Each year, Penn State Children's Hospital offers tours to all students involved with the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. These tours provide a wonderful opportunity for Penn Staters to comprehend the true spirit of THON and observe, first-hand, the significance of their yearlong efforts.

While on the tour, students will see the hospital's in-patient and out-patient oncology units, meet two child life specialists, a nutritionist, and a psychologist, talk with a social worker, tour the Four Diamonds Pediatric Research Institute, the new Stem Cell Clinic, and usually get the chance to meet a Four Diamonds family - the real heart and soul behind THON.

The tours start promptly at 10:00am and end around 2:15pm. However, students should aim to arrive at Hershey by 9:45am at the absolute latest. Each visitor on the tour receives a complimentary meal ticket worth $5.00 for the hospital's cafeteria. Parking is free. Students are to wear their organization's THON t-shirt, sweatshirt or other THON apparel. No sweatpants or sleeveless shirts are to be worn.

Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the Penn State Children's Hospital. It is approximately a two-hour trip from State College and the drive is well worth it! Directions to Hershey can be found on the THON website. Upon arrival at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, follow the green signage for Parking Lot G and the University Physicians Center. After parking, proceed to the main lobby of the University Physicians Center. A Four Diamonds Representative will be there to meet you. Please call the Four Diamonds office at 717-531-6086 if you have any questions.

Hershey Trip Applications are now available in THINK beginning Monday, September 24, 2007.!

• Any organization may apply for a reservation to visit the Penn State Children's Hospital.
• Your organization must have at least 6 people and no more than 12 people in order to reserve a spot. In addition, sometimes combinations of groups go on the same day. In all cases a minimum of 10 people from any combination of organizations is required in order to have a trip. The absolute maximum for any one trip/tour is 12 people.
• Hershey Trip Applications are now available in THINK!
• Only groups who have properly filled out a Hershey Trip Application on THINK will be eligible to attend. The first date on which you may submit a Hershey Trip Application is September 24, 2007.
• Tours do NOT run every day. Specific tour dates are posted on the THON™ website
• Reservations will be granted on a first come, first serve basis. If your group is chosen to attend, you will be contacted by the Hershey Trip Coordinator.
• Groups will provide their own transportation to Hershey. Directions are available on the THON website.
• Please make your best effort to adhere to your reservation and scheduled time. If something unexpected occurs and you absolutely cannot make it, you must contact the Hershey Trip Coordinator at least 48 hours in advance of the trip.
• Tardiness is not acceptable. The tours will begin whether or not you are there.
• Cellular phone use is not permitted in the hospital. Phones must be turned off before entering the hospital.
• If you cancel less than 48 hours in advance of the trip or just fail to show for your scheduled date and time, you will forfeit your visit to the Penn State Children's Hospital, as well as incur a fine of $200.00, which will be donated anonymously to the Four Diamonds Fund

*IF YOU HAVE A COLD/VIRUS/FLU/ETC. OR ARE JUST FEELING SICK IN THE FEW DAYS (OR DAY OF) YOUR TRIP, PLEASE DO NOT GO TO HERSHEY - FIND A SUBSTITUTE OR CANCEL!!!!

If you have any questions at all about your health and being able to attend your scheduled time, please contact the Hershey Trip Coordinator as soon as possible and if you cannot get in touch with him or her, please call the Four Diamonds office at 717-531-6086. Do not compromise the health of a child.

Much effort goes into the planning of these trips. If you choose to disregard your confirmed reservation, you are choosing to disrespect the children and the families of the Four Diamonds Fund, the Penn State Children's Hospital, the Dance Marathon Overall Committee, and The Pennsylvania State University.

PLEASE REMEMBER: You are a visitor and guest of the Penn State Children's Hospital. It is a privilege to be given a Hershey tour, and the time that doctors, child life specialists, and other Hershey staff are giving to you is time away from their busy schedules, so please respect all that they are doing for you. You are serving as a representative of The Pennsylvania State University and The Pennsylvania State University's IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, so please act accordingly.

• Take 322 East from State College to Harrisburg.
• Once you get closer to Harrisburg, take the exit for I-81 North
• After exiting on to I-81 North, watch for signs for "Southeast 83, 322- Hershey, York"
• The highway will split and you will want to go right- this will take you on 83 to 322 East
• Follow signs for 322 East- the sign will say "Hershey, Derry St., Paxton St."
• Take the Hershey exit- this will bring you on to 322 East
• Stay straight on 322 East for approximately 6.5 miles
• Take the Ephrata 322 East exit (it will be on your right)
• At the second traffic light (Governor Rd. & University Dr.) turn right into the Hershey Medical Center
• At the first stop sign, turn left
• At the next stop sign, proceed straight following the green signage for Parking Lot G and the University Physicians Center
• After parking, proceed to the main lobby of the University Physicians Center, where a Four Diamonds representative will meet you.

If you have questions, please call the Four Diamonds office at 717-531-6086.