Kids and Their Parents Head to New York for Adventure
July 5 , 2007
Ever wanted to travel with your children, but can’t find the time to plan a schedule? A new program within The University of Mississippi Division of Outreach has set out to remedy that problem and make sure you and your family have fun—and maybe even learn something.
“When you’re traveling with your kids, you spend so much time on the logistics—where you’re going, how you’re getting there—that you don’t get to spend quality time with your kids,” said Laura Antonow, director of the Academic Traveler program. “My idea for this program is to have all that pre-arranged, so that parents can use that time to help their children learn and have fun.”
The program's inaugural trip to New York City to study art, culture, history, theater, and any number of things the city has to offer is slated for August 30-September 3. The tour of the city will include trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History, a visit to the Central Park Zoo, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as visits to the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, and ample free time to take in a Broadway show or a game at Yankee Stadium. There’s even a planned excursion to FAO Schwarz, the world’s largest toy store.
Antonow, who is an adjunct assistant professor of art at The University of Mississippi, as well as a former New York City resident, travels with her own two daughters as often as possible and believes that for some people museums can be seen as daunting.
“I think even adults can be intimidated by museums; taking kids when they’re young and making museums accessible can be life changing.”
This will be the first in a series of family trips for the Division of Outreach’s Academic Traveler program. Future programs may include trips to London, France, Japan, and Tanzania. Antonow says New York is an ideal place for children to begin the Traveler program.
“ New York is such an amazing place. Just walking down the street they’re going to get to experience new things: food, different languages, amazing architecture. It will be great to see it again for the first time through these kids’ eyes.”
The program is open to children ages 7 to 17—children must be accompanied by an adult. The program fee is $1395 for adults (double adult occupancy) and $795 for children. This fee includes round-trip airfare ( Memphis/ New York), lodging, museum and other admissions, tour fees, welcome dinner, a Metrocard, and pre-trip educational material. Registration deadline has been extended to Wednesday, July 25, to guarantee group airfare.
For more information please contact Laura Antonow at antonow@olemiss.edu or (662) 915-6511.
