Final reminders!

Hey all! We are being picked up from the Frontier front parking lot at 1:00am on 8/13 for our 5:45am flight in Boston. Please bring your $70 for the transportation cost. We are only days away from departure! 

Here are some general reminders:

**Contact your bank if you plan on bringing a debit card. There will be plenty of ATM access points in Granada to withdraw dollars or cordobas but if your bank sees withdrawals from Nicaragua without any warning they might freeze the card!

**Contact your cell phone company and tell them you will be out of the country and ask how to avoid major roaming or other crazy charges. Some internet searches on how to prep your phone for being overseas are helpful. Find out how to turn off the features on your device that will cost money!

**Our project with Amped will be in a brand new community on recently purchased land. Amped has told me that they would like us all to be wearing Amped tshirts/gear while we are at the job site working to make a positive impression. They will also organize washing and drying the Amped shirts after each work day. I'll give you the shirts when we depart. 

**If you are planning on checking a bag, please review American Airlines policy on baggage checking. It will probably be at least $25 fee. 

**Don't forget to bring school supplies! We will pack everything in a bag to check. We will actually save a ton of time and money on shipping!

Here is Heather's Packing Checklist:

Clothes
T-shirt/ tank tops and shorts for job site 3-4 days
Other casual clothes for nights/days off
At least one nicer outfit- dress or skirt 
At least one bathing suit
Plenty of undergarments
Plenty of socks
Sneakers
Sandals
Shower shoes
Lightweight sweater/sweatshirt/ jacket in case it is chilly
Rain jacket/ umbrella
Hat

Toiletries
Soap
Shampoo & Conditioner
Sun block at least 30spf
Bug spray with deet
Aloe Vera lotion
Razor
Deodorant 
Medications needed
Tylenol/ Advil
A few Band aids
Hand sanitizer
Baby wipes

Other
Passport
Spending money
Beach towel
Glasses/ contacts
Sunglasses 
Phone & charger
Book
Backpack or bag to carry to job site/ beach
Water bottle
Work gloves

If you have questions, please contact me soon. Otherwise, this blog will be updated everyday on the trip with pictures and reflection from our trip goers. See you soon!

Joe

508 944 7917

Joe.costello2@gmail.com

Two Week Warning!

Hey Everybody!

Our departure is nearing!  I am posting to ask for some support in an effort to bring some school supplies to Nicaragua with our group.  We will pool whatever school supplies we can and pack them into an empty (or near empty?) checked bag.  Here is a list of needed items from Amped's Director of operations, Sarah Wormann:

- pencils

- pencil sharpeners (not electric)

- 1 subject notebooks

- printer paper/white paper

- colored pencils/crayons

- erasers

"These are the main things we'll need, but if you bring down any other odds and ends in addition to this list that would be great too!"

 

Please do your best to bring any items you can, even if they are older or used.  When you see where and who these supplies go to, you'll be happy that you did!

Reminder: Please bring $70 with you for the airport transits when we depart!

If you have any questions, please contact me!

--Joe

joe.costello2@gmail.com

508 944 7917

 

Transport Costs!

Hey folks!

Summer is in full swing!!  Our trip is a month away....

Unfortunately, after researching several airport transportation options, the cheapest fare I could book was actually $35 per person each direction, $70 total.  This is $20 more for total than I predicted.

Alternatives would be parents carpooling with vans, etc. or just individually arranging transportation.  As a reminder, our flight leaves Boston's Logan Airport at 5:45am on Wednesday 8/13 and returns to Logan at 11:06pm on Thursday 8/21.

Checks can be made out to "Amped For Education."  I will accept cash or check at the time of departure 8/13.  It would likely be 1:00am-ish, as we would need to arrive at the airport a safe 2 hours before our flight.  We would depart from the Frontier parking lot.

I apologize for the skewed numbers!  Please contact me with any questions or comments!

--Joe
 508 944 7917
joe.costello2@gmail.com

June meeting notes: hostel and house links, catering and cleaning costs

Transportation to and from the airport:
Michaels Limo still hasn't returned my quote request.  I'll keep you updated here, but it looks like it will be $25 per traveler each way, to and from the airport. ($50 total.  This was the price from last year)

Here is a link to the beautiful Oasis Hostel in Granada where we will stay:

http://www.nicaraguahostel.com/


The housing at the beach:
Both in the same general area.  As a group we were leaning towards the first option.  After seeing a map and looking at accommodations, it just made the most sense.

http://www.vrbo.com/335514
(this is the one we stayed in last year)

or

http://www.vrbo.com/310922

Catering/cleaning options:
Since this wasn't factored in to our original financial estimations, it looks like it might be an extra $60 dollars a day, or $180 total for the 3 days we will be there.  This is an estimate.
My personal opinion is that it is not worth it.  Making a "chore chart" might be less fun, but perhaps something that we should do.  Many hands make light work.
We did all the cooking and cleaning last year with very little organization and it wasn't that bad.

Group meeting this Thursday 6/12!!!

We will be meeting this Thursday 6/12 in my classroom at 7pm. 

It will be a brief meeting.  We will:

Collect any other final payments/paperwork

Talk about transit to and from Frontier and Logan Airport

Discuss accommodations and excursions for our trip

Answer any other questions people may have before the summer begins and things get crazy

Let me know if you can't make the meeting and I can pass the info along here!

Joe

Last Payment Due June 6!

As we are approaching the end of the school year, we are also nearing the end of payments. I said previously that the final payment of $349 would be due June 6. However, it's OK if you don't make that date as long as I receive it before June 20. I have been holding on to your deposits and am about to deposit all of them.

ALSO:

We need to have another meeting before school ends. It will center around housing and group excursions. Please attend so you can voice your opinions! We have narrowed the search down to three houses, all of which are located on the Pacific coast. In terms of excursions, most of our adventures are already finalized. These include: zip lining, hiking up Masaya volcano, trip to the Masaya markets, boat tour of Lake Nicaragua and the excursion to Coyotepe, the decommissioned political prison. After that, we have some options. First, we could charter a fishing boat for a day on the Pacific. We could also snorkel, surf or just chill in hammocks. I will keep you informed as I set a date for this meeting.

$570 Pioneer Valley Travel money!!!

This is a reminder to get a $570 check made out to "Pioneer Valley Travel" to me as soon as possible so that I can pay for our block of flights!

Any questions?  Let me know!