RULES AND REGULATIONS
An overnight trip is an exciting adventure whether you are an experienced traveler or journeying away from home for the first time. It is an opportunity to explore new places, ideas, and cultures. The fun and adventure of travel is experiencing different ways of eating, living, and thinking. Because of these differences, and for your safety, DAHS Honors Builders Club follows rules in addition to the school rules. Adhering to these regulations will not only enhance the enjoyment of your trip, but also ensure that you have a safe one.
BUS BEHAVIOR:
Your motorcoach will be with you for your entire Tour. The bus must be kept neat and clean. All garbage shall be disposed of in an appropriate manner. Noise should be kept to a minimum so that your bus driver is not distracted. You will be held responsible for any and all damage you cause.
HOTEL BEHAVIOR:
Treat your hotel room with respect. Keep it neat while you use it. You will be held responsible for any and all damage you cause. Be mindful of noise in hotels, especially at night. All pay-per-view movie channels will be shut-off and may not be purchased by a student. All hotel room telephones will be shut-off to outgoing calls. Students may receive incoming calls. Do not run in the hallways or slam doors! Other guests are trying to sleep and noises carry. Except with the express permission of the Group Leader, no tour participant is (i) to leave the hotel grounds for any reason; or (ii) use the hotel pool, hot tub or sauna.
LOST OR STOLEN ITEMS:
You are responsible for your own belongings. Keep all valuables with you at all times. Report any missing items directly to one of your teachers in which you think the item was lost or stolen.
STAYING TOGETHER:
It is imperative that you stay together at all times. No one may go anywhere alone for any reason whatsoever. It is of the utmost importance that your teachers know where you are at all times. Remember you are part of a group. Always be on time for scheduled activities and departures. It is unfair to keep others waiting and you don't want to miss a thing!
BREAKING OUT IN SMALLER GROUPS:
There are certain parts of your Tour when your teachers may permit you to break off into smaller groups. If that is allowed, you must stay in groups of at least three or four. The tour guide will also give explicit instructions as to where and with whom you are going and on the time and place of your return.
FAMILY VISITS:
Should you wish to visit a family member or friend while on Tour, a letter signed by your parents or legal guardian must be in the possession of your teacher at the time of the proposed visit. Your teachers must also agree to this visit. In all other instances you are expected to have your meals with the group and to participate in all group activities.
CURFEW:
All students are required to be in their hotel rooms at a time to be determined by the teachers.
NO MOTOR VEHICLES:
Other than the motorcoach provided for the Group or when riding with an adult chaperone, it is not permissible for any tour participant to use any kind of motorized vehicle including (but not limited to) train, subway, taxi, private automobile or other vehicle during the Tour.
ALCOHOL OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES:
Any student possessing or using alcohol or any narcotic will be sent home immediately at parental expense. No weapons of any sort are allowed.
COMMON SENSE AND COURTESY:
You must be mindful of your own safety and well being throughout the Tour and use your own good judgment at all times. You are responsible for your possessions as well as for your behavior and will be held accountable for them.
Note: These rules are the minimal guidelines for your trip. Except as otherwise stated above, an infraction of the above rules will generally result in a telephone call to the student's parents. Further infractions may result in the student being sent home at parental expense.
BUS BEHAVIOR:
Your motorcoach will be with you for your entire Tour. The bus must be kept neat and clean. All garbage shall be disposed of in an appropriate manner. Noise should be kept to a minimum so that your bus driver is not distracted. You will be held responsible for any and all damage you cause.
HOTEL BEHAVIOR:
Treat your hotel room with respect. Keep it neat while you use it. You will be held responsible for any and all damage you cause. Be mindful of noise in hotels, especially at night. All pay-per-view movie channels will be shut-off and may not be purchased by a student. All hotel room telephones will be shut-off to outgoing calls. Students may receive incoming calls. Do not run in the hallways or slam doors! Other guests are trying to sleep and noises carry. Except with the express permission of the Group Leader, no tour participant is (i) to leave the hotel grounds for any reason; or (ii) use the hotel pool, hot tub or sauna.
