Since its founding, Close-Up has worked to promote responsible and informed participation in the democratic process through a variety of educational programs. Each year, students, teachers, and other adults take part in the Close-Up’s programs in Washington, D.C, which helps student’s work and share knowledge about the capital of the United States.
United States History teacher, Bradley Ashby, is this year’s Washington, D.C Close-Up advisor here.
“I truly believe Close-Up is as good as it gets when it comes to learning, living and understanding government,” said Ashby. Close-Up is not a site expedition; rather Close Up is hard work for all the students who are interested in visiting the Nation’s capital on May 16 through May 21, 2010.
According to Mr. Ashby all of the students involved in this club are expected to learn, share with each other, travel around the capital, and learn some more about their government. Students from all fifty states, and all over the world, will be participating in this program this year. In addition, students will get to see the inner workings of the United States government, and explore new and exciting places.
Students from Alisal will live, work, and share knowledge with a variety of young people. They will have a tour of government buildings like the Capitol, Smithsonian Air and Space Museums, and the Supreme Court. They will also visit several of Washington, D.C.’s historic monuments like Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Park, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam memorials along with one of the nation’s leading universities, historic Georgetown University, George Washington University and the University of Virginia. The students will be able to earn college credit with completion of a policy paper.
As if all those activities weren’t enough, the students will have workshops and seminars with lobbyists, ambassadors, and policymakers will be highlighting current issues like the War in Iraq, immigration issues in America, and diplomatic studies that include visits to various foreign embassies. The students will also debate key domestic and foreign policy issues with students from around the country, also they will participate in an organized Capitol Day, which means that the students will arrange two to three meetings with their Congressional delegation and staff on Capitol Hill.
The trip will be filled with all sorts of challenges, opportunities, and fun. “The students will be supervised and security will be tight to ensure sure that all of the students are attended to throughout the trip,” said Ashy.
The total cost of the trip is about $1,600. This includes all of the activities, hotel, meals, instructions, in-town transportation, roundtrip flight from San Francisco to Dulles International, night-time security, and finally their access to quality medical
care.
“I really hope that we get the opportunity to go to Washington D.C because it is a once in a lifetime experience,” said Ana Velazquez. She is the Vice President of this club and she is very excited to go.
Participants will do fundraisers, like car washes and selling food at school and other activities that will help them earn the money necessary to attend this trip. Yet, those activities will not cover the entire cost of the trip, but the young group does not give up. They are asking for donations from their doctors, dentists, or people that work in companies because they really want to go and visit their Capitol.
“In addition to being a first-class organization, Close Up is literally a chance of a lifetime,” said Ashby. He really hopes that the club can earn the money and have a good time while also learning how their Central Government works and how our president will be a change in every students education.