Savannah Bound!

The easy part about going to Savannah is deciding to go… then the work begins!

I was the co-leader of a Cadette troop that traveled to Savannah in the spring of 2002. It was a great trip and we had lots of planned and unplanned adventures. Traveling with a group of Girl Scouts can be one of the best experiences that one has and I urge any troop thinking of going to make the dream a reality. What I have tried to capture here is not only the details of the trip, but all the steps, pitfalls and pleasures involved in making the journey.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

The best resource comes from requesting a booklet called ‘Birthplace Bound’ that is available for free from the Birthplace (Home of the U.S. Girl Scout Founder, Juliette Low). This booklet covers your visit to the Birthplace and special Girl Scout offers from the local area. It has an extensive list of accommodations, tours, restaurants and attractions as well as tips for visiting Savannah. There is an ‘Activity Timeline’ published in the book (and on the web site), which is very useful. (Contact information is at the end of this document.)

Make copies of the ‘Birthplace’ booklet for everyone in the troop and read it over and over and over. Then read it again. It’s easy to miss some of the fine print and small ads. Keep in mind that by the time you go on the trip, the book and prices will be outdated. Don’t assume that all advertised places are great either. (Most were!)

Brainstorming: I passed some sticky-notes around and asked each girl to write down what they wanted to do while we were in Savannah and to ‘stick’ that suggestion on a 3D poster board. Of course the board looked like a tornado had hit, but after grouping all the activities together, we had our wish list! We picked our 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd choices for the Programs offered at the Birthplace. The Programs (Special Interest Sessions) are an optional part of the Birthplace visit but a must do! We selected the Cadette ‘Victorian Venture’ program and loved it!

Timeline: When to go? We involved the parents on this one. We picked the school’s Spring Break. I called the Birthplace to see if the time slot was available. (You need to book your visit at least a YEAR in advance. Ask lots of questions!) The first date I inquired about was not available but when I asked more questions, it turns out that it was not booked SOLID but still had 17 out of 25 spaces left! We booked those spots with the understanding that the other troop got to choose the Program. Well that troop ending up canceling and we were given our 2 nd Program choice. Later, another troop cancelled, and we got our 1 st Program choice so we ended up with everything we wished for. Once we had this date, I sent in a form and a deposit in to reserve it. ($20 non-refundable March 2001)

Who Can Go: Everyone in our troop! We opened the trip up to any parents that were interested in coming with us. We had one girl that was not able to join us on the trip but we made sure that she was just involved as everyone else. The troop brought her back a t-shirt and Friendship Pin from the Birthplace. We had all participants sign an agreement and code of conduct (which I would it make much simpler next time). We also set a deadline for our final numbers and agreed that if anyone opted out of going after the deadline, then that spot would become available to be used by someone else.

Wish Budget: The method that worked best for me to create the budget was to put everything into a spreadsheet on the computer. I entered our wish list and started looking up the prices (per girl and per adult) to get to a troop total. We had already decided to drive I so did not look at other means of transportation. The biggest expense on the trip was going to be the accommodations. We looked at several options and here are some the pros and cons of the top three choices.

The wish budget now had the costs associated with what we wanted to do, where we were staying and how we were getting there. I started adding estimates for meals, taxes, tips, gas and more. After totaling this, I added 10% more to get a final total. This 10% was the ‘oops’ money. (Oops - the prices went up, Oops – Susie forgot her white shirt). Now I had a ‘Best Guess’ on the cost for the whole trip.

Now is the time to decide if you can successfully reach your goal

or if you need to revise or postpone the trip.

Tour Companies: I looked at some of the tour packages advertised in the Birthplace Bound book but decided to pass on this option. This was really a personal preference as I love traveling and have found that I can put together a ‘package’ that has more options and a lower cost. I have spoke with other leaders who loved the tour package option so you might want to check it out and let someone else do the work.

Fund Raising: The issue of Fund Raising is a really BIG topic and I am not even going to try and cover it here other then to say “You need to already have money set aside for a trip like this before you decide on a final date to go.” We didn’t – take my advice – have some! We did reach our goal for the trip (Yeah Scouts!) but fund raising took up almost all of the troop’s time and activities for one whole year. Besides selling Peanuts and Cookies, we held Program Events for other Girl Scouts where they could earn a patch or try-it.

Trip Cost: It was decided that the troop would raise all the funds to cover both the troop and its leaders. Any parents that wished to join us would be responsible for their own costs. To make it easier, the parents made a payment to the troop for all group activities/meals that they were joining us on and they paid for their hotel room themselves. The leaders did end up paying for some of their own costs as well.

