Hint: Click photos for a larger view.

Sunrise at the Obama Inauguration

Everyone had to get up very early that Tuesday morning.  I started to park coaches at 5:00 AM.  Only coaches and official vehicles were allowed in the city from 7:00 PM the night before to 7 PM that night so there was very little traffic.  Spectators had to get to the mall very early to find a spot.  Ticket holders had to go through intense security.  As the morning progressed, it became more and more difficult to get to the mall area due to increasing crowds.  The weather was clear but cold with a slight breeze, in the lower 30’s by mid-morning.  The best thing about the crowd was they blocked the breeze!

Student Group at the Obama Inauguration

For a crowd this large, it overall was a very considerate group.  I witnessed very little shoving or poor behavior.  There was an air of excitement throughout the crowd.  People were talking about the election and future possibilities.  Once the Smithsonian museums opened at 10, some people went into them to get warm.  By that time it was getting almost impossible to get to the mall area.  I was able to get through the Smithsonian Visitor Center gardens which were closed shortly after I went through due to the massive numbers of people still wanting to get in. Once on the mall, they had many large screen video monitors set up between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial so no matter where you stood, you could see and hear just fine.

Father and son share historic event together

At about 11 AM they started seating the dignitaries.  It took a very long time.  I felt rather bad when they seated President George W. Bush and people booed.  Even though he may have made some errors, he still gave eight years of his life serving our country.

Obama's Inauguration Speech

Finally the official ceremony began around noon.  It was getting even colder and the breeze kicked up a notch.  There was a growing murmur of excitement growing as Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle entered.  The applause was huge.  Aretha Franklin sang.  A prayer was offered. Joe Biden was sworn in as Vice President.  Then Mr. Obama, with Michelle and millions of people around the world watching, was sworn in as President of the United States.

After being sworn in, the President gave his inaugural address.  It was only about 18 minutes long.  He said a lot in those few minutes.  To me this was the neatest part of the whole experience.  For 18 minutes, TWO MILLION PEOPLE in attendance at this very historical moment were QUIET and LISTENING!   There was only appropriate applause and quite a few “Amen’s”. It was an incredible moment!  I know I could have been at home which would have been a lot more comfortable and a whole lot warmer but for the rest of my life, I can tell people, “I was there!”

Historic Crowd at the Obama Inauguration

If you are a teacher reading this, you should consider taking your students to Inauguration in 2013.  Get together with your Tour Operator to get approximate pricing and start getting students who will be in school during that period excited to attend.  By making reservations early, you can get the best located hotels and other considerations and spread payments over years rather than months. Make sure your students and parents have the opportunity, just like me, to say, “I was there!”

For information about student travel to our nation’s capital:  http://www.traveladventures.com/wdc

Reflection of Water on Oil Drums at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL

This photo was submitted by Carissa DeVault, from Anthony Wayne High School, for the 2010 Travel Adventures’ Adventures in Creativity Contest. It was taken at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.  The installation is called Geography = War and was created by Alfredo Jaar.  The installation refers to an incident in Koko, Nigeria in 1987 and 1988 were toxic waste seeped into the water system causing chemical burns and food contamination.

Jaar’s work consists of fifty-five-gallon barrels filled with water, over which are suspended light boxes with photographs of the citizens of Koko. The photographs are seen by viewing the reflections in the water-filled barrels.

To learn more about Geography =War please visit www.mcachicago.org/Book/Jaar-txt.html

http://www.traveladventures.com/contests

Students Explore Mackinac Island

Prior to European exploration in the 17th century, Mackinac Island was home to the Anishinaabe-Ojibwe Indians, who considered the island a sacred place. By virtue of its location in the center of the Great Lakes waterway, Mackinac Island was a tribal gathering place and burial ground for tribal chiefs. Later, it served as a strategic position amidst the fur trade commerce of the Great Lakes.

It was the Victorians, however, that made Mackinac Island one of the nation’s most favored vacation sites. During the warm summer months, visitors came from Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, and Chicago to enjoy the island’s cooler climate. Later, lodging such as the famous Grand Hotel was built to accommodate overnight guests. Today, the entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark. The history combined with the island’s natural scenery and breathtaking architecture makes Mackinac Island an unforgettable educational adventure for student group travel.

