Toronto, Canada Trip • June 2018
The Valley Bands will be traveling to Toronto, Canada for an exciting opportunity to take their musical talents beyond the borders of our nation. This trip will occur June 15-21, 2018.
Please see the tabs below for information on the payment schedule, important details, and the trip itinerary. Contact Terry and Michelle Montgomery at bandtrip@valleybands.org with any specific questions about the trip.
Passport
All students, chaperones, and staff members need a passport for the trip to Canada (the Passport card is ok). All students should have their passport for the trip by now. Each student will carry their own passport on the trip. We need a photocopy of the passport on an 8 ½” x 11” piece of paper by April 15.
Note: If your student is not a U.S. citizen and/or will be traveling with a passport from another country, please tell us immediately – so that we can work through any additional details that might be required.
Consent to Travel Abroad
Every student will need to have a form signed and NOTARIZED by ALL Custodial and NonCustodial Parent(s) and Legal Guardian(s) – this is a legal requirement for a minor to leave the United States. Most banks will notarize forms, as will several other places. If you have any problems getting the form notarized, please contact us. Several parents have agreed to help out.
This form is available at the link below and will be due on April 15. Although we realize that a few students may be 18 at the time of travel, this form is required of all students.
Medical Form
We will need new medical form from every student. The form is available at the link below.
Please use contact information that will be relevant when we are traveling.
This form (page 2) must include all medicine that the student will be taking on the trip. We need this completed form by April 15. Please attach a copy of your student’s insurance card medical form.
FORMS, FORMS, FORMS
These forms are due on April 15:
- Copy of Passport on 8 ½ X 11 piece of paper (black and white copy is fine)
- Consent to travel signed by all parents – NOTARIZED
- New Medical Form
- Copy of Insurance Card (both sides)
Please turn in all of these forms together to Mr. Waymire at Valley or Mrs. Beeman at Valley Southwoods
New Info! June 14 Preview Concert. There will be a preview concert for the two Toronto Bands at 6pm at Valley. The call time for the students is 5pm.
Luggage. In addition to their instrument and music, students may bring the following on the on the trip:
• A reasonably sized suitcase (stored under the bus)
• A school sized backpack (this must fit under your feet on the bus)
• Purse
We reserve the right to define “reasonably sized.” All luggage and instruments must fit on the busses since we will not be taking an equipment truck.
What to Pack. The historical temperature in Toronto in June is high of 75 degrees and low of 60. Students should be prepared for both sun and rain as many of our days are scheduled rain or shine. All students should be prepared with a coat or sweatshirt for temperatures that may be cooler than a typical Iowa June day. Ponchos/umbrellas are also recommended.
On Saturday June 16, all students must wear “Valley” T-Shirts while in the Cedar Point Amusement Park. These T-shirts can be Marchmasters, band, athletics or generic Valley but need to be clearly distinguishable as Valley apparel.
Baggage and Medicine Drop Off. All suitcases, musical instruments, and medicine must be check-in at the Band Hall immediately following the concert on June 14. Please remember it is against state and school policy for students to carry any medicine on the trip – all must be carried by and handled by the Band Directors for the duration of the trip. These medicines MUST be turned in on Thursday, June 14.
Exchanging for Canadian $. The tour company recommend that the students wait to exchange their money until they arrive in Canada. They can exchange US $ at the border and at banks. Students should also be able to withdraw CAN $ from ATMs (just like cell phones – check with your ATM provider). For a more in-depth look at exchanging money, check out this link – http://traveltips.usatoday.com/use-money-canada-15630.html.
Spending Money. There are 9 instances when students are responsible for paying for their own meals (including the full day at the amusement park). At least theoretically, a US $ should go a bit further in Canada, the tour company recommends $15 for each meal that is purchased on their own – so something around $135 for meals.
