From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Local safety patrollers visit Washington

By Darcy Clinton
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Thousands of South Florida AAA School Safety Patrol members from elementary schools in the tri-county area headed to Washington, D.C. during January, February, March, April and May.

Local fifth graders have been making the educational trip for more than 20 years.
"The students look forward to this trip all year, and the chaperones enjoy the experience, too. It's educational, and they have a great time," said Amy Mercier a fifth-grade teacher at Morikami Park Elementary School west of Delray Beach.
Mercier, a 10-year employee at the school, heads up the school's safety patrol program and has coordinated each of the school's trips during her tenure.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) is a national organization dedicated to developing, implementing and supporting driver and traffic safety programs since 1902.
"The association's School Safety Patrol program is the largest in the world, with more than 500,000 children participating at 50,000 schools throughout the country," said Leticia Messam, manager of AAA Auto Club South's traffic safety programs. "There are 2,275 schools in Florida participating in the program."
With their bright yellow patrol belts, members of the program are easy to identify at the schools. They monitor hallway behavior, open car doors during morning drop-off and assist their classmates in getting safely to and from school. Participants apply to the program, and selection is based on conduct, grades and other factors determined by each school.
The trips last three or four days, and students spend the days touring the area's historic landmarks. Each school determines the time of year, transportation and accommodations for the trip. Students and chaperones are responsible for the cost of the trip -- about $800 -- and have fundraising drives during the year to help raise money.
"We couldn't wait to get there," said Bryce Conley, 11, who traveled by plane with classmates from Banyan Creek Elementary in Delray Beach in January. "My favorite place to visit was Mount Vernon. The house was big; very old and dusty. We got to play tag in the backyard, and that was fun."
Trip coordinators provided detailed itineraries and packing lists and had group meetings to ask questions and meet chaperones prior to the trip, said Bryce's mother, Lenna Conley, of Boca Raton.
For some students, the trip is their first experience traveling without parents. Others are seasoned travelers.
"Bryce has traveled without us before, and he understands it's a privilege," Conley said. "I think what Bryce enjoyed most was the feeling of camaraderie and the friendships he developed staying with friends at the hotel. Independence is important at this age, and the trip provided a wonderful opportunity."
Ben Kellogg, 11, a student at Pinecrest Elementary, went on a trip in May. His mother, Julie, was a chaperone. "I can't think of a better place to learn about our country's history," she said.