High School Student Experience | Parent Info

Give your student the trip of a lifetime!

Close Up’s highly-trained instructors guide students through the nation’s capital to give them a first-hand look at democracy in action. During their ultimate DC experience, your student will:

Be inspired by the famous monuments, world-renowned museums, and hallowed institutions that define our history;
Engage in meaningful discussions with new friends from around the country to expand and complement their worldview;
Journey through time to learn about our country’s Founding Fathers and how their legacy impacts us today;
Get a glimpse of diplomacy in action by discovering an embassy and meeting an ambassador or diplomat;* and
Discuss current events with political experts and policymakers.

*Subject to availability.

Safety Is Our Priority.

We are committed to providing a safe, secure, and memorable experience for your student from the moment they arrive in DC.

Participants are greeted upon arrival by a Close Up staff member at the airport/train station and escorted to their respective hotels.*
Male and female participants are housed on separate floors at each hotel. We have professional security staff that monitor hotel rooms and hallways each night.
Each hotel has a program staff member who resides at the hotel during the program. They are available in case of an emergency and all students and teachers are provided with the Close Up staff room number and contact information.
All students are accounted for at all times via roll calls at all Close Up-led activities from breakfast through nightly room check: 7:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. Participants and staff wear their Close Up name tags at all times.
Our emergency hotline is listed on the back of each name tag and on all student and teacher daily schedules, and is staffed 24/7.
Program supervisors and bus drivers have cell phone access for communication between the Close Up headquarters and program participants at all times.
Security conditions at site locations and all transportation systems are monitored round-the-clock by our staff. Relevant news alerts and instructions are immediately communicated to program staff.
All staff is professionally trained in emergency situation response, including evacuation procedures and routes from all Close Up activity locations.
All of our staff members working with students have undergone criminal background checks and are trained in CPR, AED, and First Aid.
We partner with several leading health care providers to ensure that students have access to quality health care should they need medical attention while on the program.

*For participants that have elected Close Up’s group transportation package.

Our programs are all-inclusive, and provide:

Three meals per day starting with dinner on day of arrival.

Coach bus transportation around the city.

Enriching educational materials.

Top-notch instruction from trained educators.

All logistics, planning, and travel arrangements.

High-quality hotel accommodations.

All entrances fees and gratuities, plus theater.

Booking speakers and congressional meetings.

A dedicated Close Up representative for your school.

Group photo, certificate, and Close Up souvenirs.

Special access to Georgetown Medical Center.

24-hour supervision, including night monitors at hotels.

Help your student prepare for a more meaningful experience.

Close Up’s thrilling programs are driven by student engagement and debate. Here are a few ways you can help your student get ready for their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity:

Stay up-to-date on the local, national, and international news: Read a newspaper together each morning and discuss current issues with family and friends, paying special attention to opinions that differ.
Know your congressional representatives: Research recent voting records and learn about their positions on policies that affect you and your community.
Complete the online enrollment form: Review with your child all Close Up terms and conditions before the program and turn in all necessary forms and signatures.
Review a sample program schedule: Go over the travel itinerary and suggestions for what to pack and wear.

CONTINUE THE LEARNING AT HOME!

Talking with your child about their time in DC will make their learning more concrete and help them continue to get the most out of their Close Up adventure!

LEARN MORE >

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