2023 Global Community Charter School Montreal Program
| Travel Dates: | June 8, 2023 - June 11, 2023 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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Important Reminders
Passport check
Insurance Reminder
Fundraiser
Review all materials
What to Expect
Please read through all of the information below. More details will be added as your departure draws closer.
Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 8 | NY USA - MTL Canada | Arrive in Montreal on the evening and check into the stylish and convenient Hotel M Montreal. To day we will enjoy a hearty welcome dinner at one of the many delicious restaurants near the hotel, such as Restaurant "Nôtre bœuf de Grace." After dinner we will take in the world renowned Cirque du Soleil. | Hotel M Montreal |
| June 9 | MTL Canada | Start the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Take a walking tour of the historic Old Montreal, visiting iconic landmarks such as the Notre-Dame Basilica, visit the Quebec University of Montreal and if you still have some time before lunch, check the Bibliotheque BAnQ, which is close to the University. After enjoying a delicious lunch in Old Montreal, we will spend the afternoon at the Montreal Science Center, where you'll have the chance to check out the science and technology exhibitions. We will finish the day with a traditional Quebec dinner at any of the dozens of places that you can find in Montreal. After all the knowledge we got during the day, the best option is to get back to the hotel and regain energies for the next day. | Hotel M Montreal |
| June 10 | MTL Canada | Today we will take a tour of the Montreal Botanical Garden where you'll have the opportunity to admire the beauty of plants and flowers from around the world. WE will enjoy a delicious lunch in near the Olympic park. We will visit the Montreal Biodome to learn about the flora and fauna of the region. This evening we will crank the energy up again by battling the people in your group at Laser Game Evolution, as known as laser tag, so you can have an amazing time during the last evening in Montreal. | Hotel M Montreal |
| June 11 | MTL Canada - NY USA | After breakfast we will drive back to New York with unforgettable memories of your trip to Montreal. | Home |
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Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe. We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.
Hotel M Montreal
Located less than 2 minutes’ walk from Sainte-Catherine Street and a 10 minute walk from Montreal’s Latin Quarter, Hotel M Montreal offers a private rooms and dorms with private and shared bathrooms. This hotel also offers a shared kitchen and common dining area and terraces with different amenities available to all guests. All rooms offer free WiFi. Students will be accommodated according to gender.
Group Flight
| Type | Carrier | Confirmation | Pick up | Pick up Day/Time | Drop off |
| Outbound | Manhattan Executive Charter | 10027777 | Global Community Charter School, 2350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10037 | June 08, 2023 at 11:00 AM | M Montréal, 1245 Rue Saint-André, Montréal, Qc H2l 3t1, Canada |
| Inbound | Manhattan Executive Charter | 10027777 | M Montréal, 1245 Rue Saint-André, Montréal, Qc H2l 3t1, Canada | June 11, 2023 at 07:00 AM | Global Community Charter School, 2350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10037 |
Once your flight has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.
Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.
Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.
We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.
FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION
Air travel can be unpredictable. Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc. Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route. Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night. Our primary role will be to keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a quick and effective resolution.
Host Community and Project Details
Quebec City is the ideal location to truly immerse yourself in French Canadian culture. We have partnered with a local language school to provide the perfect host family experience to maximize your language learning while in Quebec City. Students will live with families which are located close to the language school near downtown. You will find that homes in Quebec City are very similar to homes in the United States. Some homes may be hundreds of years old and date back to the colonial past of Quebec, while others may be homes built within the past few decades. Quebec City is full of history and provides the perfect setting to transport yourself back in time to the early colonial days.
Packing List
Below is a sample packing list that is provided as a guideline. If something is required it will be specified, otherwise feel free to adjust as necessary. We recommend you bring one larger piece of luggage like a backpack, duffle or suitcase alongside a smaller backpack that you can use on the flights and hikes, weekend excursions and shorter activities.
“Less is more” is a packing tip we encourage for all travelers. We suggest bringing only as much as you are able to carry on your own.
Finally, a few days before departure, it’s a good idea to consult a weather forecast for your destination. If you have questions about what to bring or how to bring it, just ask!
CLOTHES
- Underwear
- Socks
- T-shirts, tank tops
- Long sleeve shirts
- Sweatshirt/sweaters
- Shorts
- Jeans/pants
- Swimsuit
- Rain jacket
- Sturdy shoes (appropriate for lots of walking)
- Sports sandals ie Chacos/Tevas etc. (optional)
- Flip flops (optional)
- Hat/s
BRING THE BASIC TOILETRIES YOU NEED PLUS:
- Sunscreen
- Face masks
- Mosquito repellent
- Band Aids and Neosporin, basic first aid kid
- Hand Sanitizer
- Medication in properly marked original container
MISCELLANEOUS
- Sense of adventure!
- Passport
- Student ID
- Sunglasses
- Journal and pen
- Simple gift for host family
- Book/s
- Camera
- Power Converter
- Debit card/US Dollars (we recommend about $50-$150, depending on amount of desired souvenirs, extra items etc.)
- Durable water bottle
- Quick-dry towel
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Deck of cards or other portable games
- French/English Dictionary
Support Team
At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional support staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find a list of the team members involved in the planning, organizing, and leadership of your program.
Gabriel Duncan
Co-Founder of Walking Tree Travel and Business Lead - Denver, CO
Colby College – B.A. International Relations and Government
While at Colby, Gabriel spent a semester in Spain at the University of Salamanca studying contemporary Spanish politics and Spanish language. He also lettered for four-years on Colby’s lacrosse team and earned All-American honors. After graduating, Gabriel hit the road. He fished commercially in Alaska, taught in Chile and China, led programs for students in Spain and Costa Rica, and traveled to over 50 countries and all 50 states in the USA. Regardless of where Gabriel is located, he is constantly haunted by his naive faith and unconditional love for Denver sports teams.