Trip Poster Board: This 3D poster board was first created in our brainstorming session and came to every meeting thereafter. The girls made different sections and we keep the board updated as we worked towards our goal. The sections included:

• Funds Thermometer: showed how much we earned & upcoming fundraisers with dates.
• Agenda : a day-by-day plan with pictures.
• Roster : who was going - Girl Scouts, leaders & parents.
• IPPs : the girls picked several Interest Project Patches that they could work towards.
• Council Patches : Details of the Council Own patches that they could earn.
• Title Artwork: ‘Savannah Trip – Spring Break 2002’

Trip Binder: As the details were gathered for the trip, all correspondence and information was added to a binder. This not only made it easy to find the information and keep on track but also came in very handy on the trip. We had reservations at a restaurant and were told when we got there that group rate was nowhere near what we were expecting! The manager stated that if we could prove to him that we were right in our thinking, that he would gladly give us our meal on the house! Well, we did and he picked up the tab.

Final Budget: The wish budget slowly turned into our final budget and agenda for the trip. I gathered final prices and details as to location, contact information, hours of operation, web addresses and the emails starting flying! I booked our hotel, restaurants and different places or activities that we had planned on. Anything that could be prepaid or ordered was finished or reconfirmed about 3 months before the trip. (books, trolley tickets, reservations). I also noted who accepted troop checks, credit cards or cash. A month before the trip, we selected our menu choices from restaurant that offered pre-ordering. I planned on taking as little cash as possible. Final cost was the Savannah trip was $250 per person (April 2002) .

Final Prep: The girls were given a copy of the Final Budget that contained all the details for the trip as well as a map of the Historic District of Savannah. They decided what our ‘informal’ and ‘formal’ wear would be and made up a packing list. All the necessary paper work, permission forms and contact information was completed as well. We decided to take ‘walkie-talkies’ so that we could keep in touch when we were traveling. The girls also elected to make a craft to be donated and sold in the Birthplace store.

So What Did We Do?

Day ONE

We left Richmond on a Saturday morning, around 9:00 am, and the only plan for the day was to get to Savannah. Everyone packed a lunch and brought drinks. Just a little over the half waypoint, we arrived at ‘South of the Border’, a very touristy roadside attraction. We ate our lunch, stretched our legs and looked around at some the ‘silly-fun-junk-stuff’ at the stores. It’s was a fun place and we it was hard to get everyone back on the road! While we allowed for lots of bathroom breaks, each stop seemed to take longer and longer, so it was a good thing that we were not under any time constraints. Just before we got to the hotel, we stopped for dinner at Shoney’s. While the girls and parents were busy settling in, the troop leaders took the opportunity to take a quick drive into Savannah to get our bearings for the rest of our stay.

Day TWO

Today we explored Historic Savannah and what better way then taking the Old Time Trolley Tour. This tour lets you can get on and off as many times as you want and we decided to ride the whole ‘loop’ first. The drivers really added to this tour with tales of current and historical facts about what we were seeing. We ate lunch at the Whistle Stop Café (a retired train car) and proceeded on. We got a little wet during an afternoon thunderstorm but dried out rather quickly. Along the way, we got out our Savannah Safari books (purchased beforehand) and followed the ‘trail’, ‘hunting’ for animals in the architectural themes of the historic area. (Dolphin downspouts, Goose on Balcony). By this time, everyone needed a bathroom break and we were very fortunate to be walking by a fire station. Not only did the firemen invite us in but they also demonstrated using the Fire Pole and gave us a quick look around the station. It would take a whole book to describe all the places we saw that day; churches, shops, cemeteries, historic homes, the riverfront, many of Savannah’s Garden Squares, monuments and course Spanish Moss.

We went back to the hotel for a quick break and to get ready for our big evening. It was now time to go to the Casbah! This is a Moroccan restaurant where you dine in the Moroccan tradition. Ever try eating shi-ka-bobs and rice with your fingers and then have someone come with a pitcher of water to rinse them off for you? How about learning to belly dance, complete with bangles hanging from a scarf tied around your waist. The girls absolutely loved it! The meal was excellent as well and everyone liked what they ordered. (exotic spices were added only if requested).

