Close Up

Once the pomp and circumstance of the Inauguration winds down, Washington settles in and gets down to business. Don’t miss this exciting time as the newly-elected U.S. President & Congress take office!

During our 5-day/4-night President’s First Week program, students will examine the contributions of past presidents, discuss the changing roles of Congress and the Presidency, and gain an understanding for how history shaped our current political system. Beginning with a day in Philadelphia, students will examine the powers of the Presidency and the struggles our new nation faced in designing a government of checks and balances. Students will also visit the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the National Constitution Center – the most interactive history museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution. The excitement continues in the nation’s capital, where students will explore the famous monuments and memorials of D.C., Ford’s Theater, Arlington Cemetery and historic Mt. Vernon estate. Students will engage in discussions at these various sites and examine the contributions of past presidents such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln. Students will also visit the National Archives to see our founding documents first-hand and participate in a special mock Congress activity where they will discuss bills currently before Congress!

Like our flagship programs, Close Up’s President’s First Week program is not just a tour, nor is it a series of lectures. Close Up takes what students learn in the classroom and brings it to life! Close Up really does make learning fun!

Throughout the week, students explore DC and interact with students from all across the country. With the help of our program instructors, students consider how the people and events represented in DC’s memorials impact their lives today. As a non-profit, non-partisan organization, Close Up helps students learn more about their history and government while considering a variety of viewpoints. This keeps students interested, informed, and engaged. They are not just passively listening to a tour guide—they are making a personal connection with the famous places of the nation’s capital.