The adventure begins when student groups arrive in Mackinac City. Three separate ferry services provide transportation to the island from Mackinac City or from St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula from May through October. Once students disembark on the island, they discover a world that seems to have been frozen in time. Mackinac Island prohibits the use of personal motorized vehicles. Instead, visitors and residents alike get around the island by horse-drawn carriage, bicycle, or on foot.

Students at Colonial Michilimackinac

Rising like a beacon atop the island, Fort Mackinac is one of the area’s most visited attractions. As one of the few surviving revolutionary war forts in the United States, Fort Mackinac is comprised of 14 original buildings. Interpreters dressed in 1880s military uniforms welcome student groups, fire their rifles on the parade ground, and deliver a cannon salute over the harbor. On the parade grounds, students may observe a court-martial re-enactment or explore the area where prisoners were housed.

Grand Hotel

Before its rise as a premier tourist destination, Mackinac Island was a hub of the intercontinental fur trade that began in the 17th century and extended into the early 19th century. Today, historic downtown Mackinac Island presents a tour of five significant structures from the island’s trading past. The American Fur Company Store contains interactive exhibits in a period setting. History comes alive at The Biddle House as interpreters demonstrate crafts from the 1820s. The Benjamin Blacksmith Shop shows how important the local blacksmith was on an island where automobiles are prohibited. The McGulpin House, dating from 1780, features an interpreter on site to share the structure’s history and architecture. At the east end of the village, the Mission Church is Michigan’s oldest surviving church building. The church has been restored to its early 1830s appearance.

Following an educational tour of the island’s historic buildings, students can explore the retail stores and candy shops that line the downtown streets.  One of the most popular items at these stores is the locally produced and nationally known Mackinac Island fudge. During a visit, students can view the fudge as it is being produced and sample the various flavors.

Teacher and Students at Mission Point

Student tours to Mackinac Island can be made especially memorable with lunch at the Grand Hotel. The hotel, open since 1887, has welcomed five U.S. presidents, and was the setting for two movies, including Somewhere In Time with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve.  Lunch is served in the hotel’s main dining room, and includes a variety of salads, hot and cold selections, as well as a dessert table offering more than 20 freshly baked pastries. Afterward, students can enjoy the remarkable views from the hotel’s famous front porch. At 660 feet, it is the longest porch in the world.

Abundant in  natural beauty as much as  historical importance, Mackinac Island’s ecosystem has created unique geological formations. Rising nearly 150 feet above the water, Arch Rock is a limestone formation that can be accessed via a wooden stairway and nature path that leads up a bluff to the uppermost part of the formation. Devil’s Kitchen is a limestone cavern created by the effects of erosion and displacement of rocks. The site offers picturesque views of the Mackinac Bridge. Other popular geological formations include Skull Cave and Sugar Loaf.

Mackinac Island Carriage Rides

Student groups can see all of Mackinac Island’s legendary points of interest from a carriage ride tour. Mackinac Island Carriage is the world’s oldest, continually operated horse and buggy livery, with approximately 100 freight and passenger carriages put in motion by more than 400 horses. Other local suppliers rent mountain bikes, single speed, and tandems. Students may also bring their own bikes with them to the island via the ferry.

For more information about student tours to Mackinac Island,  please visit Time Travelers: Interactive Michigan Heritage

It’s wonderful to see teachers, students and families around the country and throughout the world focus on projects that will benefit our planet and help create a brighter future for generations to come.  Each individual can make a difference everyday by working toward the common goal of protecting our natural resources.

At Travel Adventures, we believe that environmental stewardship begins with education and awareness.  We’ve compiled a list over over 60 links to environmental resources that you may be interested in visiting.  We’d also love to add your favorite GREEN site too.  Please leave us a comment if you have recommendations.

Green Resources <<< Please click this link

Earth Day 4-22-10

We’ve also compiled a list of company’s that provide Green Fundraising opportunities:

Green Fundraising <<< Please click this link

Green Fundraising for a Brighter Future

Please leave a comment to add a GREEN site to our list.