Earlham College – B.A. International Studies, Minor in Economics
Born and raised with a big family in Guatemala, JP spent seven years living and studying in the US where he was exposed to highly diverse communities. JP worked as a Wilderness Leader guiding expeditions in the Southwest of the US. After spending two years in New Mexico studying the International Baccalaureate, he moved to Indiana where he spent the next four years at Earlham College. His passion for international affairs brought him to spend a semester in China, and several other Southeast Asian countries. During his time abroad, he spent his summers traveling and backpacking through 15+ different countries, and participating in several service projects. Today JP is based in Costa Rica where he works full time with the Walking Tree team. Juan Pablo also enjoys hosting friends and travelers coming to visit. He’s always down for an exciting road-trip around the country, or even better, around Latin America. He is a long time art and design enthusiast, and a photography aficionado.
Nicolas Hoffmann
Program Leader
Universidad Andrés Bello – BA in Business Administration
Nicolas, originally from Chile, finished his high school in Quebec City back in 2005. It was his first and full Canadian immersion. He spent a year learning French with his “adoptive” family (which he still has a close relationship with and calls his Canadian family), discovered a new culture and made friends for life from all over the world. This experience showed him how similar people are, even from 2 different countries and cultures. He also experienced how easy it is to learn a new language when you are totally immersed in a new environment. After getting his diploma, he tried to be part of the Chilean labour market, but it made him realize that his place was outside of Chile, bringing him back to Canada to establish himself for good. Now settled in Quebec, he works for a firm specialized in international recruitment. Nicolas has traveled in 10 countries and thinks it’s never too late to explore and discover the world.
Rébecca Dubé
Program Leader
Laval University – BA in Psychology, Social Work and Orientation
Rebecca DUBE is a immigration consultant living in Quebec city. Born in the west indies on an French island name Guadeloupe. She love jazz and gospel and movies. Mom of 3 kids she lives in Canada since 2004 , she came for my studies at Université Laval. She works with people all around the word and loves it.With a deep passion for travel and a thirst for exploration, our candidate brings a wealth of experience in guiding and supporting diverse groups. Her extensive knowledge of various cultures, traditions, and destinations ensures that every journey becomes an unforgettable experience, filled with exciting discoveries and remarkable encounters.
Group Roster
Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.
- 1 Annibel Heinsen Devora
- 2 ARIANNIE BONILLA
- 3 Bernice Yenkey
- 4 Cristian Alvarez
- 5 Darian Redman
- 6 Deziah Thurton
- 7 Elyse Tavares
- 8 Emily Nunez
- 9 Evelyn Urrutia Patricio
- 10 Hawhao Cisse
- 11 Ian Morel Torres
- 12 Isaac Luna valerio
- 13 Isabella Perez Rodriguez
- 14 Jaquari Brown
- 15 Jasmin Candelario
- 16 Jason Santiago
- 17 John Thornton
- 18 Juliana Nunez
- 19 Kenyatta Colbert
- 20 Laisa Perez Rodriguez
- 21 Liam Pina Baez
- 22 Liane Mattti
- 23 Luzmaya Gonzalez Nazario
- 24 Maria Pereyra
- 25 Mariam Niakate
- 26 Sophia Read
Blog and Communication
During travel we will work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blogs and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program. Students regularly contribute to these posts, giving parents a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will receive an email notification when the first blog is posted, after which we recommend you check in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this page.
Beyond this proactive approach to communication during the trip, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants semi-regular access to WiFi so you can also expect to communicate with your traveler directly. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.
GLC Curriculum
Walking Tree has developed a curriculum of activities meant to help travelers get the most out of their trip before departure, during travel and after they return home. These simple and engaging activities are meant to spark discussion, frame experiences, and prepare participants to travel ethically and effectively both on this trip and on future adventures.For more information about student learning objectives and the format of the curriculum, click on the ‘learn more’ button below.
To view and complete the Pre-Program Activities, visit our online portal at the button below.
Standards of Behavior
In order to run a safe and successful program, it is important that we create an environment of trust, security and respect. All individuals participating in our programs are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of behavioral conduct.
ABSOLUTE DISMISSAL
- Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Associating with participants while they are in possession of, or are consuming, or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety.
- This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE
- Getting a piercing or tattoo.
- Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
- Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
- Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
- Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
- Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
- Breaking group rules.
These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.
Health and Safety
We strongly recommend visiting the CDC Canada website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult with your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before travel.
Our in-country staff prepare meticulously for all programs. Walking Tree will register our programs and travelers with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in case of emergency. In country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families via in depth interviews and home visits, and keep up on important current events in the region.
Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in a multi-day leadership training retreat. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff and U.S.-based staff.
We receive medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we are able to meet every students’ needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues that you did not list during your initial registration process. Program Leaders will also hold an online information session before your departure, as well as an arrival orientation in-country, in order to give participants important instructions on food safety, hygiene and preventing injury and illness. Leaders and in-country staff always respond immediately to any mental, physical or emotional health issues and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.
Insurance
While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel is never without risk. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with two additional provisions: Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and Bed Rest. Detailed explanations of both provisions can be found on the link below.
To provide families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry. Begin by getting a quote here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage with CFAR included, you must purchase the plan within 21 days of your deposit/first payment. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight.