STUDENTS RETURN FROM CLOSEUP TRIP
by Patty Novicki
June 09, 2009
The third annual CloseUp trip began May 24th very early when we
left at 3:00 a.m. Eight students as well as Mrs. Novicki and Mr.
Hoffer flew out at 6:00am. The group arrived in Washington DC
around 11:00. Our first adventure was to Georgetown where we ate
lunch at The Tombs and then toured the campus. We walked around
Washington DC to take in the sites and then returned to the hotel
for orientation. Students then went on a Marine Corps Memorial
study visit. They returned to the hotel to participate in a
government workshop. The day ended the day with students allowed an
hour free time and lights out at 11:00.
Monday
The first stop was a neighborhood study visit. A group photo was
taken at by the reflecting pool on Capitol Hill. The students then
transferred to lunch at National Place then participated in a
seminar. After the government seminar, a transfer was made to
Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial
for study visits. The students ate dinner at Bugsy’s Pizza in Old
Towne Alexandria. The evening consisted of a workshop with CloseUp
groups and then a domestic issues debate with Kristen Ullman
(conservative) and Christian Dorsey (liberal). After another full
day of activities the students completed the evening with student
lounge activities and room check at 11:00 pm.
Tuesday
After an early rise to the day-breakfast at 7:00 am.-the students
were off to the Jefferson Memorial for a study visit. Next
stop-Community Service Onsite with Americorps to learn the workings
and duties of Americorps, which is a program of the Corporation for
National and Community Service to improve lives, strengthen
communities, and foster civic engagement through service and
volunteering. Lunch was eaten at the Smithsonian Air and Space
Museum, while there a study visit was conducted. Students then
visited the Roosevelt Memorial and discussed the impact that FDR
had on the country during the depression. The Third Face of
Democracy study visit was next on the daily agenda. Students were
then transferred to Capitol Hill for a walking workshop. This
workshop is intended to assist students with understanding the
layout of Capitol Hill. Students are showed how to maneuver their
way around to finding certain congressmen’s offices and how to find
their way around the Capitol. After a long afternoon on the Hill,
students took in the Air Force Memorial, which is only two years
old. They were given the reasons for the shape of the memorial,
which are three spires. One spire is to depict the direction of the
jet that flew into the pentagon. Dinner was at the hotel, where the
students completed the Capitol Hill portion of the workshop. The
evening concluded with a Mock Congress Large Group Activity.
Wednesday
This was our day to spend on Capitol Hill. We unfortunately did not
get to meet with any congressmen as they were on Memorial Day
recess. We did however have another full day. We toured the new
Capitol Visitor Center that just opened, we toured the Capitol, and
the Supreme Court building and even went into the Supreme Court
chamber. We went to the Jefferson Library of Congress. We did visit
our Senators offices and were allowed an inside tour of Senator
Johanns office, not just the main office, but his actual office.
The day concluded with dinner at Union Station and a night tour of
the monuments. They look completely different by the lights in the
evening. This was a new activity for students this year.
Thursday
CloseUp had many options for students on Thursday. Students could
participate in a C-Span taping at the Newseum, tour the Natural
History museum, the Holocaust Museum, the National Zoo and many
others. We chose however to go explore on our own. Our first stop
of the day was Arlington National Cemetery. The students visited
JFK’s gravesite, Bobby Kennedy’s gravesite, the section where the
Supreme Court justices are buried, the Challenger memorial, the
mast of the Maine, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing
of the guard. New on the list of sections to see was Section 60.
This is the part of the cemetery where soldiers from Afghanistan
and Iraq conflicts have been buried. Needless to say, it was pretty
emotional. While visiting that section, a girl was visiting her
cousin-age 21- who was killed in Iraq. She visited with us for a
short time. It was quite humbling. Our next destination was the
Holocaust Museum. We ate lunch at the Natural History Museum and
toured the Hope Diamond. We also looked at the first floor
exhibits, as that is where the movies Night at the Museum are
staged to look like. The day continued with souvenir shopping,
Fords Theater, the Peterson House where Lincoln died, and the ESPN
zone restaurant. The students had a final workshop and a banquet
followed by a dance. The night ended with them packing for our trip
to New York City at 6:00 a.m. on Friday.
Friday
The day started bright and early. We packed up the bus and headed
to NYC at 6:00 a.m. We ate lunch at a neighborhood restaurant
followed by a United Nations study visit, Central Park study visit,
and Times Square. We ended the day with dinner at Mars 2112—a
Martian themed restaurant and a theater production of Mary
Poppins.
Saturday
The last organized CloseUp day was jammed packed with activities.
The day began with an early breakfast and bus transfer to Battery
Park district. The students boarded the ferry and headed to the
Statue of Liberty for a study visit. The students were then ferried
to Ellis Island for a study on immigration. The Financial District
(Wall Street, NY Stock Exchange, Ground Zero, Trinity Church) was
the next stop for the group. Students were given the history and
the insight into the workings of the New York Stock Exchange. The
late afternoon was spent visiting neighborhoods and participating
in study visits (jewish neighborhoods, Chinatown, Five Points,
Little Italy). We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant, Puglia’s
where the students were given some dancing lessons in ethnic
Italian dances. Students participated in a traditional napkin
dance, which they seemed to enjoy.
Sunday
The final day of the trip was spent exploring on our own. Our first
experience of the day was taking the NYC subway back into Manhattan
as we stayed in Queens. It was quite an experience for the
students. Our first stop was The Today Show. We stayed for the
one-hour taping. Our next stops were St. Patrick’s Cathedral,
souvenir shopping, and touring the famous 5th Avenue.
The teachers had a separate program while in Washington DC and
followed the student program while in New York City.
Thank you to all who supported the group throughout the year with
fundraisers. This is an educational experience of a lifetime and
without the support of the community it would not be
possible.
