Cave Trip

New York Geology Trip and Forms 

Hello everyone,

This will be a longer post as it pertains to our science geology trip coming up at the end of October - thanks for reading.

  Our 8th grade science trip (New York Geology Trip) is scheduled for October 25th OR October 26th, depending on your child's science class color. For the past 20 years we have taken the science classroom into the field to learn about the geologic history of western Massachusetts and eastern New York (Albany area). We are excited to bring this year's class into the field to see the geologic features they are currently learning about in our current science unit.

  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the trip please note that this is an extended day trip due to the driving distances involved. Students arrive at WMS at 5:45 AM on the day of their trip for a 6:00 AM departure on coach buses. We return to the middle school between 8:00 and 9:00 PM (exact arrival time is confirmed using a phone tree).

  Your child recently came home with the trip information/permission slip packet for this trip. The forms should be filled out completely and returned through your child directly to Ms. Nichols during science class by Friday October 5th.

  Your child's packet will either be blue or yellow. A blue packet means your child will be going with his/her science class on Thursday October 25. A yellow packet means your child will be going with his/her science class on Friday October 26.

   Your child's safety is of the utmost importance to the staff on this trip. For that reason we ask that you complete each form carefully and completely so we have the most up to date contact information/medical history as possible. Thank you in advance for filling these forms out.

    The cost of the trip is $45.00. Please make the check payable to Wayland Middle School and return along with the forms through your child to me during science class.

Included in the packet are the following forms:

Cover Sheet - The cover sheet has an overview of the trip and summarizes all of the forms in the packet. Please read and detach and leave at home this cover sheet.

2nd Page "Permission Slip for NY Geology Trip" - Please fill out the permission slip completely and sign on the line giving permission for your child to attend. Please also include your name and a phone number to be included in the phone chain so that we may notify you the exact time of our arrival back to WMS in the evening. If your are willing to be a Phone Tree Captain we would greatly appreciate this - you will be asked to call 5-8 other parents on the evening of the trip and let them know when the bus will be returning to the middle school.

Back of 2nd Page "Emergency Contact Information" - Please fill this form out completely, including up to date health insurance information at the bottom of this sheet. In the event of an emergency and we need to reach you we will use the numbers/people on this form to contact you.

3rd page "Medical Information Form" - This is a 2-sided form that asks you to fill out the most recent health information about your child. Please fill this form completely so that we can deal with any medical issues that may arise with your child in a timely manner and with the most information possible. The back of this page also includes information about the administration of tylenol and ibuprofen by WMS staff. Please note you should also sign this sheet at the bottom of the back of the page.

4th Page "Field Trip Medication Order/Consent Form" - This is a 2-sided form. If your child takes any prescription medication that must be administered during the hours of our geology trip then this form must be filled out by your child's pediatrician and returned to school. This form also applies to inhalers and epipens as well. Please note that if any prescription medication can be administered prior to drop off and upon return to Wayland that would be preferable. If needed however WMS staff will be able to administer prescription medication in a discreet manner during the trip itself.

• Please note that this form only is necessary if your child has an inhaler or epipen, or if WMS staff must administer prescription medication during the trip.
• This form can be faxed directly to WMS from your child's pediatrician office. WMS Fax # 508-655-2548 ATTN: Jennifer Nichols    

5th Page "Electronics Policy" - Please read over and sign the electronics policy that we have for this trip. Students and parents must sign the policy at the bottom of this sheet.

6th Page "Clarksville Cave Waiver Form" - We have visited and entered the Clarksville Cave in upstate New York for the past 20 years. Along with the geologic history and teaching we can do while inside the cave it also offers a valuable bonding/team building opportunity for our 8th graders. The cave itself has large passageways where we can walk standing straight up. There are a few sections where we crouch down but never any passageways that involve crawling on hands and knees or lying down. Students go into the cave in groups of 10-12 with 3 WMS staff and are in the cave for approximately 30 minutes.

• The cave was recently purchased and is now overseen by the Northeastern Cave Conservacy who are in charge of the preservation of this rich geologic resource. Because of this any person entering the cave (including students) must complete the cave waiver form if they choose to participate in this part of the trip
• More information about Clarksville Cave can be found here (including Cave Photos): CLARKSVILLE CAVE
• Entrance into the cave is optional for all students. Students can decide up to the moment of entering the cave whether or not they would like to go in.

7th Page "Trip packing form and Trip Itinerary" - The last page is the packing list and itinerary for the trip. You can remove this sheet and keep at home along with the cover sheet of the trip packet.

Wow - that was a lot! Thanks for taking the time to read it and fill in the forms. We will continue to update you about our trip through posts on this blog.

Thanks