Emergency Contact Numbers. The emergency contact phone numbers on the trip will be Terry Montgomery @ 515-343-4021 and Michelle Montgomery @ 515-321-8261. The emergency email is bandtrip@valleybands.org
And information you’ve heard before …
Passport. All students, chaperones, and staff members need a passport for the trip to Canada (the Passport card is ok). All students will need to show their passport to board the bus. Each student will carry their own passport on the trip. We need a photocopy of the passport on an 8 ½” x 11” piece of paper by April 15.
Note: If your student is not a U.S. citizen and/or will be traveling with a passport from another country, please tell us immediately – so that we can work through any additional details that might be required.
Consent to Travel Abroad. Every student will need to have a form signed and NOTARIZED by ALL Custodial and NonCustodial Parent(s) and Legal Guardian(s) – this is a legal requirement for a minor to leave the United States. Most banks will notarize forms, as will several other places. If you have any problems getting the form notarized, please contact us. Several parents have agreed to help out.
This form is attached and will be due on April 15. Although we realize that a few students may be 18 at the time of travel, this form is required of all students.
Medical Form. We will need new medical form from every student. Please use contact information that will be relevant when we are traveling.
This form (page 2) must include all medicine that the student will be taking on the trip. We need this completed form by April 15. Please attach a copy of your student’s insurance card medical form.
Cell Phones / Data Plans. We know that our students likely cannot survive, or even talk to the person sitting next to them on the bus, without their cell phones. Every family should check their plan coverage to make sure their students’ phone will work in Toronto without any costly surprises.
FRIDAY, JUNE 15
8:00 PM Motor coaches arrive at Valley High School; begin loading
3650 Woodland Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 633-4000
9:00 PM Load motor coaches; depart for Sandusky, OH (621 miles; 11 hours driving time plus 1
hour for meal stop, plus 1 hour for time zone change)
SATURDAY, JUNE 16
AM Breakfast en route (student cost)
10:00 AM Arrive in Sandusky at Cedar Point Amusement Park
1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, OH 44870
419.627.2350
Spend the day at Cedar Point, the roller coaster capital of the world!
Check out! Top Thrill Dragster, Millennium Force, Gemini and many more!
PM Lunch at the park (student c0st)
Don’t miss! Raptor, Rougarou, & Wicked Twister!
PM Dinner at the park (student cost)
8:00 PM Group meets at the motor coaches; load motor coaches
8:15 PM Depart for the Comfort Inn
5909 Milan Rd., US 2 & US 250, Sandusky, OH 44870
419.621.0200
8:45 PM Arrive at your hotel – check in
SUNDAY, JUNE 17
7:00 AM Breakfast at the hotel
8:00 AM Check out of your hotel; load motor coaches
8:30 AM Depart for Greenfield Village near Dearborn, MI (111 miles; 2.5 hours driving time)
20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, MI 48124-5029
313.982.6001
11:00 AM Arrive in Dearborn, MI at Greenfield Village
Greenfield Village is a vast outdoor museum spread across more than 80 acres, a place where America’s past feels like right now. Just outside of Detroit, Michigan; there are 83 authentic historic structures, from the lab where Thomas Edison gave the world light to the workshop where the Wright Brothers gave us wings and the building where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. Visit the home where Noah Webster wrote the first American dictionary and the farmhouse where Henry Ford grew up.
PM Lunch at Greenfield Village (student cost)
1:30 PM Walk to the Henry Ford Museum
1:45 PM Arrive at the Henry Ford Museum
Looking for inspiring things to do? From race cars to freedom rides, modular houses to microprocessors, the wide-ranging exhibits of the Henry Ford Museum bring you face to face with real things that have the power to inspire, inform and engage you in ways no image or description can do on its own.
5:00 PM The museum closes – head to your motor coaches
5:30 PM Depart for dinner at Traffic Jam & Snug
511 West Canfield, Detroit, MI 48201
313.831.9470
6:00 PM Arrive at your restaurant
6:15 PM Enjoy a group dinner
7:30 PM Load motor coaches; depart for the Comfort Inn
20061 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48124
313.436.9600
8:00 PM Arrive at your hotel
Check in – relax – lights out!
