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Unread 10-04-2006, 10:39
sanddrag sanddrag is offline
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

On our 7 hour bus trip we didn't have any movies but we did have a battery with inverter and a wireless/wired router and had a chat going. It was great fun. Just make sure you have a big inverter or lots of batteries and/or a really big battery and when you stop to eat, take it/them in with you to charge.

We had parents and mentors scattered throughout the bus and did no separation of any kind and everything was perfectly fine. Didn't have any movies but I'd allow up to PG-13 as long as the parents were okay with it. There are exceptions but these days I think high school kids have already seen and know about everything in R rated movies and their language is already at that level.
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Unread 10-04-2006, 10:55
Freddy Schurr Freddy Schurr is offline
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

1. Roll call every time you leave and enter the bus.
2. Quiet-time at designated time.
3. BJs is a good idea, stock up on food and water.
4. Also, check medical information on each student. Some students may need to use the rest-room every so often or have to step out of the bus for some time.
5. You are going to need a lot of entertainment for the trip. Hand-held games or actually team-building games work out best for this.
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Unread 10-04-2006, 11:26
KenWittlief KenWittlief is offline
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

If you cant come up with good movies then Tivo John Steward or other entertaining TV programs before you leave

make sure you tell the students "dont watch John Steward this week..."
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Unread 10-04-2006, 10:42
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

Quote:
Originally Posted by dlavery
"Appropriate precautions" may include: ankle shackles to keep everyone in their assigned seats, blindfolds, heavy sedation, muzzles, forcing everyone to listen to Anne Murray recordings, and confiscation of all lemon jello (don't ask).
Dave, you're forgetting ball gags and/or good ol' duct tape and socks. That will ensure quiet

I let me kids know that we will have space on the bottom of the bus available as a "time out area". Plus, we advised them to wait until the ride home to annoy us since they are going to be ours to abuse for 3 days and why make the advisors grumpier then needed.
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Unread 10-04-2006, 10:56
David55 David55 is offline
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

Quote:
Originally Posted by dlavery
Heh heh, yeah, things might be a little different in Israel. Let me just say that based on the stuff I tried to get away with while I was in high school, it is reasonable to expect that appropriate precautions should be taken with the current generation of students. "Appropriate precautions" may include: ankle shackles to keep everyone in their assigned seats, blindfolds, heavy sedation, muzzles, forcing everyone to listen to Anne Murray recordings, and confiscation of all lemon jello (don't ask).

Realistically, go with gender-based sectioning of the bus during the sleep periods, PG-rated movies or even PG-13 movies (if the parents are OK with it), and enough planned stops to let everyone stretch their legs and avoid cabin fever, and you should be fine. Finding enough G-rated movies that are reasonable and entertaining for that long may be tough - remember, you have to watch them too (after all, how many times can you watch "Barney Goes To Camp"?)! For those that will have iPods, GameBoys, or laptop computers (OK, who doesn't?), batteries will be an issue. A while back, Team 180 posted a great idea - wire up a few robot batteries to an inverter and use them to provide power to all the electronic toys on the bus. Tytus did something similar to power his X-box. Definitely something to think about!

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There is nothing they can do on a bus that they can't do when they are free in the WGCC.

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Unread 10-04-2006, 11:11
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

Considering that our bus rides to Atlanta have been at least 24 hours, a lot of movies, snacks, sleep, and then self-entertainment between the students. There is always things to do to pass the time, believe me.

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Unread 10-04-2006, 11:16
sanddrag sanddrag is offline
On to my 16th year in FRC
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

Are we the only team that does homework on the bus? And our ride (to phoenix) is only 7 hours.
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Unread 10-04-2006, 11:19
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

Quote:
Originally Posted by sanddrag
Are we the only team that does homework on the bus? And our ride (to phoenix) is only 7 hours.
Our students often take their homework with them and work on it in their hotel rooms. The bus can be a distracting and uncomfortable study environment.
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Unread 10-04-2006, 11:18
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

The longest bus trip my old team took was to the UTC regional when they held it in New Haven. However I did do a bus trip from NH to VA, and I do know what to do on bus trips and what not to do. Honestly, I think bus rules are kind of silly, and I agree with David; luckily our engineers and mentors were really laid back, and since we felt relaxed none of us "took advantage" of our freedom. To whomever said, give respect, get respect...I couldn't agree more. To the NEM's and parents who run teams, if you find bus trips or whatnot to be intolerable because of attitudes or emotions, try giving your kids some freedom, you'd be suprised how well it works.
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Unread 10-04-2006, 17:30
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Perkins
To whomever said, give respect, get respect...I couldn't agree more. To the NEM's and parents who run teams, if you find bus trips or whatnot to be intolerable because of attitudes or emotions, try giving your kids some freedom, you'd be suprised how well it works.
If at all possible, I think this is the way to go.

Since I've had to also be a chaperone (in addition to being a mentor) several times for Team 95. I explain that I have exactly two rules, and they have served me well:
  • Don't be stupid
  • Be nice to each other

Yeah, I've had a few times where I've had to point out that the students were breaking one of these, but in general it works out fine, and the students don't feel like anyone is locking them up.

Between this, and relying on the fact that the students have just as much time invested in the robot and success as the teachers/parents/mentors and don't want to screw it up, this has worked out quite well.
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Unread 10-04-2006, 23:31
JamesBrown JamesBrown is online now
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

Quote:
Originally Posted by kaszeta
If at all possible, I think this is the way to go.

Since I've had to also be a chaperone (in addition to being a mentor) several times for Team 95. I explain that I have exactly two rules, and they have served me well:
  • Don't be stupid
  • Be nice to each other

Yeah, I've had a few times where I've had to point out that the students were breaking one of these, but in general it works out fine, and the students don't feel like anyone is locking them up.

Between this, and relying on the fact that the students have just as much time invested in the robot and success as the teachers/parents/mentors and don't want to screw it up, this has worked out quite well.

I also agree with you. There are alot of things that can happen on a bus (or any other time on a trip) that would cause much more trouble then they are worth. I understand the reasoning behind separating team members. However I have always supported the idea of giving every one some freedom. 99% of the people who share seats on the way to Atlanta wont even think about doing anything in appropriate. It would be quite unfortunate if the other 1 percent ruined it for every one else. My advice would be to allow students to choose any seat the want. Mentors and Parents should be aware of what is going on, if a problem comes up then address it privately. I know on my team many of the girls are closer to the guys then they are to the other girls, this is typical of HS age kids, I would say that segregation is not necessary and may be detrimental, however this should be addressed on a team by team basis and it will come down to the maturity level of the students and will reflect the trust that they have earned.
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Unread 10-04-2006, 23:43
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

Just watch Forrest Gump like...6 times

=)
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Unread 10-04-2006, 23:46
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drawman
Just watch Forrest Gump like...6 times

=)
At least once. That is the classic long-bus-ride movie.
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Unread 11-04-2006, 00:10
KenWittlief KenWittlief is offline
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

get the video kids to take all of Tom Hanks other movies (besides Gump) and paste them all together, with a voice over: instant Forrest Gump part 2.

[Gump]: since I was a gazzillionaire, and a war hero, wouldnt you know it, I got to go to the moon on apollo 13. But not Leutenant Dan, he went to MARS!

that should be good for about 12 hours!
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Unread 11-04-2006, 18:50
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Re: Suggestions for 18 hour bus trip

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drawman
Just watch Forrest Gump like...6 times

=)
the tom hanks quote still stands. its all about the tom hanks.

the terminal is very good too. and PG. everyone will enjoy it.
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