Field Trips

[Oreius]

I am planning to take two field trips on April 9 and April 16. Each trip would have 25-30 kids. I've done an Amtrak field trip before back in 2014. We would board at Elizabethtown and ride to PHL and back again. We are planning to spend the day at the Franklin Institute science museum. When should I inquire about group rates? I remember Amtrak gave a nice discount when I took 60 kids back in 2014.

 

[neroden]

I don't know how Amtrak does pricing for group rates, but you definitely have enough people for a group rate. Amtrak has a special number to call for group rates, so I'm pretty sure they're not priced the same way as regular rates. It may not matter when you call.

 

[niemi24s]

If having that group of kids all in the same car is important, I'd call Amtrak immediately! :help: Just my 2¢ worth.

 

[Seaboard92]

I called them once and they said they could do it on two days notice. But that was a month ago

 

[neroden]

Unlike with regular tickets, I don't think you're going to get any price benefit from delaying *or* from booking early. I can't be sure about that, but that's my guess. I'd probably call whenever it's convenient.

 

[the_traveler]

If having that group of kids all in the same car is important, I'd call Amtrak immediately! :help: Just my 2¢ worth.

The Keystones are unreserved, and Amtrak would just close off 1 car.

 

[Thirdrail7]

If having that group of kids all in the same car is important, I'd call Amtrak immediately! :help: Just my 2¢ worth.

The Keystones are unreserved, and Amtrak would just close off 1 car.

Which is why they should be contacted as soon as possible. It could be a heavy train since as you indicated, they are largely unreserved.

 

[Karl1459]

I have not managed to get a group trip together... but I have researched a bit.

1. You will need one adult for every 6 (i think) kids. Verify this.

2. Amtrak will want an identified "group leader".

3. You will need to contact "group sales", regular agents don't do this. Call the 800USARAIL number and an agent will give you the phone number for group sales. While great people to work with there don't seem to be many of them so you should budget a couple of days to make contact and iron out details.

If any of your kids are of Boy Scout affiliation they may be able to use the trip as part of the Railroading Merit Badge... but will have to talk to their adviser FIRST.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I have not managed to get a group trip together... but I have researched a bit.

1. You will need one adult for every 6 (i think) kids. Verify this.

2. Amtrak will want an identified "group leader".

3. You will need to contact "group sales", regular agents don't do this. Call the 800USARAIL number and an agent will give you the phone number for group sales. While great people to work with there don't seem to be many of them so you should budget a couple of days to make contact and iron out details.

If any of your kids are of Boy Scout affiliation they may be able to use the trip as part of the Railroading Merit Badge... but will have to talk to their adviser FIRST.

The OP did this field trip 2 years ago, so I think s/he knows what needs to be done. S/he's asking how early s/he should book it.

But your post is beneficial for anyone who may be interested in doing their first one.

 

[Seaboard92]

Not that it's on topic. But you are probably the teacher I always dreamed of having. A train field trip now that's special.

 

[neroden]

One adult for every six kids? Ohhh-kay. That's actually pretty whacked out, and assumes highly irresponsible kids. I don't think I've ever had a field trip with that high a teacher/student ratio. 1 for every 10 was more typical though I certainly remember some which were 1 for 20 or more. (It was math team, we were very sedate.)

 

[crescent2]

Speaking from experience as an elementary school teacher, a request from a facility for one adult per six children is not that rare. It doesn't necessarily assume the children are irresponsible, just that in crowded environments, keeping more than six young children in constant close proximity to you could be difficult. On the train, it shouldn't be a problem, but moving through a large crowd in a busy station, for instance, could be more difficult. And while most children may not usually be unruly, some are. If Amtrak has that rule, I don't see it as an unreasonable one, especially for younger groups. I see it primarily as a safety and liability issue.

 

[neroden]

Well, I guess it's a matter of how young the kids are, partly.

 

[crescent2]

I agree about that! And with kids, you just have to be extra careful. Even well-behaved kids can do unexpected things that seem perfectly reasonable to them.

 

[neroden]

I basically didn't go on field trips until middle school, so I was remembering the ratios from then and high school.

 

[Oreius]

These will be 7th graders in the Honors Classes. I'm actually speaking for my father; he's a social studies teacher. But, I'm the one who planned the trip back in 2014 and he wants me to plan the trips for this spring. So, I figured I would ask around for any tips and suggestions.

 

[Oreius]

What is the minimum size for a group to be able to receive a group rate? I assume it's 20 people.

 

[CCC1007]

Yep

 

[Oreius]

Just made an advertisement video for the field trips planned for April. The kids seem excited, so we'll see how many sign up.

 

[BCL]

Just as an aside, if it's a group of kids under 18, you'll need chaperones. They say at least one adult per six kids. The group discount would be in addition to the half-price fare for kids under 16.

All the information you need is here:

https://www.amtrak.com/group-travel-requests

 

[Oreius]

We will have a few parents going as well. Thanks for the information!

 

[Oreius]

Well, looks like we're taking a group of 10 for April 9 and a group of 14 for April 16. I know that's below the threshold for group rates, but the kids will still travel at half fare. We have 5 adults going.

 

[Oreius]

How should I go about booking tickets for these two trips? We have 5 adults and 4 kids going on the 9th of April, and then 10 kids and 7 adults on the 16th. I will be buying a ticket myself for the two trips as I am an AGR member.

 

[neroden]

There are basically two different ways to do it; one is that you buy all the tickets and make the parents pay you, the other is that you tell the parents to buy their own tickets and give them instructions.

 

[Oreius]

I'll probably buy the tickets myself, and use the parents and kids names on the tickets. We will sit together as a group in the same car so it is easier for the conductor.