MONDAY, JUNE 18
6:30 AM Breakfast at your hotel
7:30 AM Check out of your hotel; load motor coaches
8:00 AM Depart for Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada
(251 miles, 5 hours driving time, plus 1 hour for meal stop, plus 1 hour for border
crossing)
PM Lunch en route (student cost)
3:00 PM Arrive Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Niagara Falls is far more than a natural phenomenon. Come and see what makes Niagara Falls one of the world’s favorite destinations!
3:30 PM Walk to the Journey Behind the Falls
6650 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 3E8, Canada
Elevators transport you down to observation decks right at the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Walk behind the Falls and feel the thunder of Niagara first-hand.
4:30 PM Arrive at the Hornblower
Take a boat ride on the Hornblower for an up close and personal view at the foot of Niagara Falls for a wet and wild view of the Falls from 13 stories below!
6:00 PM Boat ride ends
PM Afterward walk to Clifton Hill (student cost)
Clifton Hill is just one block to the falls and the beautiful Queen Victoria Park. When you visit Niagara Falls be sure to discover all the fun exploring the great attractions and amusements on Clifton Hill. Attractions include Dinosaur Park Mini Golf, Sports Zone Bar and Games, Ripley’s Museum, Movieland Wax Museum and the Great Canadian Midway.
6:30 PM Group meets at Rainforest Cafe
6:45 PM Group dinner at Rainforest Cafe
9:00 PM Stay a little bit later and view Niagara Falls Illuminations
Every evening beginning at dusk the Falls are lit in the colors of the rainbow – don’t miss the unmatched beauty of the Falls at night
8:30 PM Load motor coaches; depart for Toronto (79 miles, 1 .5 hours driving time)
10:00 PM Arrive at the Hilton Garden Inn
100 Traders Blvd E, Mississauga, ON L4Z 2H7, Canada
+1 905.890.9110
TUESDAY, JUNE 19
7:45 AM Breakfast at the hotel
8:45 AM Load motor coaches; depart for the Flora McCrea Auditorium at the Timothy Eaton
Memorial Church 230 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M4V 1R5, Canada
9:30 AM Arrive at your workshop site
10:00 AM The Valley High School Band participates in a clinic at the University of Toronto
(Confirmed with Jeff Reynolds 12/16/17)
11:30 AM Load motor coach; transfer to Eaton Centre
220 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 2H1, Canada
+1 416.598.8560
12:30 PM Enjoy shopping and lunch at the Eaton Centre
The Easton Centre, Toronto’s preeminent downtown mall, covers several city blocks as it boasts more than 250 stores in a bright, airy atmosphere in central, downtown Toronto.
PM Lunch in area (student cost)
2:00 PM Walk to the Hockey Hall of Fame Museum
30 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1X8, Canada
+1 416.360.7765
2:30 PM Explore the museum
The world’s one and only! Experience the game that defines Canada and a sport that has been adopted by over 80 countries. Spread across over 60,000 square feet, the Hall of Fame offers something for everyone!
3:30 PM Walk to the CN Tower
301 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6, Canada
4:00 PM View the city from the observation deck of the CN Tower
The world’s 5th tallest tower and free standing structure, standing over 1,815 ft.
5:30 PM Load motor coaches; depart for the Famous People Players Theatre
343 Evans Avenue, Toronto, ON M8Z 1K2
(416) 532-1137
TUESDAY, JUNE 19, cont.
5:45 PM Arrive at the Famous People Players Theatre
Famous People Players are dedicated to helping those who are developmentally challenged, performances include achievements from those who have dared to believe in themselves. From the moment you step into the venue and are greeted by one of the gracious hosts, you’ll experience a splendor to all of your senses. The Wall of Fame greets you with photographs of the many believers and contributors to our exceptional mission; helping people to believe in their dreams and believe in themselves.
6:00 PM Doors open
7:00 PM Enjoy dinner
You’ll be escorted to your dining table, savor the company you are with and
take in an atmosphere of camaraderie, hope and achievement.
