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The Kaleidoscope Blog

Top 5 international band festivals
Top 5 International Band Festivals (and A Bonus!)

The world is waiting to welcome your students to its most acclaimed venues!  Here are our picks for the top 5 best international band festivals for student performances. St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Cork Lush green landscape and the strains of the bagpipes beckon you to share in the Irish revelry of St. Patrick’s Day.  […]

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what do teens want from a class trip
What Do Teens Want from the Class Trip?

Generation Z and Your Class Trip The current generation of teens is far better traveled than previous ones and have different expectations for their trips.  What do teens want from the class trip?  It’s all about authentic travel and unique experiences with friends! In fact, a recent study showed that Gen Z is looking to […]

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The Band Should Go to Buffalo
The Band Should Go to Buffalo

(A True Story) My high school senior’s band is planning a trip.  The usual options were tossed around at our zoom booster meeting but with no real resolution.  When we finally wrapped up without a decision, I shared a bit of the discussion with my son.  His casual response was unexpected…  “We should skip the […]

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Perform in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day
Perform in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day

Marching bands – it’s your lucky day!  If you’ve been waiting to perform in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day, now is the time to plan for 2026-27 and beyond! Find out how your marching band can perform in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, or Sligo for St. Patrick’s Day. Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day Lush green landscape […]

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class trip in back-to-school plans
Don’t Forget the Class Trip In Your Back-to-School Plans

In teacher speak, the 4th of July signals the end of summer. Any teacher will tell you that once the fireworks are over, the mind jumps back into planning and prep mode for the next school year. The short summer break has refreshed and energized you, allowing for a new perspective and excitement toward the […]

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5 tips to plan a student trip
5 Pro Tips to Plan A Student Trip

Planning a student trip is a BIG job!  As a teacher, you already have a million tasks on your plate each day.  The logistics of moving kids from Point A to Point B falls somewhere around 749,000… To help make the process a lot easier, here are 5 tips you need to know when you […]

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Teen Travel Trends
4 Fabulous Teen Travel Trends

Benefits of Teen Travel Updated August 2022 We are raising our teens to take their places in an increasingly global society.  To be successful, we need to allow them to explore it!  Teens are amazingly inquisitive, responsible, and capable young adults.  Travel builds their confidence, helps them connect with people of diverse backgrounds, and positively […]

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Fresh KA Faces
4 Reasons Maryland is Absolutely Awesome for Student Groups

Growing up in Pittsburgh, a school trip to Washington, DC was practically a rite of passage.  It was close, inexpensive, and checked all the curricular boxes.  However, with recent closures and new requirements for visiting  (like timed-entry tickets for the Smithsonian Museums), it might be time to refresh the standard DC itinerary.  Here are 4 […]

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bus vs. plane
Don’t Miss the Bus – Motorcoaches are in Short Supply for 2022

Motorcoaches are in Short Supply If you’re planning a student trip this spring, don’t miss the bus!  Motorcoaches are in short supply for 2022.  Across the United States, there are roughly 3,000 private bus companies. Most are small, family-owned businesses that handle a variety of transportation services, including student travel.  Typically, they average annual collective […]

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Plan Your Student Trip to Universal Orlando™
Plan Your Student Trip to Universal Orlando™

Each year, student groups converge in Orlando to visit its world-famous theme parks.  However, with so many groups now traveling, many are finding it harder to book time in some of them.  If you want some fun in the sun, an awesome learning experience, or a great performance venue, plan your student trip to Universal […]

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Gradventure 2022
Plan Your Gradventure 2025 Trip Now

Universal Studios™ Orlando and Universal’s Islands of Adventure™ wrap up the school year in style when they host Gradventure 2025- an end-of-year celebration JUST for middle school students!  Both parks are open for students to have the times of their lives! What is Gradventure 2025? Universal Studios™ Orlando invites middle school student groups from across […]

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Plan A Student Trip This Fall
5 Reasons to Plan A Student Trip This Fall

You’ll ‘Fall’ in Love! The pandemic has given many of us a chance to think about things differently. The way we’ve always done things has gone out the window, making room for new and exciting possibilities!  The same holds for planning your student trip.  If you always plan a spring trip to the same destination, […]

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