FAQ

SAAS trips are led by our own faculty and staff as well as trusted partners in location-specific areas.

Each fall, current families will receive information about the outdoor and travel opportunities available during the school year and summer. These offerings are also posted on the SAAS website.

To help families learn more, we host an informational Trip Night. After trip registration close, families will be notified of their student’s enrollment or waitlist status.

COMPLETE THE 2025-2026 Trip Registration Form Here

Trip enrollment is not on a first-come, first-served basis. After the trip registration deadline, the SAAS Trip Committee carefully reviews all submissions using the following criteria:

Grade level eligibility (some trips are open only to specific grades)

• Priority for specific grades
• Language requirements
• Gender balance
• Priority for students waitlisted in previous years

As part of this review, the Outdoor & Travel Program consults with division heads, counselors, and faculty to consider each student’s academic readiness, physical and mental health, and overall wellbeing. If needed, SAAS may request a meeting with the family prior to confirming trip placement.

In cases involving overnight or international travel, students and families may be asked to provide additional medical information or permissions to ensure the health and safety of all participants.

COMPLETE THE 2025-2026 Trip Registration Form Here

Yes. All SAAS trip leaders are certified in First Aid and CPR. Most trips also include leaders with advanced training such as Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification.

• Airfare, buses, or other transportation
• Lodging
• Trip leaders and guides
• Meals
• Emergency evacuation insurance

• Personal gear and equipment (packing lists provided; gear is available to borrow)
• Travel documents, such as passports or visas (if applicable)

Deposits are required to secure a student’s place on the trip and to help cover the upfront costs involved in planning. These costs often include booking transportation, accommodations, tickets, and other reservations that must be paid in advance. Requiring a deposit allows SAAS to confirm numbers early and ensure the trip can be organized efficiently and cost-effectively. It also helps us keep the overall trip cost as low as possible by accessing early booking rates and group discounts.

If you normally pay tuition via AutoPay, the trip payments will be collected through that process unless you contact Julie Gommi. For those not using AutoPay, emails will be sent when the charges are available to pay via Veracross.

If you requested Financial Assistance, the grant amount will be communicated via email for confirmation and then will be reflected on your invoices.

SAAS offers separate financial aid for all outdoor and travel programs. Our goal is to make at least one trip accessible to every student in both Middle and Upper School, regardless of financial circumstances. Aid requests can be submitted within the trip registration form (Must be completed by a parent/guardian).

If more students sign up than there are available spots, a waitlist will be created. As space opens, families will be contacted via email. Waitlist selections are made at random.

Reach out to the Outdoor & Travel Team: trips@seattleacademy.org