WASHINGTON DC- 8th Grade Trip (Oct. 2023!)

– Arrive in Washington, D.C. : Meet your Christian Discoveries Course Leader and prepare for an action-packed adventure in our nation’s capital.

– Orientation : † Discuss God’s hand in America’s history and the role of people of faith in our country

– Lunch :

– Arlington National Cemetery : Pay your respects to the hundreds of thousands of brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country. During the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, reflect on the true meaning of sacrifice while Taps is played to honor the fallen soldiers.

– † Devotional Discussion: Learn from the sacrifices of others:

– Iwo Jima Memorial : Think about the inscription on the statue’s base, “Uncommon valor was a common virtue,” while you explore this tribute to the U.S. Marines who died while serving our country.

– Dinner :

– Pentagon Memorial : Visit the outdoor installation honoring the 184 victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks at the Pentagon.

– Hotel Check-In :

– Breakfast : † Morning Devotional

– Alexandria : Walk the beautiful streets of Old Town Alexandria and follow in the footsteps of many of our Founding Fathers.

– Mount Vernon : Explore George Washington’s estate, the mansion he shared with Martha, and an education center that showcases our first president as a farmer and businessman.

– † Devotional Discussion: The faith of our Founding Fathers:

– Lunch :

– Smithsonian Institution : Discover some of the museums making up the Smithsonian Institution, such as the Natural History Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and the American History Museum.

– Museum of the Bible : Learn about the narrative, history, and impact of The Bible in a series of specialized exhibits

– Dinner :

– Jefferson Memorial : Read some of Jefferson’s famous writings on the walls of this great memorial and gain a new respect for the foresight he had while writing the Declaration of Independence.

– FDR Memorial : Learn how Franklin D. Roosevelt reached out to the American people during the Great Depression.

– Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial : Experience D.C.’s newest memorial dedicated to the famous civil rights activist.

– Breakfast : † Morning Devotional

– Ford’s Theatre and Petersen House : (by appointment) Follow the mystery of Lincoln’s assassination from Ford’s Theatre to the nearby house where he died.

– White House : (picture stop) Take a picture standing in front of the most recognizable symbol of the presidency.

– † Devotional: Pray for the president:

– National Archives : See the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence, and understand how they impact our lives today and ensure our basic freedoms.

– Lunch :

– Capitol Hill : Walk the underground tunnels where lawmakers meet; explore the Visitor Center (by appointment); take in the miles of books at the Library of Congress; and sit on the steps of the highest court in the land, the U.S. Supreme Court.

– † Devotional Discussion: Explore the Christian foundations of our nation’s government:

– Dinner :

– Lincoln Memorial : Contemplate Lincoln’s achievements and stand where Martin Luther King, Jr., stood when he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

– † Devotional Discussion: Reflect on the cost of freedom:

– Vietnam Veterans Memorial : Scan more than 58,000 names inscribed on the Wall, representing the men and women who were killed or missing in action during the Vietnam War.

– Korean War Veterans Memorial : Walk among 19 statues, each depicting a soldier in realistic garb, as they march through Korea’s rough terrain during the Korean War.