On March 6, nine Byron-Bergen 11th- and 12th-grade U.S. History and Government students visited the nation’s capital. The trip was in partnership with the Close Up Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization based in Washington D.C., and included students from Arizona, Colorado, North Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio, and Washington.
The travel experience was designed to enhance students’ studies with a focused view of the history of the United States, current events, and an in-depth look at how government works. Students also spent the week experiencing the city, getting to know fellow travelers, and making new friends from other parts of the nation.
“My favorite part of the trip was being able to meet new people from across the country with the same interests in government and history,” said Danyel Nowatchik.
“It was great meeting new people and making connections with people I normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to know,” said Sadie Cook.
Students visited important historical landmarks and participated in simulated government debates and process workshops. They had firsthand experience interacting with lawmakers and Congressional staffers and met with local Congressman Chris Jacobs. Several participating students singled out meeting with civil rights organizations and getting a feel for urban living as their most memorable experiences.
“My favorite part of the trip was when we met with our local representative,” said Grace Huhn. “We got to express our opinions about certain topics and see the offices where our favorite lawmakers work.” “I enjoyed visiting the museums and monuments and getting the chance to learn a lot; most of it being hands-on,” said Jason Bleiler. “My favorite part of the trip was meeting and getting to know people from different parts of the country,” said Matt Tanner. “While we all had differing political views, it was interesting to see us come to a common ground in some aspect throughout our discussions.”
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