Introduction
Welcome to your first MapQuest! For this trip, we will be planning a once-in-a-lifetime excursion to Yellowstone National Park! See bison, elk, and moose grazing in their natural habitat, watch Old Faithful shoot steam into the air, and take in the beauty of mountains, forests, lakes, and rivers as you explore the first National Park in the US. But first, you’ll have to plan carefully to make sure everything goes smoothly. The itinerary is up to you - let’s get started!
Task
Your group will plan a 10 day vacation to Yellowstone National Park. To do this, you will need to research travel routes, find lodgings, and plan the activities and sights you will see in the park. You will be presenting your travel plan to the class by Power Point, which will include a map of your round-trip route, stops along the way, a budget of major expenses, and a learning statement (one for each member of the group) that details what you have learned from this project. You will have 1 week to complete this project and email your Power Point to me (next Tuesday). Presentations will be given on Thursday and Friday of next week.
Process
1. TRAVEL ROUTE / TRANSPORTATION
Your team will create a map that shows your route from Buhl to Yellowstone and a different route back. You must use West Yellowstone, MT and Jackson Hole, WY as your entry/exit points to the park. This means that if you enter Yellowstone through Jackson Hole, you must leave Yellowstone through West Yellowstone. Your map should include mileage and estimated travel times, and will include at least 1 rest/sightseeing stop on the way out and 1 on the way back.
You will need to rent a vehicle for your trip. Things to consider are daily fee, fuel efficiency (you will need to calculate how much gasoline will be needed for the trip), and size. If you have camping gear, the vehicle should have space for the extra luggage.
RESOURCES: 
2. LODGING
You will need to arrange accommodations for your trip, which will include at least 1 overnight stop on the way out, and 1 on the way back. You may arrange lodging to suit your group, but must stay within your budget (see below). Camping is permitted in Yellowstone (if campsites are available), but you will need to add tents, sleeping bags, and other camping gear to your expense report.
RESOURCES:
3. ACTIVITIES
You should plan at least 1 major activity for each day of the trip, including travelling to and from the park. A 2-hour hike, or visiting Old Faithful are examples of this. Make sure to include specific spots you will see, and include photos or other information about each one. Don't forget to note any fees or costs associated with these activities (and any mileage) to be included with the expense report.
RESOURCES: 
4. EXPENSE REPORT
This is where you show the costs for your trip. You can create it in Excel and then paste it into your Power Point, or email it separately. It should show the total cost for the trip broken down by category, including transportation, lodging, food, activities. For food, budget $30 per person per day. If you decide to buy groceries and cook at your campsite, you can budget $15 per day per person. There should also be a per-person total. You will have $1000 per person to finance your trip, so plan your purchases wisely. Your group will receive 1 point of extra credit for each $10 under budget, for a maximum of 10 points ($100 under budget). Remember to include ALL other expenses, and be able to account for every dollar, or it will cost you points!
RESOURCES:
Numbeo (this site can help in more ways than 1 - but you have to look carefully!)
5. LEARNING STATEMENT
Each team member will have to create a 2-page 'mini report' in the Power Point. This will be a summary of what you have learned from this assignment, what you liked/didn't like about it, and the most interesting thing you learned about Yellowstone. If you have funds available, you can get 5 extra points by including a souvenier you would buy at the park, and why you chose it.
Evaluation
Evaluation will be based on the following rubric. This project will be worth 100 points (20 points maximum available in each category). Full credit will be given to those groups that include all components of the project, accurately represent the materials researched, and create a realistic vacation within the allotted budget and time constraints.
|
|
Transportation Trip Route |
Lodging |
Activities |
Expense Report |
Learning Statement |
|
20
|
Includes accurate map; mileage, rest stops, etc. noted clearly, route well - planned |
Accommodations are within budget and appropriate for group needs; all information provided clearly and accurately |
All activities included and properly documented |
Includes all components; all funds accounted for; project within budget |
Clearly meets stated objectives, including personal opinion; all components included |
|
15
|
Map is clearly marked, some components incomplete or unclear |
Some arrangements too expensive or cheap; not on designated route, information mostly accurate |
All activities included; some errors or omission of details found |
Includes most components; few minor accounting errors, project within budget |
General information provided with little personal opinion; few grammatical errors |
|
10
|
Poorly planned route, some details missing or inaccurate |
Some nights not accounted for, or unrealistic based on budget/travel constraints, details missing or inaccurate |
Missing some activities, details or descriptions inaccurate |
Major accounting errors; project over budget; missing data |
Missing some criteria, no opinion provided; poor writing mechanics |
|
5
|
Missing or incomplete component |
Missing or incomplete component |
Missing or incomplete component |
Missing or incomplete component |
Missing or incomplete component |
Conclusion
I hope you have enjoyed learning about Yellowstone and some of the other interesting tourist destinations in our area. You should also have a better appreciation of the hard work that goes into planning and organizing a long trip, and also the cost. Next month, we will begin planning a 2-week trip to a country of your choice as part of our next unit, so feel free to start thinking (and planning!) for that assignment.