Atheneum to Iceland

Trip Proposal Update: Spring Intensives 2009

A meeting was held last Friday  (January 30) after school to continue planning the Atheneum Spring Intensive Trip to Iceland.

Atheneum parent, Mead Treadwell, has been to Iceland many times and was most helpful in our planning of the trip itinerary.  We put together a tentative and flexible schedule for students and parents to review and give feedback for further planning.

Proposed Trip Dates: March 14-27 (after Spring Break)

Approximate Cost: $2000-2400 per participant

Our travel agent has provided us with the current group rate for airfare at approximately $1100 RT (Anchorage-Boston-Rekyevik) based on a minimum of fifteen participants.

We are planning to rent a van and let “Kevin the Red” be responsible for driving a 15 passenger van. This way we have access and freedom to explore the spread out capital city of Rekyevik.  We will spend the first 4-6 days there, and then travel along the coastal roads perhaps circumnavigating the entire country during the second week (roads and energy permitting).

We discussed including: The Golden Circle Tour, the Blue Lagoon, The Energy Museum, National Museum, Saga Museum, The Shell Hydrogen Plant, the Geothermal Plant, “Althingi”, The “Pearl”, an aluminum plant, and fishing villages.

Our goal will be to study four major themes of the country: energy, fishing, government, and farming. We also discussed including an outdoor activity like hiking or horseback riding.

We can stay in hostels and International Hotels relatively inexpensively. Fees will be associated with some of the tours, but we have good personal connections to help with the arrangements. We anticipate the cost to be about $60-80 per day while there. The whole trip is estimated to cost between $2,000 and $2,400. The total number of people will need to absorb the cost of the van rental (s) and expenses for accompanying teacher(s).

We have heard that 4-5 parents were interested in joining this intensive. Please let us know ASAP if you are interested and/or have questions. A deposit of $100 and the registration form are required to be in the office by Friday, February 6.

The deposit is non-refundable if you decide not to go. The deposit is refundable if the school does not go or if we do not reach the minimum number to hold onto the group rates. Though we are flexible, we will be organized in order to take advantage of the best opportunities for the group. Kevin will be the first teacher to go and we prefer that two travel on international trips with the school.

The next meeting will be Wednesday, February 4 after school at 2:45pm.

All are welcome to attend!