school field trips

 

 

Are you looking for a fun and educational school field trip option for your grade? Bring your students to the outdoor classroom at Refreshing Mountain, where they can experience hands-on outdoor education in a beautiful, natural setting.

Nestled in 100 acres of PA woodland, we have options that cater to Environmental Sciences, Peer-to-Peer development, and Adventure Education. Our programs are designed for group sizes of 9-20 persons per “class”, guided by professional staff, and developed by professional educators. Choose from one of our half day or full day packages, or customize an event to meet your needs (we also have overnight retreat options).

 

WHAT WE OFFER

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Hands On Experiences

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Peer Development

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

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Outdoor Adventure

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Half Day Event

Note: Times vary upon availability. Group sizes affect activities and time spent on site. All schedules are customizable.

Full Day Packages Sample Schedule For Web

Full Day Event

Note: Times vary upon availability. Group sizes affect activities and time spent on site. All schedules are customizable.

SCHOOL FIELD TRIP RESOURCES

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Release and Waiver Form

For all participants of our adventure recreation activities we require the following release and waiver form to be completed, signed, and turned in at the time of arrival. Please pass along to each group member. Those under the age of 18 will need to have a parent/guardian co-sign.

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Activities Pricing- Day Event

If you are planning a day event with us, use this pricing and activities booklet to find activities perfect for your group.

*NOTE: Events booked 4 weeks or less prior to the event date may not qualify for discounts.

FAQs

What activities address PA Common Core Standards?

Our activities incorporate experiential learning techniques which coincide with many of the PA State Academic Standards ranging from Physical Education to Science.

Physical Education Standards– Our Physical Challenge Course, Climbing Tower, High Ropes, Teambuilding, GPS Nature hunt, Pedal Carts, Giant Swing, and Archery would address Section 10.4 and 10.5.

Science Education Standards– Our Nature Programs and Equestrian studies would address Section 3.1 and 3.3.

How do I MAKE A RESERVATION for a School Field Trip Event?

Contact our sales team to work out the specific date you want and to plan an itinerary.  They will email you a written quote/contract to review after that discussion.  For events costing under $500, the entire amount is due at the time of reservation.  This can be paid by check or over the phone by credit card.

For events totaling over $1,000.00, the deposit will be $500 or 25% of the total (whichever is greater).  Final payment will be due on the day of the event.

Is Parking At Refreshing Mountain FREE?

Yes, there is no cost for parking and we have ample space for busses as well as passenger vehicles.

What are the MEAL OPTIONS at Refreshing Mountain?
If you are here over a meal time, you are welcome to pack your own food and use one of our pavilions and/or the numerous picnic tables we have around the property (subject to availability.  Large groups can reserve a pavilion at no extra cost).

Groups of 20 or more can also order buffet meals or banquets from our onsite Dining Hall (advance reservations required).

During our peak season, our camp store has sandwich and snack options available to purchase.  Click here to see our store hours or you can talk to our sales team about having the store open at a custom time if you have a large group.

What is the CANCELATION POLICY for School Field Trips?

If you cancel your event at least 2 weeks before arrival, a cancel fee of 25% will be charged to your account.  Any funds that you may have paid in excess of 25% will be refunded.

Cancelation between 3-13 days before arrival will result in a cancel fee of 50% of the total costs.  Any funds you may have paid in excess of 50% will be refunded.

Cancelation within 3 days of arrival will result in billing for 100% of the total costs. (certain weather conditions provide for exceptions to this policy.  See additional FAQs for details).

What is the RAIN DATE POLICY for School Field Trips?

We do NOT schedule rain dates during the initial booking process (we presume the weather will be perfect when you are here) but in the event of bad weather, we will work with you to find another date to schedule, and/or we will issue a refund of your deposit if no alternate dates are available.

What happens if there is bad weather on the day of my field trip?

There are many safety aspects that Refreshing Mountain monitors when running adventure activities.  Certain activities must be canceled for high wind, thunder, lightning, or other extreme weather conditions.  Other activities can be run indoors in our meeting rooms, gyms, pavilions, etc.  The details of cancellation will depend a bit on which elements you have included in your event, but if Refreshing Mountain cancels any part of your event for a safety-related reason, you will receive a FULL REFUND of the canceled portion of your event.

    What happens if we arrive late for our day event?

    Every event that we host functions like a “guided tour”, with a specific start and end time.  If you arrive late, you will miss the first part of the tour and there will not be refunds issued in this situation.  Additionally, we may not be able to extend your time of departure (i.e. we will likely have other tours starting as you are ending), So, for the best experience, it is recommended that you arrive at least 15-20 minutes before your scheduled start time. This will allow the students to sign in, use the bathrooms, etc. and be ready to go promptly at your start time.

    Can you accommodate GUESTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS?

    Yes, our activities are designed to include a broad range of physical and mental abilities.  We don’t want to exclude anyone.  At the same time, there are aspects of our topography and certain safety requirements of some of our elements that can pose a challenge to guests with limited mobility and/or over 250 lbs.  We do have options that can be explored for special accommodation and we welcome a conversation about any particular needs your guests may have.  Please give us a call at 717-738-1490.

    How far in advance should we book a school field trip at Refreshing Mountain?

    Day events should generally be booked at least 6-8 weeks in advance.  Please note that for summer bookings and/or weekend bookings, there are times where we do not know our availability until about 8 weeks ahead of time.  Even so, it is a good idea to contact us well ahead of time, so that, at a minimum, we can place you on a wait list to be notified if/when space becomes available for your group.

    Is there a souvenir shop at Refreshing Mountain that my students can visit?

    Yes, we have a store with snacks, a lite lunch menu, and souvenirs.  During the summer, the store is typically open 11AM to 7PM.  During the Spring and Fall, the hours are a bit more sporadic, but if you would like your students to have access to it during your event, please let our sales team know that when you are booking your event, and we are happy to accommodate. 

    How many CHAPERONES should I plan to bring along?

    The chaperone:student ratio varies according to the ages of the students and also the types of elements you are doing, but in general, these are the ratios for your event

    K-3rd Grade: 1:3 recommended, (1:5 is the minimum)

    4th-6th Grade: 1:8 recommended, (1:10 is the minimum)

    7th Grade +: 1 adult per 15-20 students (minimum)

    What are the roles of the CHAPERONES during the event?

    RMC Staff will be responsible for all of the teaching, training, facilitation, and safety aspects of your event.  The chaperone’s role is to help maintain order and to keep students from being disruptive/distracting, so that everyone can have a wonderful experience.  If disciplinary action is warranted during the course of the event, the chaperones are tasked with identifying and addressing those situations.

    Is there a RELEASE FORM REQUIRED?

    Yes, every participant must sign a Release Form.  If the participant is under age 18, a parent/guardian MUST sign the form.  Therefore, for school groups it is necessary to process the Release Forms prior to the event.  The group organizer is responsible to collect the signed Release Forms and bring them along on the day of the event.

    Signed Release Forms must be received in our office before we will begin your event.

    What about children in grades K-3? Can they do every activity?

    Children in these grades are a bit small to do some of the ziplining, and may not be mentally ready for some of the skills required for Geocaching, Teambuilding, etc. Nevertheless, the following elements can be specifically adapted to be age appropriate for K-3: Climbing Tower, Giant Swing, Field Games, Archery, Sling Shots, Scavenger Hunt, Nature Programs, Pony Rides, Pool Use. Our sales team can talk with you more about these options and help you pick elements that will work for your age group.