SWAT Letter To Parents
NOTE: Click Here To Read Our Frequently Asked Questions About The Trip!

Dear Parent,

Allowing your son or daughter to travel on their own can be one of the most rewarding aspects of being a parent. As parents ourselves we understand the importance of a safe and well organized trip with plenty of supervision to ensure a memorable experience for your children, as well as high quality and value. 

SWAT, Summer Winter Action Tours was formed in 1997 to provide high school students with the highest quality ski and snowboarding trips to their favorite resorts.  We use well known and reputable properties for lodging (Sheraton, Red Lion, Hilton, Shilo Inn and Best Western) as well as world renowned ski resorts (Park City and Snowbird) & luxury chartered buses for transportation. 

We have planned activities (day and evening) along with a 24- hour on-site team of chaperons (ratio 1:20 students), professional security, Salt Lake City off-duty police officers and first aid to assist the students during their stay in Utah. Our chaperons stay in the same properties as the students and are visible at every SWAT event. We have a 24-hour staff/chaperon room at each property that is available to the students and parents in case there are any questions or concerns. Although these trips are not school or district sponsored events, students from all over the West Coast participate in them every year.

We want to open the lines of communication and let you know that we are dedicated to making sure your child’s trip is a safe, yet a memorable one.  Please feel free to call our customer service line at 714-955-6900 Monday-Friday between 9am and 5pm or email us at Info@SwatUp.com. In addition, a list of FAQ is enclosed to ensure that all of your questions and concerns are answered.

SWAT will be hosting parent info nights throughout the month of November, if you would like more information on a meeting in your area, please contact our customer service.­­

Thank you for choosing SWAT. We appreciate your business and look forward to another successful trip.

Sincerely,

Summer Winter Action Tours

http://www.SwatUp.com

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)- El Nino 2009

• What is the age range of the kids? This trip is for 9^th-12^th grade students only. We do not allow any persons over the age of 19 to attend as a participant.

• What is the age range of the chaperones and how are they screened? The minimum age of our chaperones is 21 years old, with an average age of 25.

  We use staff that has had previous experience with students (i.e. teachers, coaches, youth counselors, city recreation leader, off duty police and fire department, etc.)

  All of the staff must apply with our company, submit references and are required to attend a mandatory training seminar. In addition to staff, we also have a professional uniformed security company on the trip.

• What is the ratio of staff to kids? We have a 20:1 students to staff ratio

• Is there a curfew and if so what time is it? Curfew will start as soon as the night event ends and will be between 11pm- 12am.

• What is your policy on alcohol and drugs? This is a ZERO TOLERANCE trip. All students must sign a behavior code prior to the trip adhering to the zero tolerance behavior policy, and failure to follow the rules will result in your child being sent home at your expense and with no refund.

• Does someone account for all of them returning to the hotel? All students will be accompanied back to the hotel by staff and security, where room checks will take place. Once all students have been checked into their rooms, they may not leave for the rest of the night and our security will patrol the halls all night.

• How much time are they chaperoned and how much time is spent on their own? The only time that the  students are on their own is while boarding/skiing on the mountain. Our staff is on the mountain and rides the bus to and from the mountain with the students, with the exception of the 24 hour staff and security back at the hotels.

• Is anyone traveling with them on the buses to and from Salt Lake City? A minimum of two chaperones will accompany the students on every bus.

• What are the rooming arrangements? The trip price is based on four students per room. Students may choose their roommates by filling out a roommate request form that their school representative will have available. There is no co-ed rooming allowed.

• Do you offer trip insurance? We suggest that you purchase traveler's insurance. If you would like to purchase traveler's insurance please contact Access America at 1800-284-8300 or visit http://www.accessamerica.com/.

• What is your cancellation policy? Due to the fact that SWAT must make commitments with its suppliers long before a trip begins, deposits and final payments are non-refundable if you cancel for any reason.

• If there is injury on the mountain or on the trip, what is the protocol? In addition to the mountain's Ski Patrol, we bring our own team of EMT's (Emergency Medical Technicians). If there is injury, you will be notified before treatment, unless life threatening. We recommend that your child bring a copy of their insurance card just in case.

• Is food provided in the trip price? We will be providing 3 free breakfasts this year at the hotels. For lunch and dinner the students will have choices of where to eat at the hotels, on the mountain, and at the night venue. Depending on your child's appetite and or need for souvenirs, we recommend $25-$30 per day. The students may all bring snacks for the trip.

• What about equipment rental? If your child needs to rent snowboarding/skiing equipment, they need to do so at home before the trip.  Please make sure to label all equipment and luggage to make sure it does not get lost.

• Hotels in Utah:

Sheraton- 801.401.2000   Shilo- 801.521.9500   Best Western Garden Inn- 801.521.9997

Red Lion- 801.521.7373    Hilton - 801.521.7373