Shit! This is going to cost isn't it?

[Ormirian]

10 days here

DS1 has been asked to go in 2012. The school fund raises for pupils to go but even so it's going to be expensive. Fees of $699 plus flights and hotels for the additional 3 days.

Anyone got any experience of this place? He's interested in aero engineering and I think would love this.

We have a meeting on 24th but don't want to tell DS about it until we've found out costs.

I have no idea about this, Orm, but it looks like you'll need to get started with the raffles, sponsored swims, car washing.............

It does look rather fab, though.

Sounds fun. Would it be useful?

Useful? I guess so in a roundabout way but I don;t think that is the only yardstick.

pol - I was thinking of how to raise the dosh. We can afford some of it but DS should be responsible for earning some of it I think.

why not ring and ask about cost? say you don't want to go to meeting if the amount is impossible.

my dd had the opportunity to do a world challenge thing at her state school- but i refused to go to meeting until i had a figure £3000!!!. no point in torturing myself further i decided. suggestion was that each dc could raise it by sponsorship. unless you are well connected and have a huge network i could not figure out how the average kid could do this.

i think that i would and i bet other parents have!

Thanks rising. I do think they should have given some indication of cost in the letter with the proviso that it's not a final amount. I will have to try to get someone to talk to - the name on the letter was the G&T co-ordinator who teaches maths and can never be reached on the phone! Perhaps an email.

at 3000..... That's the budget for 2 family holidays in our house.

According to DS it's going to be just over 1000 for each child. But they are expected to raise a big chunk of it themselves as a group. Any ideas apart from the inevitable bag - packing in supermarkets?

Car washing?

I knew a group of students who did a deal with Dunkin Donuts and sold them within school to raise money (teachers love donuts).

I thought about car-washing. Perhaps in school one Saturday - and sell refreshments. Would it be cheating to approach my company for corporate sponsorship for some of the cost?

My DD has done this and she had a fabulous time - its very well run and the activities build to the final all day space mission in a simulator. There is plenty of science and maths involved and it went into DD's personal statement for her application for maths at university this year.

We paid small monthly amounts for ages to cover the cost. If you have any questions just ask!

Orm, I don't think it's cheating - I was wondering last night if there were any local firms you could approach for money.

How old is he?

He should definitely be responsible for some of the fundraising - not just doing what you say but taking some initiative himself in coming up with ideas.

Car washing, dog-walking, babysitting even?

If it's in 2012 he has time to wash neighbours' cars every few weeks, mow their lawns every week in summer, etc.

webwiz - thanks. So glad to hear from someone who has experience of this. It does sound fantastic and TBH I am so chuffed he was chosen. 12 chosen out of 120ish in the year.

trillian - I get the impression that they group as a whole has to fund raise not just individual pupils. But I take the point! Mummy needs to butt out and if he really wants to go he has to make the effort

Oh no, Mummy doesn't need to butt out, but I do think that if he wants to go then he needs to show some initiative, otherwise he can't want to go that much can he?

Sponsorship definitely not cheating btw :)

DD2's school took about 25 of them I think (it was autumn 2008 when she was in year 11). The cost was in the region of £1100 but we did get 18 months to raise the money and DD2 didn't get much for her birthday or Christmas during that time. I would certainly recommend the experience but it is expensive.

Rotary clubs and the like often give money for trips like this. You just go back afterwards and give them a talk.

Thanks jicky - that's interesting. I will look into it. At least I will suggest to DS that he looks into it (better trillian? )

Oh and btw DH isn't convinced He tends to have a different view of making sacrifices for the DC to me - I think it's a variety of the 'when I were a lad' thing But he's agreed to come to the meeting.

DH was the same Ormirian but this was a rare occasion when he was actually convinced it was worth it.

£1680!