Day THREE

We headed out to the explore the coast. First stop was at the Tybee Island Marine Center for a tour and program. The girls learned all about sharks and then went down to the beach to explore the coast and to sift in the sand for ‘creatures’. Excellent program! We had pre-ordered lunch at Skippers so we served as soon as we arrived. Next we were off on an Eco-Tour Adventure at the Bull River Marina. The captain was covering the Coastal Georgia Patch requirements on this tour. We pulled nets up from the Salt Marsh and saw many of the creatures that live there (crabs, an octopus). Since we were the only group to take this tour, the Captain let us stop and explore one the many little islands that separate the marsh from the ocean. When we had all re-boarded and got moving again, things got a little interesting. The boat got stuck on a sand barge and the tide was going out! (We were in 1 foot of water). After several attempts to get free by the captain and his helper, (with some help from the troop), the marina sent out 2 small boats to pick us up. Well the smaller boats took us right to where the dolphins splash and play and we got a close up look at them for the next hour! The day was a little longer then planned but I think this will be the one part of our trip that everyone will remember over the years. We stopped in Savannah and had a late dinner and then went on a Haunted Carriage Tour. Our horse “Dot” was used in the filming of the movie “Forest Gump”. There was no problem getting everyone to go to sleep that night despite the ghost stories and haunting tails of Savannah!

Day FOUR

It’s Juliette Low Day! We arrived at the Birthplace and spend the morning on our Victorian Venture becoming Southern ladies from Juliette's time. We dressed in hoops, shawls and gloves, made our ‘calling cards’ and sat down to tea. We then played a few parlor games and made a jewel box. For lunch, we have preordered subs from Blimpies and ate in one of the Savannah town squares. The afternoon session gave us a tour of the Gordon house as it was years ago, followed by some shopping time. Our visit came to an end by holding a ceremony out in Juliette’s’ Garden. The ‘Oldest and Youngest’ girl scout in troop, planned and co-coordinated the Girls Own Ceremony and did a wonderful, wonderful job! I handed out their Birthplace Pins and Victorian Venture patch. We finished our Savannah trip, by exploring the many shops along the riverfront (Savannah Candy Kitchen was a favorite!).

What I Might Do Differently!

( These suggestions are minor & did not ‘ruin’ the trip by any means but it’s something to think about )

• We needed more ‘down time’ at the hotel, perhaps one free evening. (after a day at the beach/salt marsh for example)
• We should have reviewed ‘Problem Solving’ with the group before we went. It would have been easier if we have worked through how to decide who was traveled in what vehicle and who shared beds. Teach the girls to work as a group to solve small conflicts, without running to a leader. As a leader, give the girls the opportunity to learn how to work things out! Recognize that even the most cheerful of person is going to get grumpy at some point in time and some girls (and adults) will need a bit of quiet time.
• Make it clear that while plans have to be flexible, BIG last minute changes are not a good idea. Avoid “it seemed like a good idea at the time!”
• Decide if it’s okay if anyone wants to go over the agreed-upon budget and pay extra at restaurants or if everyone should stick to the plan so that no one is left out. This also sets a good example for the girls to learn how to work with-in a budget.
• Don’t load up on drinks before hitting the road.
• Get the girls to be more involved in planning the trip and making arrangements. Our fundraising events didn’t really allow for this in the time span we were working in.

Other Tips & Tidbits:

• We did not have a problem finding parking. We parked at street meters (free*), in a parking garage ($2) and in an all day lot down at the waterfront when we went to the Birthplace ($7). We tried to park the vehicles closest to the location where we would end our day.

*Parking at the street meters is free on Sundays and on holidays.

• Savannah LOVES Girl Scouts! Even without a uniform on, any group of girls is recognized as being Scouts and is welcomed by all!
• Expect excitement, running around, laughter and loud voices. Relax on certain rules (other then Safety Wise of course) and have fun!
• You cannot see all there is to see and all there is to do! Next time…
• Check your restaurant bills; some places automatically add the required tip to the final total, some do not and you will have to add it to the final total.
• I tried to make reservations with the Cobblestone Café but they did not follow through on sending me their group menu and the staff was quite unhelpful. It appeared to be an inconvenience for them to open for dinner even though they advertised that they would do so for groups. We passed.
• River Street runs beside the river and is made of very bumpy cobblestone. Drive with caution!
• We make the old City Hall our ‘meeting place’ if anyone got lost from the group. We didn’t have to use it for that purpose but it did serve as our frame of reference. The building is centrally located and with its Golden Dome Roof, it’s the easiest building to find and recognize.
• If you are going to be driving in Historic District of Savannah, get a good map that shows the directions of the streets. This area consists of several ‘town squares’ and most of the streets have one-way traffic.

http://www.gsican.com/