Check out this article from Masslive last week that talks about Amped's work in Nicaragua and features Cam and Rowan! Great work!
http://highschoolsports.masslive.com/news/article/-9170099635669093413/smith-academys-jeff-pluta-looking-for-baseball-players-for-nicaraguan-friendly-tournament-volunteer-work/#incart_river_default
Monday, March 24, 2014
Saturday, March 22, 2014
2014 Flight info!!
American Airlines #1429 on August 13 departs Boston at 5:30am and arrives Managua at 11:20 with a change in Miami.
American Airlines #971 on August 21 departs Managua at 12:30pm and arrives in Boston at 10:20pm with a change in Miami.
The price per ticket ended up being $570. An Amazing deal. I will update the final payment to reflect our savings.
Friday, March 7, 2014
March 5th Meeting Recap: flights, trip dates, paperwork, cancellation policy
On Wednesday night we decided that our trip dates will be 8/13-8/21.
We decided that flying out of Boston to save $100 per person is what we want to do, however this will mean that we would have to pay for transportation to and from the airport. When I looked last, the flight cost to depart and return to Boston was around $580.
See the previous post for the payment schedule.
Cancellation policy: Amped For Education's cancellation policy will be that if a traveler has already committed $850 or more by June 1st, that money can not be refunded. This would bring us 90 days before departure.
Paperwork: I need to collect this paperwork as soon as possible. I have extra copies in my room.
This blog is going to be the best informational resource moving forward. We are completing research on flights and will have that very soon. I will post it here.
As always, if you have any questions, let us know!
Joe
joe.costello2@gmail.com
Jeff Pluta
jeff@ampedforeducation.org
We decided that flying out of Boston to save $100 per person is what we want to do, however this will mean that we would have to pay for transportation to and from the airport. When I looked last, the flight cost to depart and return to Boston was around $580.
See the previous post for the payment schedule.
Cancellation policy: Amped For Education's cancellation policy will be that if a traveler has already committed $850 or more by June 1st, that money can not be refunded. This would bring us 90 days before departure.
Paperwork: I need to collect this paperwork as soon as possible. I have extra copies in my room.
- Liability release form
- Emergency medical information and treatment consent form
- Photo release form
- Copy of Passport (If you don't have a passport, apply for one as soon as you can! They can take up to 8 weeks!)
- If you need or want a receipt for each check, I can provide that. If you'd like to wait until the entire trip is paid for before you get a receipt, I can provide that. This is the first time we have offered a receipt. We did not issue any last year.
This blog is going to be the best informational resource moving forward. We are completing research on flights and will have that very soon. I will post it here.
As always, if you have any questions, let us know!
Joe
joe.costello2@gmail.com
Jeff Pluta
jeff@ampedforeducation.org
2014 Payment Schedule
With deposits already collected, I want to create a payment schedule that will have the least amount of times that money will exchange hands. Also, I'd love to have all funds collected by the end of the school year because that seems like it would be the easiest way.
Here is the payment schedule for 2014:
Friday April 4th -- $500
Friday May 2nd -- $500
Friday June 6th -- $500 (or remaining balance, depending on flight costs)
If you'd like to set up a different pay schedule for yourself, please contact me and we can arrange it!
All checks should be made out to "Amped For Education".
Here is the payment schedule for 2014:
Friday April 4th -- $500
Friday May 2nd -- $500
Friday June 6th -- $500 (or remaining balance, depending on flight costs)
If you'd like to set up a different pay schedule for yourself, please contact me and we can arrange it!
All checks should be made out to "Amped For Education".
Monday, March 3, 2014
Meeting Reminder: Tuesday night 7pm!
If you have given a deposit, please try to attend this meeting.
We will need people to fill out paperwork and also discuss trip dates and excursion options.
We will also start to decide some transportation details like taking a group transport to the airport.
It's STILL not too late to join! Come to this meeting with all of your questions!
See you tomorrow!
We will need people to fill out paperwork and also discuss trip dates and excursion options.