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Joseph at Zam's Swamp Tour in New Orleans

This photo was submitted by Hannah Peitzman for the 2010 Travel Adventures’ Adventures in Creativity Contest.  This photograph was taken on a recent performance trip  to New Orleans.  During the student tour, students from the LaCanada High School Band performed at a charity fundraiser at a Christian Church in New Orleans, raising money for mission work.

http://www.traveladventures.com/contests

Costa Rica translates to “Rich Coast” and is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world. One fourth of Costa Rica is comprised of protected areas, including 26 forests, 20 national parks, 9 forest reserves, 8 wildlife refuges, 7 wildlife sanctuaries and one national archaeological monument.

Keel Billed Toucan

Costa Rica also boasts 12 ecosystems including tropical wetlands, primary dry forests and tidal mangrove swamps. Costa Rica is home to a number of rare and endangered plant and animal species as well.

Among the many things you should see on your next science adventure to this incredible country are:

TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK (“Full of Turtles”) is home to the spider, howler, and white-throated Capuchin monkeys; the two-toed and three-toed sloths; over 300 species of birds; and a variety of reptiles. The park is recognized for the annual nesting of the endangered green turtle and is the most important nesting site for the species. Giant leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles also nest there.

CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK is internationally renowned among ecologists for its biodiversity and a park where visitors can expect to see an abundance of wildlife. It is home to all four Costa Rican monkey species as well as the Central American Squirrel Monkey.

Costa Rica Eco-Adventure

MONTEVERDE RESERVE is a private cloud forest reserve and home to more than 130 species of mammals, 400 species of birds (including 30 species of hummingbirds) and 3,000 species of plants. Here, the forest trees drip with mosses, vines and ferns. Flower lovers will find more than 450 orchid species – 88% that grow exclusively in trees! Student visitors can experience the treetop amazing canopy via hanging bridges and a zip-line that travels through the trees.

MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK - Manuel Antonio National Park is nestled along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The park features mangrove swamps, primary rainforests, marshy woodlands and is a haven for over 100 mammal species including the highly endangered squirrel monkey, known locally as the “Mono Titi”.

The park has white sand beaches ideal for swimming, forest trails with breathtaking lookout points and several islands within the park’s boundaries that serve as important nesting grounds for birds and green turtles.

Student studying biology in Costa Rica

Costa Rica sits atop the “PACIFIC RING of FIRE” whose colliding tectonic plates are responsible for the country’s spectacular volcanoes.

Costa Rica has over 200 identifiable volcanic formations dating back over 65 million years. Today, however, only 100 or so show any signs of volcanic activity, while just five are classified as active volcanoes. Most of the volcanoes in Costa Rica lie in the northern part of the country and in the Central Highlands.

THE ARENAL VOLCANO – is perhaps the most popular volcano for tourists because it is the most active volcano in Costa Rica and spews hot gases and steam on a regular basis. Thought to have a ‘perfect’ volcanic cone, the Arenal is indeed a sight to see as it sits towering amidst the surrounding landscape of the Arenal National Park.

Student in Costa Rica

For student tour information, please visit:  Costa Rica Eco-Adventure

Student from Negaunee High School Band in Times Square

Jeremy Connin Of Negaunee High School submitted this photo of a classmate in Times Square for the 2010 Travel Adventures “Adventures in Creativity”  photo contest.

Travel Adventures hosts three annual “Adventures in Creativity” contests for students; a photo contest, a video contest and a trip journal/essay contest. For all of the details or to view the work of past winners please visit www.traveladventures.com/contests

These are the must see attractions at each destination:

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute: Your students can “take a walk through history” at this state-of-the-art facility designed to be a self-directed journey through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. The museum features photography and audio recordings from the era, multi-media presentations, and dramatic life-size figures.

The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church is located adjacent to the Civil Rights Institute. Just days after a six-year battle ended in favor of integrating the Birmingham schools, the church was bombed by Klansmen. Four young girls preparing for Sunday school in the basement were killed. A docent will guide you through the church and you will watch a video on the history of the dramatic bombing.

The Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery: Designed by international artist Maya Lin, the center honors 40 individuals who died between 1954 and 1968. In front of the museum is a black granite table with the names of the martyrs, chronicling the history of the movement in lines that radiate like the hands of a clock. Water emerges from the table’s center and flows evenly across the top. On a curved black granite wall behind the table is engraved – “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s well-known paraphrase of Amos 5:24.

The Rosa Parks Museum is located just a few blocks from the Memorial Center. The museum features multi-media presentations, period photography and several dioramas depicting the life story of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The tour begins with a short video on the events leading up to Rosa Parks arrest for refusing to relinquish her seat on a city bus to whites. Next, students are taken back in time to a reenactment of the actual event via a vintage municipal bus. The remainder of the tour chronicles the 381 day city-wide bus boycott.

The Lowndes County Interpretive Center can be found at the midpoint of the National Historic Selma-to-Montgomery Trail where the famous Selma to Montgomery March occurred. Student visitors can view a video of the events that occurred on “Bloody Sunday” in Selma and see artifacts from the ensuing march in the “Tent City” exhibit.

Selma is just a few miles from the interpretive center and all student groups should relive history by walking across the Edmond Pettus Bridge. This is the bridge where 600 peaceful protesters were attacked by mounted deputies and state troopers on what came to known during the Civil Rights era as “Bloody Sunday.”

For information on the Modern Civil Rights Experience or other student tours please visit:

www.traveladventures.com

Some of the most creative ideas are:

1:  For a Holiday Season Activity: (Easter and Christmas) – Student representatives visit a local nursery and ask the nursery if they will sell plants to them at cost as their way of supporting the school trip.  For Easter the plants might be Easter Lily’s and Tulips. At Christmas they might be small evergreen trees in pots or Cactus plants.  The students sell them at school and to family and friends.  It is a good idea to mention the nursery’s role in a school newsletter and send a copy to them as well.  This recognition will make them be more likely to work with you in the future.

2:  For Halloween create a Haunted House at the school and charge admission. All of the earnings are used to offset trip costs.  This seems like a lot of work but can reap great rewards and a safe environment for young children.

3:  Create a putt-putt golf course down the school hallways with the 9^th hole being the Principal’s office!  Charge admission and open it to the student body as an after school activity. Always get the Principal involved because it creates more excitement. (And they should know that the club house is their office : )

4:  Probably the most popular fundraiser at the school is a Spaghetti Dinner.  Student representatives usually visit local stores and bakeries to seek donations of items such as spaghetti, sauce, ground beef, plates, bread, etc.  The students help prepare the meal and then man the serving lines.  For only $5-$8 per person, this  approach can raise a lot of money because parents, grandparents, and neighbors can all participate.

5:  Plan a Movie Night (after school or on a weekend), charge admission and sell popcorn and drinks.

6:  Hold Craft Sales during lunch. Some schools allow those really creative students to sell items such as purses decorated with beads and other adornments, bracelets, t-shirts and baseball caps to their friends in the cafeteria.

7:  Naturally, selling pizza kits, candy, or other types of munchies (a visit to Sams Club is always a good start) is a popular fundraiser.

8:  Car washes are always a good way to mix raising money while having fun.  The community will support the students by getting their car washed and hand dried!  Many gas stations have running water and will donate a portion of their parking lot for the event.

9:  Hold an Art Show at school (admission: $1 – $5) to highlight student work.  Items might include paintings, crafts, woodworking, metal works and sculptures.

10:  Host a rummage sale.  Families can donate unwanted items. Charge an admission fee and have the students bake cookies, pies, iced tea, coffee for sale.

We wish you the best of luck with your fundraising project and invite you to add a comment with additional creative fundraising ideas.

For some additional fundraising ideas or green fundraising ideas, please visit these sites:

www.traveladventures.com/Fundraising

www.traveladventures.com/Green-Fundraising

Dakota High School Choir at Cloud Gate (aka The Bean) in Chicago's Millennium Park

Cloud Gate, nicknamed The Bean, is forged of a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which reflect Chicago’s famous skyline and the clouds above.  The design was inspired by liquid mercury and the sculpture’s surface reflects and distorts the city’s skyline. Visitors are able to walk around and under Cloud Gate’s 12-foot high arch.

www.traveladventures.com/chicago

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