First of all, let me vouch for the high quality of GTR... it is a great regional. Not that I've seen a bad regional yet, but GTR is outstanding, especially in "super regional" years. In fact over the past four years we've flown across the continent four times to be part of the show, and this year will likely be our fifth. If you happen to have a chance to make it to Niagara Falls, too, well then so much the better.
Second of all, thank you for the reminder about passports, as the rules for entering the USA are getting stricter all the time. While Americans are generally welcome to come up to Canada without a passport (and always have been) it is ironically getting home that is an issue.
Fortunately school groups have been deemed to be "low risk". I quote:
"
Will children be required to present passports under the rule?
As announced by the departments on Feb. 22, 2007, U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 16 and children age 18 and under traveling in designated school or youth groups could carry birth certificates. U.S. children could also present Consular Reports...."
The plan to get passports for all team members is a good idea, but judging from the above it should not be mandatory. Some other things you want to consider when competing internationally are:
1) Medical Insurance
2) Parental consent, particularly in the case of children of divorced parents... consent from both parents is typically required to cross an international border. (Although no one has checked on that the last three years for us.)
3) Non USA/Canadian citizens... may need to get VISA clearances early. We have had a situation where one student did not get his VISA cleared up in time and had to stay home, and another where he was listed on his mother's VISA... she had to travel with him. (She had a great time, by the way.)
4) You'll think I'm joking... but ask if anyone has a criminal record. I asked as joke once, and am glad I did. One of our members, unknown to anyone on the team, had done something stupid a year or two earlier and could have been very embarassed if they had checked him out at the border. Crossing a border with a criminal record... even for minor crimes committed as a youth is not something to be taken lightly.
5) Watch for the "roaming" fees on your cell phones...
Hope to see you in Toronto in the spring,
Jason