5th Grade Events Field Trip | Thursday, March 12, 2026

We are officially kicking off our Busch Gardens Field Trip! The field trip will take place on March 12, 2026.

To celebrate their final year as Mitchell Bobcats, we are excited to invite ALL 5th grade students and any interested chaperones to join us for an exhilarating day at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! A special group rate has been secured and tickets must be purchased/verified by Monday, February 16 at the link below. If you are already a park passholder, you will still need to make selections (lunch/transportation).

TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE ON OUR MITCHELL ELEM PTA WEBSITE ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8TH. A note will be sent home with your child on this date with website information for purchasing tickets. The note may be found HERE!

***PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A PERMISSION SLIP. A PERMISSION SLIP WILL BE SENT HOME CLOSER TO THE EVENT DATE FROM YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER***

Chaperone Information:
The Busch Gardens field trip allows for any number of chaperones! Once you have reviewed the below items and they are all possible for you, please sign up. We would love to have your help!
ALL CHAPERONES MUST COMPLETE THE ONLINE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION BY FEB 9TH IN ORDER TO CHAPERONE. VISIT https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/volunteer to complete the application.
a. Chaperones MUST stay for the duration of the day, 9:30am until 4:30pm, with their assigned group of students. Early departure will not be possible.
b. Chaperones must provide their own transportation to/from Busch Gardens. A parking fee will apply once you arrive at the park.
c. Groups will be assigned by teachers and will be shared with you the day of the event upon arrival at Busch Gardens. Groups will NOT be announced in advance.
d. Changes to your assigned groups will NOT be possible/allowed.
e. All chaperones MUST take their assigned group to lunch between 11am and 12:30pm.

Student/Parent/Guardian Information:
This is a fun-filled day for our 5th graders and we want to ensure they have a great day! Please review the below items.
a. If your child will be leaving the park/school with another adult at the end of the field trip, other than yourself, a note from you AND the parent taking your child home MUST be sent to your child’s teacher no later than the day before (March 11th) the event.
b. Students CANNOT be picked up earlier than 4:30pm from Busch Gardens. They must stay for the duration of the trip, which ends at 4:30pm at the park. No exceptions.
c. If your child would like to bring a small bag to carry on their back and a water bottle, that is ok. Please ensure your child knows they are responsible for all personal items brought to the park, as well as carrying them all day. PLEASE NOTE IF THEY RIDE ROLLER COASTERS THEY CANNOT TAKE THESE ITEMS ON THE RIDES, PER PARK RULES.
d. Sunscreen is encouraged as we will be outdoors in sunny Florida
e. If you will be picking your child up at school after the field trip, students will return to Mitchell
Elementary between 5:30pm and 6pm. Student pickup will be at the back gate on Gomez Ave via
carline only.

It is our goal to have every 5th grade student attend this fun class outing. If your child needs financial assistance, please reach out to our Principal, Renee.Coraggio@hcps.net and we will do our best to accommodate everyone. If you are in a place to help fund another student, please consider making a contribution on the ticket purchase page below. Thank you so much!

Questions? Please email:  5thgrade@Mitchellelementarypta.org