mackinac - May 2023
Senior Orchestra students only
By the time they leave the orchestra program at Athens High School, every child will have had the opportunity to go on 2 trips. Due to the pandemic, the class of 2023 will have only gone to Disney World. Therefore, we are offering a seniors-only trip opportunity to go to Mackinac in Spring of 2023. Non-seniors are not permitted to attend the trip.
Email sent home to all senior parents, September 2022
Greetings Senior Orchestra Parents!
At this time, I am not looking at any other destinations. I’ve done this trip before and the kids had a fantastic time. If we don’t get enough involvement to break even, we will cancel. We are not looking to make any money on this trip; what we charge will be to break even. If you are strongly considering sending your child on this trip, please EMAIL ME so I can start to get a picture of how many are interested.
- 3 day trip, May 25, 26, 27, 2023. They will finish school that Wednesday, and barring any graduation/honors rehearsals, I’d like to take them the next day to take advantage of the long weekend but before the hotel rates get out of control. My goal is not to impede any potential graduation parties on the weekends, and not get gouged by summer pricing in northern Michigan. I think that’s the sweet spot.
- $500 per child, in 2 installments of $250. This will be a “bare bones” trip. We are NOT going through Bob Rogers or any travel company. They will not be receiving trip insurance options, cash back, the backpack/lanyard. This is simply me organizing a trip and the kids paying for it. You’ll pay the boosters directly, no automatic online payment system. “old school” if you will 😉
- Itinerary:
- One day on Mackinac Island: ferry to the island, carriage tour, free time on the island all day. Eat breakfast before you come, get lunch on the island on your own (or bring one), dinner at a restaurant (kids would prepay and order off a limited menu)
- One day in the upper peninsula: Tahquamenon falls, great lakes shipwreck museum + picnic, Jack pine lumberjack show in Mackinaw city. Breakfast at the hotel, ordering sandwiches and taking them for a picnic at the museum (prepaid), pizza dinner at the hotel (prepaid).
- One day in Mackinaw city: a few hours to explore and have in downtown, and then we will be home by dinner on the third day. Breakfast at the hotel, lunch on your own in mackinaw city (not prepaid), be home by 6pm.
- They will get a trip shirt (prepaid)
- No performances or playing.
- I’m working on gathering pricing from a busing company and from a company that does group rates in the Mackinaw area. If it’s not under $500 per kid, we will eliminate some items to get us there. Worst case scenario, we will drop it down to a 2 day trip.
- We would all travel by a smaller charter bus to and from.
- My goal is to have this buttoned up and ready to go by the December concert at the very latest. I’m not sure when the payments will be; we can discuss those at an AOPA meeting to get a feel for what’s best for most and go from there. The trickiest item is waiting to get a solid number instead of a “here’s the quote but it could change by the time the trip happens”
At this time, I am not looking at any other destinations. I’ve done this trip before and the kids had a fantastic time. If we don’t get enough involvement to break even, we will cancel. We are not looking to make any money on this trip; what we charge will be to break even. If you are strongly considering sending your child on this trip, please EMAIL ME so I can start to get a picture of how many are interested.