Chaperoned by Principal Kourtney Almeida and three teachers, 33 members of the Class of 2029 spent four days exploring Washington D.C. and its memorials, museums and historic sites. The group spent four days and three nights focusing on current issues, government, history and active citizenship. They stayed at the Sheraton Pentagon City in Arlington, Va. The itinerary kept the students engaged from breakfast to bedtime.

The agenda included attending a congressional deliberation — where they got to connect with Congressman Nick Langworthy, a graduate of Pine Valley Central School District — and participation in various citizenship and law workshops.

The eighth-graders also visited the Capitol reflecting pool, Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian, the Martin Luther King Jr., U.S. Marine Corps (Iwo Jima), Thomas Jefferson, Pentagon, World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and Lincoln memorials.

The field trip was possible via a collaboration with Close-Up Washington D.C., a nonprofit civic education organization with a mission to inspire, engage and empower students to become active citizens. Committed to safety and security, Close-Up provided well-trained and certified program instructors as well as monitors at the hotel throughout the night. Close-Up also facilitated schedule arrangements and provided field trip nametags.

Pine Valley Central School eighth-graders are pictured during a recent trip to Washington, D.C.

The group from Pine Valley CSD traveled down and back with Randolph Central School District.

Pine Valley Central School eighth-graders are pictured during a recent trip to Washington, D.C.

Pine Valley Central School eighth-graders are pictured during a recent trip to Washington, D.C.

Pine Valley Central School eighth-graders are pictured during a recent trip to Washington, D.C.