We will also start to decide some transportation details like taking a group transport to the airport.
It's STILL not too late to join! Come to this meeting with all of your questions!
See you tomorrow!
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Summer 2014 group meeting Tuesday 3/4/14 at 7pm and Globetrotter Travel Grant!
Get those deposits in ASAP! It's NOT too late!
We will have a group meeting on Tuesday 3/4/14 at 7pm at Frontier in my classroom.
This meeting is for students and families who have submitted a deposit. I have collected 12 deposits so far! Please try very hard to attend! Jeff will be there to direct us through it, but you can expect to fill out some paperwork. We need travelers and families to sign waiver forms and provide contact info, etc.
Eventually we will need copies of passports.
We will also try to lock in the dates of the trip so that we can contact our travel agent at Pioneer Valley Travel and start the process of booking a block of flights.
ALSO
There are Globetrotter Grant application forms in the Guidance Office at Frontier for any student who wants to do a little bit of extra writing to receive grant money for this trip.
From the guidance office:
"Frontier has been notified that our students are eligible to apply for the Globetrotter Travel Grant. This grant offers a stipend to be used to defer expenses related to travel for educational purposes. Examples would include studying abroad, student exchange programs, and cultural travel programs. The Globetrotter Grant was established in memory of two local teachers, Irene Lively Michaud and Deborah Hubbard Christensen. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and available in the Guidance Office."
This grant is new and (in my opinion) perfectly suited for this trip. This is an amazing opportunity! Don't hesitate!
If you have additional questions or comments please contact me.
Joe Costello
joe.costello2@gmail.com
508 944 7917
We will have a group meeting on Tuesday 3/4/14 at 7pm at Frontier in my classroom.
This meeting is for students and families who have submitted a deposit. I have collected 12 deposits so far! Please try very hard to attend! Jeff will be there to direct us through it, but you can expect to fill out some paperwork. We need travelers and families to sign waiver forms and provide contact info, etc.
Eventually we will need copies of passports.
We will also try to lock in the dates of the trip so that we can contact our travel agent at Pioneer Valley Travel and start the process of booking a block of flights.
ALSO
There are Globetrotter Grant application forms in the Guidance Office at Frontier for any student who wants to do a little bit of extra writing to receive grant money for this trip.
From the guidance office:
"Frontier has been notified that our students are eligible to apply for the Globetrotter Travel Grant. This grant offers a stipend to be used to defer expenses related to travel for educational purposes. Examples would include studying abroad, student exchange programs, and cultural travel programs. The Globetrotter Grant was established in memory of two local teachers, Irene Lively Michaud and Deborah Hubbard Christensen. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and available in the Guidance Office."
This grant is new and (in my opinion) perfectly suited for this trip. This is an amazing opportunity! Don't hesitate!
If you have additional questions or comments please contact me.
Joe Costello
joe.costello2@gmail.com
508 944 7917
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Still accepting deposits for summer 2014!
The snow days at the end of last week have thrown a wrench in the works for those who were planning on giving a deposit on those days. That's why we have a flexible due date!
I'm so excited to be collecting so many deposits from students who are dedicated to getting out of their element and serve this summer. I've already received commitments from more students than last year and it's never too late to join the group.
We will be scheduling a meeting for committed group members in early March to go over logistics, travel dates and times, excursion options, and payment plans If you have given a deposit, please plan on attending. I will finalize the date and time once we come back to school and I will repost here.
Current weather in Granada is 91 degrees and sunny.
Enjoy your break!
I'm so excited to be collecting so many deposits from students who are dedicated to getting out of their element and serve this summer. I've already received commitments from more students than last year and it's never too late to join the group.
We will be scheduling a meeting for committed group members in early March to go over logistics, travel dates and times, excursion options, and payment plans If you have given a deposit, please plan on attending. I will finalize the date and time once we come back to school and I will repost here.
Current weather in Granada is 91 degrees and sunny.
Enjoy your break!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)