Better Than Using Points: Sponsored School Field Trips in Florida

Using miles and points to offset travel costs is great, but you know what’s even better? Being sponsored by a large company in need of a PR win. We live in central Florida, far away (relatively speaking) from Disney and beaches. This is phosphate mining territory. Phosphate companies have been here for over 100 years, and their relationship with the local communities has been strained at best.

On the one hand, they provide decent jobs, and our area desperately needs them. On the other hand, many feel that phosphate companies destroy the land and upset the natural balance. In reality, the truth lies somewhere in between, as the reclamation process creates beautiful parks and golf courses. But there is still bad blood between many locals and the mining conglomerates. Naturally, those locals don’t work for the mines and don’t feel they get any benefit from this partnership.

As a result, the companies try to sponsor local teams, clubs, you name it. One particular project has just benefited our family immensely. A few months ago, my 16-year-old daughter mentioned to me that the mines are sponsoring a marine science program for her grade and that she wanted to participate. She told me the total cost was $100. We would also have to cover dining expenses, but that’s about it. I was skeptical, but we filled out the application. The barrier to entry was relatively low: good grades and no detentions.

I did mention to her that I would rather not take away a spot from some poor kid who never travels anywhere. But she assured me that they had a hard time finding 15 participants. Say what?! She was super excited about it, but most of her friends said they just wanted to stay home and play video games. In the end, they got enough students, so the program was  a go.

I figured it would just be some local field trips to a nearby lake and  maybe to a beach (we live a bit over an hour from the Gulf Coast). Imagine my surprise when she told me that they would be driving to Florida Keys and spending three nights there. All for a $100 per person? Turns out, the retail cost of this marine science project was $1,300 per student, and the mines were paying $1,200 of it.

My daughter said that hotel they stayed at was quite decent, and it does look nice on the photos. It’s called Bayside Inn Key Largo,  and it’s located right on the water.

The rate during summer is fairly reasonable, and with all fees and taxes, the room would have cost $220 per night all-in if we paid for it. I’m sure that during winter it runs at $500 per night, if not more.

The kids also went to Key West to study marine science in the area. They did have to take notes and do actual research, but my daughter said it was mostly a vacation.

After they got home, the students also did some cool day trips to various islands in Florida. One of them was  Cabbage cay, a place I’ve been wanting to visit ever since I moved to US. I can’t believe my kid beat me to it!

There were tons of dolphins following the boat, and my daughter sent us several videos. She had such a fantastic time and wants to apply for this program next summer if the mines sponsor it again.

And the fun isn’t over yet. In July they are supposed to do an overnight trip to Titusville with the goal of taking a bioluminescent kayak tour at night. I’m embarrassed to say, but I didn’t even know that’s an option in Florida. Now I want to go.

Dealing with concerns over sending our kid on overnight trips alone

This is something we were worried about, and my husband actually wanted to back out of letting our daughter participate in the project. But I convinced him that we should let her go. She is 16, and at some point we will have to trust her to make the right decisions on her own. This isn’t parenting advice, just something I feel strongly about.

My first school field trip of sorts was to the United States at the age of 16, and I managed just fine. It’s funny that one of the school chaperones for my daughter’s group was the same guy hosting me all those year ago. In fact he was younger than I am at the time. It’s funny how things come full circle sometimes.

When we had an orientation meeting, the parents were assured of strict rules and “one strike, you are out” policy. The kids could not have the opposite gender in their rooms, and anyone caught with drugs or alcohol would be sent home immediately. We were told that they once had to call a parent at 1 AM in the morning, and that person had to drive  4 hours to Key Largo to pick up their disgraced offspring. That certainly made me and my husband feel better, and all the kids had a look of fear on their faces. Good!

But everything worked out just fine. Of course, we don’t live in a perfect world and anything can happen. A shark can get you or there can be an accident on the road. I wish we could put a protective bubble around our kids. Alas, that’s not an option. Plus, I want them to have a life full of exciting experiences. And how can you beat all of this for $100?!