LOST OR STOLEN ITEMS:
You are responsible for your own belongings. Keep all valuables with you at all times. Report any missing items directly to one of your teachers in which you think the item was lost or stolen.
STAYING TOGETHER:
It is imperative that you stay together at all times. No one may go anywhere alone for any reason whatsoever. It is of the utmost importance that your teachers know where you are at all times. Remember you are part of a group. Always be on time for scheduled activities and departures. It is unfair to keep others waiting and you don't want to miss a thing!
BREAKING OUT IN SMALLER GROUPS:
There are certain parts of your Tour when your teachers may permit you to break off into smaller groups. If that is allowed, you must stay in groups of at least three or four. The tour guide will also give explicit instructions as to where and with whom you are going and on the time and place of your return.
FAMILY VISITS:
Should you wish to visit a family member or friend while on Tour, a letter signed by your parents or legal guardian must be in the possession of your teacher at the time of the proposed visit. Your teachers must also agree to this visit. In all other instances you are expected to have your meals with the group and to participate in all group activities.
CURFEW:
All students are required to be in their hotel rooms at a time to be determined by the teachers.
NO MOTOR VEHICLES:
Other than the motorcoach provided for the Group or when riding with an adult chaperone, it is not permissible for any tour participant to use any kind of motorized vehicle including (but not limited to) train, subway, taxi, private automobile or other vehicle during the Tour.
ALCOHOL OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES:
Any student possessing or using alcohol or any narcotic will be sent home immediately at parental expense. No weapons of any sort are allowed.
COMMON SENSE AND COURTESY:
You must be mindful of your own safety and well being throughout the Tour and use your own good judgment at all times. You are responsible for your possessions as well as for your behavior and will be held accountable for them.
Note: These rules are the minimal guidelines for your trip. Except as otherwise stated above, an infraction of the above rules will generally result in a telephone call to the student's parents. Further infractions may result in the student being sent home at parental expense.
Washington D.C. Attire - adapted from USA Today Travel Tips
If you're visiting D.C. in early spring, bring long pants and shirts with long sleeves. David Anderson has a dress code for the Honor Builders Trip. Be sure to refer to the what to pack papers on the forms page of this site. Boys will need to bring dressy clothes like khakis and button-down shirts for the cruise. Girls should pack a dress, or a skirt and blouse combination or slacks and blouse combination for the cruise. On Friday and Saturday when dressy clothes won't be required, pack jeans and cotton T-shirts for the most comfort. Bring two or three bottoms and five or six tops for the trip. Layer your clothes. It may end up hot, it may rain, you never know exactly what will happen while on the trip. Pack a few sets of pajamas.
NYC Attire - adapted from herpackinglist.com
Traveling to NYC in the spring can make it tricky what to pack. The temperature can vary upwards of 30 degrees especially if the sun is out then in the evening! Layering will be very important to your attire. Make sure what you pack will allow for it to be cool or warm outside and you can be comfortable in either situation. But, never forgetting an umbrella is important no matter what time of the year you are travelling. If it suddenly starts to rain, you won’t have the time to find a shop, and New York is typically a walking or public transport kind of city.
Once you get settled in your hotel, you will be doing a lot of walking. In NYC, it’s sometimes faster to walk than to get stuck in traffic. Even though will will have a motor coach, note that some transit tunnels are very long and your feet will need proper gear so that you can enjoy everything through walking.
Make sure you pack a comfortable pair of shoes that allow you to be on your feet and walk a lot. There’s nothing worse than blistered, sore feet on a vacation. A crossed-body handbag would also save your day out and prevent you from a backache!
