for those with allergies and as long as we know those needs, we will do our best to accommodate.
Will my student be supervised at all times?
Students are required to stay with their group at all times. Students must never be alone during this trip. Chaperones will take attendance each time we leave an event, and again before the bus departs. Students will be allowed to walk around without a chaperone when we are at a museum or enclosed areas. This is the perfect mix of freedom and safety.
What if someone becomes separated from the group?
All participants, students and adults, are required to wear a nametag lanyard they will receive the morning we depart with an emergency contact number that is staffed 24 hours a day. Chaperones and their groups will have a method of contact with each other to ensure regular communication. In addition, chaperones have a photo of all of their students that can be shared with security or law enforcement officials.
Are cell phones allowed on this trip?
Yes, students and adults are encouraged to carry a cell phone. This allows everyone to stay in contact and to take photos. There may be times where students will not be able to use their cell phones, such as when tour guides are speaking and at some museums due to security measures. Chaperones will inform your student when the time comes that phones must be put away.
