A group of 24 Kalama High School (KHS) students and 19 chaperones recently returned from a history-filled trip to Washington, D.C. and the city of Philadelphia – an immersive experience in civics, culture, and government that attendees described as "incredibly special."
Hosted by the Close-Up Foundation, the trip was designed to help high school juniors and seniors become more civically engaged in their school and community. From participating in mock congressional sessions, to touring monuments and walking the same paths as America’s Founding Fathers, the group took in a wide range of sights and experiences.
One standout moment? A private tour of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
“For the first time ever, our Kalama group had the entire Rotunda to ourselves,” said KHS Teacher Ken White, who has led the school’s group on this trip for several years. “It’s usually packed with tourists, so getting to take it all in without the noise and crowds was incredibly special.”
Other notable stops included the Library of Congress, Arlington National Cemetery, the Portrait Gallery, and Benjamin Franklin’s preserved home site in Philadelphia.
“It’s one thing to read about these places in a textbook,” said KHS student Kevin Lardizabal-Orea, “but standing on the steps of the Capitol or looking up at the Lincoln Memorial – it makes everything feel real.”
“Even just walking around was fun, looking to see who might be wearing one of the pins that indicates whether they are members of Congress,” added KHS Secretary and trip chaperone Stacy Jackson.
In addition to sight-seeing, students learned about the legislative process and met with local representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.
To help offset the cost of the trip, students fundraised throughout the year. A number of Kalama students also earned scholarships from Mr. White by writing essays about what they hoped to gain from the trip – many citing a desire to better understand the government and see American history up close.
“Every year, I’m blown away by how engaged our students become,” said White. “They dig into the process, think critically, and connect what they learn to their own lives.”