On Sunday, February 19, seven NDB students, including four seniors and three juniors departed for Close Up, their Washington, D.C. InterSession trip. The week-long trip was organized and led by AP U.S. Government and Politics teacher Karen Fry, who despite never having traveled there with NDB, is a seasoned Close Up alumna.

Students took part in a seven-day program filled with location visits, seminars and workshops. After meeting with staff at orientation, students were sorted into groups of twenty that would become their “workshop” group for the week. Each workshop was led by a Close Up instructor who would lead them through their various activities and visits.

Monday was the first full day of the program, and fittingly, President’s Day. Workshops started with a chilly visit to the Jefferson, Roosevelt and King memorials, preceding a visit to the National Portrait Gallery. They closed off the day with a Pentagon visit and discussion on American issues.

Tuesday began at the World War II memorial. Groups then walked to the Lincoln Memorial, where they admired the intricate symbolism and grandeur of the colossal marble statue.

“I loved seeing the context and history behind [the monument], and the architecture was especially cool to see,” said junior Zoé Shaikh. “I learned a lot about United States history, the good and the bad.”

Heading next door, participants explored the Vietnam and Korean War memorials, which pay homage to fallen soldiers. After lunch, students enjoyed a visit to the National Mall, seeing presidential memorabilia, historical documents and even a visit to the Natural History Museum’s butterfly enclosure.

Tuesday closed with a mock Congressional hearing where participants split into “committees” and debated, amended and either passed or killed an actual bill introduced in Congress. Seniors Lauren Fitzgerald and Cristine Niswander went head-to-head, arguing their positions before the entire Close Up class.

“At first, I did not really know how exactly it was going to work, but found the process was very straightforward and practical,” said Niswander. “It was really interesting to see how people were so passionate about the topic.”

Wednesday’s “Capitol Hill Day” began with a class visit to the Washington Monument, where Tigers enjoyed 360 degree views from within the structure. Shortly after, they embarked towards the United States Capitol building, where they had the unique opportunity of meeting with their Congressman’s office. Staffers answered questions on the steps before inviting the group inside for a tour.

Thursday began with a seminar on the freedom of religion and then headed down the block to the White House. After a break for lunch, the class visited Arlington National Cemetery on what ended up being the warmest day of the trip with a high of 80 degrees. Afterwards, the group returned to the hotel for one final farewell as they joined together for a closing banquet and dance. Although NDB stayed the weekend, they had to say goodbye to the friends who they had made throughout the week.

“It was such an incredible experience having discussions with people from all over the country and getting to know their experiences back home,” said senior participant Meghan Mitchell. “D.C. was amazing. I wish I could do it all again.”

Tigers were back in action on Friday for a visit to the National Air and Space museum, equipped with historic planes, immersive planetary exhibits and more. They then headed down the road to the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the Constitution. The day concluded with a night out with dinner, bowling and arcade games.

A Saturday morning trip to the African American History Museum was a crowd favorite as the breathtaking exhibits and celebrations of African American culture piqued the interest of many. Leaving the building brought a surprise for the group, as a flurry of snow drew a joyful close to the trip as they set off for the airport.

For the first appearance of the trip in years, NDB Close Up came back strong. More than an educational opportunity, complimenting recent AP U.S. Government and AP U.S. History lessons, the week was a chance for the upperclassmen to bond over their excitement for government and politics and envision themselves cemented in the nation’s history.