Before you start putting things into your suitcase, evaluate your proposed wardrobe in relation to the type of activities you will be doing… and do think hard if you really need those four pairs of jeans (two would probably do, if any jeans at all -read here about what types of jeans to pack). Remember to bring at least one dress — we are going to a Broadway show— and a pair of shoes to match with it!
Beyond this, you can bring a few accessories, like a couple of nice pairs of earrings or necklaces that can be matched with several of your outfits. Although I would recommend for you to stay away from super trendy jewellery. By the time the trend gets to your home town, it’s totally out of date on New York streets!
Remember, you may want to do a lot of shopping in the city, so leave room in your suitcase for things you purchase in the Big Apple. I would advise bringing the bare minimum with you if you intend to do any shopping.
Chicago Attire - adapted from USA Today Travel Tips
Chicago's weather changes drastically from season to season. You even may notice a big difference from one day to the next. Spring brings unpredictability; temperatures vary significantly, along with the chance for assorted precipitation, including rain, snow or sleet. Pack a variety of clothing types including a mix of warm- and cool-weather clothing layers to prepare for variations.
Comfort
Walking will be one of our methods to get around downtown Chicago. Keep comfort in mind when choosing your clothing. Avoid tight or restrictive clothing like denim that will leave you feeling uncomfortable. Choose shoes with a supportive sole that won't give you blisters. Tennis shoes often provide the best support and protect your foot. Comfortable sandals that don't rub the foot work for warmer days.
Destination
Most sights allow for casual clothing. For men, this includes jeans, shorts, slacks, T-shirts, polos and button-down shirts. For women, pack shorts, capri pants, slacks, jeans, casual skirts and dresses, T-shirts and blouses. For cooler weather, pack sweaters or sweatshirts for casual destinations. We plan to dine on a dinner cruise, so pack a dressier outfit. A pair of dress trousers and a button-down shirt is usually enough for men. Women are fine in a casual dress and pumps or heels at most restaurants.
Tips
Plan to wear layers while sightseeing in Chicago, especially during spring. This allows you to adjust your clothing if you get warm or cold. For example, you might wear a casual top with a cardigan or light sweater topped with a light, water-resistant jacket in case it rains. A pair of khaki pants that roll into capris or have legs that zip off into shorts allow you to adjust your temperature on the lower half. We plan to sightsee during the day and dine at a nice restaurant at night, so choose an outfit you can use for both. A woman might wear a casual dress with a cardigan over it and sandals during the day. For dinner, she can remove the cardigan, add dressier jewelry and trade out the sandals
Comfort
Walking will be one of our methods to get around downtown Chicago. Keep comfort in mind when choosing your clothing. Avoid tight or restrictive clothing like denim that will leave you feeling uncomfortable. Choose shoes with a supportive sole that won't give you blisters. Tennis shoes often provide the best support and protect your foot. Comfortable sandals that don't rub the foot work for warmer days.
Destination
Most sights allow for casual clothing. For men, this includes jeans, shorts, slacks, T-shirts, polos and button-down shirts. For women, pack shorts, capri pants, slacks, jeans, casual skirts and dresses, T-shirts and blouses. For cooler weather, pack sweaters or sweatshirts for casual destinations. We plan to dine on a dinner cruise, so pack a dressier outfit. A pair of dress trousers and a button-down shirt is usually enough for men. Women are fine in a casual dress and pumps or heels at most restaurants.
Tips
Plan to wear layers while sightseeing in Chicago, especially during spring. This allows you to adjust your clothing if you get warm or cold. For example, you might wear a casual top with a cardigan or light sweater topped with a light, water-resistant jacket in case it rains. A pair of khaki pants that roll into capris or have legs that zip off into shorts allow you to adjust your temperature on the lower half. We plan to sightsee during the day and dine at a nice restaurant at night, so choose an outfit you can use for both. A woman might wear a casual dress with a cardigan over it and sandals during the day. For dinner, she can remove the cardigan, add dressier jewelry and trade out the sandals