Agreement

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• Review our Field Trip Policies before your trip. By booking this trip you acknowledge that you understand and agree to our policies.

 

Confirmation & Day of Contact 

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• Ensure you have replied to confirmation emails sent by the Education Coordinator confirming your trip. If we have not heard from you and received your waivers two weeks before your trip, we will have to cancel your booking to provide the opportunity to other schools. We try to accommodate as many schools during the school year as we can.

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• Share the cell phone number for the teacher attending the trip. If we are unable to find you, or you miss the ferry, we need to be able to contact you.

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Change or Cancel Trip

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• You must change or cancel your booking at least 2 weeks prior to your trip. 

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• Requests to reschedule field trip time or date are generally unable to be accommodated. We maintain a long waitlist for field trip requests.  

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• Please read our Field Trip Policies for inclement weather information.

 

Liabilities & Release Waiver

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• Make sure every student has signed a waiver​​

  • ​Liabilities & Release Waiver (English).

  • Liabilities & Release Waiver (Spanish)​

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As of March 2024: You MUST scan and send waivers at least 2 weeks before your trip. If you do not, we will have to cancel your trip.

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Preparation for Students
 

• Remind students to wear weather appropriate clothing and closed toed shoes.

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• Students must bring a packed lunch and a water bottle. Drinking water is available on site to refill bottles but we do not have cups. ​

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Important Note: It is a 15-20-minute walk from the ferry to the garden. Ensure your students and chaperones will be able to walk 15-20 minutes each way in addition to the hour moving around the garden in all kinds of weather.

*Please let us know your ADA needs so we can work to accommodate you.

 

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Chaperones
 

• Inform teachers and chaperones attending the trip that they may be asked to assist students with certain tasks and behavior management.

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• Inform chaperones of educational class field trip expectations including not pulling students away from the class to do individual photoshoots during field trip activities. Individual and family activities are available on weekends.

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Itinerary

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10am Field Trip 

10:00-10:10am Ferry ride from Manhattan 

10:10-10:30am Walk to the Teaching Garden 

10:30-11:30am Programming 

11:30am-12:00pm Lunch 

12:00-12:20pm Walk to Ferry 

12:45-1:00pm Ferry ride from Governors Island to Manhattan 

 

11am Field Trip 

11:00-11:10am Ferry ride from Manhattan 

11:10-11:30am Walk to the Teaching Garden 

11:30-12:00pm Lunch 

12:00am-1:00pm Programming 

1:00-1:20pm Walk to Ferry 

1:45-2:00pm Ferry ride from Governors Island to Manhattan

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*Classes may choose to take a later return ferry to explore the island and maximize their experience. The return ferry to Manhattan does not check tickets, so classes may choose to stay longer after their programming. Plan your full visit by visiting Govisland/planyourvisit.

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Timing

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• Double-check your registration prior to your trip to ensure you arrive in time for the correct ferry. You will either take the 10am or the 11am ferry to Governors Island.

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• If you are late, we are unable to extend your class programming. To keep the garden operational, staff performs daily maintenance. Late classes will have their program length reduced or cancelled entirely depending on staff workload for the day.

 

Ferry Information

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• Classes should arrive at the ferry terminal at least 15 minutes prior to the ferry departure time (arrive by 9:45am for the 10am ferry or 10:45am for the 11am ferry). The ferry runs on time. Teachers assume full responsibility for missing the ferry or arriving after the ferry is at capacity.

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• We will send you a ferry reservation a week before your trip. The Governors Island Ferry is located at 10 South St. New York, NY.

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• Upon arrival at the ferry terminal, inform security who you are and explain you are going to visit GrowNYCs teaching garden.

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• Once you arrive to Governors Island, please wait for our staff to walk you to the garden. Look for the GrowNYC logo and check your phone regularly. 

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Brooklyn Ferry

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Please note, tickets for the Brooklyn ferry are not covered by GrowNYC. You will have to purchase them before or on the day of your trip. The ferry times for this service are different. Please notify the Education Coordinator if you are using this ferry. Visit NYCFerry to plan accordingly.

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Pre-Visit Material

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We have many resources and curricula available for educators to use pre/post visit or on the day of your field trip. View those resources here.

Staying on the Island

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• Governors Island is open to the public daily, year- round. Classes may choose to stay longer on the island to enjoy the playground, forts, hammocks, and more. Please let the Education Coordinator know if your class will be taking an early ferry and getting to the garden independently. 

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• Follow these directions to the teaching garden if you are arriving independently and notify the Education Coordinator of your itinerary. 

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