8:00 PM The Show begins!
Enter the innovative Phil Collins Theatre and as the lights dim, a troupe of exceptional performers await you. The one hour performances, each a unique inspiration in themselves, celebrate famous people and their exceptional achievements through a combination of long-loved music, dance, electrifying special effects and endearing life-sized characters.
9:00 PM A Sweet Encore.
You’ll be served coffee and dessert, you may even find that you recognize a face or two as they are the very same performers who just entertained you on stage minutes earlier. A perfectly sweet ending to an enchanting night.
9:30 PM Load motor coaches; return to your hotel for the evening
10:00 PM Arrive at your hotel
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20
8:00 AM Breakfast at the hotel
9:00 AM Load motor coaches; depart for Ontario Science Center
770 Don Mills Rd, North York, ON M3C 1T3, Canada
9:30 AM Arrive at Ontario Science Center and explore!
Visit one of Canada’s most famous attractions! With new temporary exhibitions, science demonstrations, hundreds of interactive experiences, and new films under the IMAX® Dome we’ve got something for all ages!
11:30 AM The Valley High School Band performance at the Ontario Science Center
(Location in hall way, lunch area, grand hall, outside in the reception area, good for choirs, stringed orchestra and outside for bands pending weather)
12:30 PM Load motor coaches; depart for St. Lawrence Market
93 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3, Canada
+1 416.392.7219
1:00 PM Arrive at the St. Lawrence market – time to explore the market
It’s one of the world’s great markets! The mothers, sons, fathers and daughters whose hard work and passion for food and their craft make up the collective story of the Market. You’re here, and part of the story. There’s so much to see, taste and discover – now, where to begin?
2:30 PM Load motor coaches; depart for the Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, Canada
3:00 PM Arrive at the Royal Ontario Museum
Explore the museum
No trip to Toronto is complete without a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum – Canada’s largest museum of world cultures and natural history located in the heart of downtown. Permanent exhibits include Ancient Egypt, precious gemstones, and dinosaur fossils and castings.
5:30 PM Load motor coaches; depart for the Mariposa Cruises
207 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 1A7, Canada
+1 416.203.0178
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, cont.
5:45 PM Arrive at the Mariposa Cruises pier
A Mariposa Dinner Cruise is truly a unique dining experience. Cruise the Toronto harbor aboard one of our seven magnificent ships, watch the sunset and experience the sights and sounds of the city’s waterfront and breathtaking skyline. Your memorable evening includes a 3-hour cruise through Toronto’s spectacular Harbor front and a delicious buffet-style dinner prepared fresh by our Chef. Dance the night away under starry skies with our professional DJ.
6:00 PM Boarding
7:00 PM Set sail for dinner and dancing in the Toronto Harbor
Dinner to include crudité platter, assorted breads, Caesar salad, choice for four cheese lasagna or chicken penne pasta and dessert selection. Includes 2 soft drink/juice tickets.
10:00 PM Return to port; load motor coaches to return to the hotel
10:30 PM Arrive at your hotel
THURSDAY, JUNE 21
7:00 AM Breakfast at the hotel
8:00 AM Check out of your hotel; load motor coaches
8:30 AM Depart for home (843 miles, 15 hours driving time plus 2 hours for meal stops, plus 1
hour for border crossing minus, hour for time change)
PM Lunch en route (student cost)
PM Dinner en route (student cost)
NOTE Move watches back one hour for change to Central Time Zone
1:30 AM Approximate arrival at Valley High School
Fee Payment Schedule
Non Refundable Deposit $200 May 15, 2017
First Payment $250 September 1, 2017
Second Payment $250 November 1, 2017
Third Payment $250 February 1, 2018
Fourth Payment $250 April 1, 2018
TOTAL $1200
Payments can be made via multiple methods: Check, Credit/Debit Card, Available Band Credit. Credit/debit payments can be made through Charms. Please mail checks payable to Valley Band Boosters to Craig Graves, Valley Band Boosters Treasurer, 409 Valley West Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50265