Cultural Connections Trip: National - Part 1

Washington D.C. & Philadelphia

As a part of our Cultural Expeditions Program at PDS, we believe that giving students the opportunity to explore and grow in their understanding of their own culture, its history, and their nation’s capital is essential to developing their understanding of civic duty, their identity as U.S. citizens, and their ability to think globally. This trip is intended to immerse our students in the functions of our federal government, our nation’s history, and to experience one of the most important cities of the world.

Rising 5th Grade:
November 3 - 8, 2024

Parent Meeting
May 9, 2024 • 7:45am • Hussey Commons

Registration Deadline: May 15

PRICING
Through May 15, 2024	$2,250.00
After May 15, 2024	$2,500.00

The cost covers flights, hotels, charter buses, tour guides, and chaperones. Food costs (except breakfasts) and souvenirs are excluded.

Last day to register is August 30, 2024.

A $500 deposit is due at registration. The deposit will be added to PDS accounts on June 1, 2024. The balance of your registration fee will be added to your PDS account on October 1, 2024.

Scholarships

Our goal is for every boy to experience the benefits of joining this program and preparing them to be a global citizen. Scholarships are available.

Scholarship Deadline: May 15

Learn More

The He Family Scholarship for Cultural Expeditions

With the expansion of the PDS Cultural Expeditions Program, we desire for every boy to participate and have these seminal experiences. Through the He Family Scholarship provided by the He Family Foundation, boys with financial need are able to step into historical spaces and cities to understand the culture and experience those locations play in our history.

The He Family Scholarship for Cultural Expeditions is a need based scholarship providing over 10 students the opportunity to participate in the Cultural Expeditions Program.

Each student receiving the scholarship submits a short reflection paper on his time and learning on the respective trip.

Apply for Scholarship

Tentative Itinerary

Nov. 3

Arrive at Memphis Airport at 5:30am
Depart Memphis at 7:40am
Arrive at DCA - 12:45pm
Arrive at Mt. Vernon for Lunch
Tour of Mansion and grounds
Hotel Check in Crystal City
Dinner

Nov. 4

Breakfast
U.S. Capitol Tour
Lunch at U.S. Capitol
African American Museum
Recess on the National Mall
Dinner at Gallery Place
Lincoln Assasination Tour

Nov. 5

Breakfast
National Museum of History
Lunch at the Museum of Art
Tour Arlington Cemetery
Changing of the Guard, Continue Tour
Football or Frisbee on the National Mall
Dinner
Biking Monuments Tour

Nov. 6

Breakfast in Crystal City
Air and Space Museum
Lunch at the Art Gallery
Library of Congress Tour
Recess at National Mall
National Archives
Dinner at Pentagon City Mall
Pentagon Memorial

Nov. 7

Breakfast
Depart for Philadelphia
Lunch at Reading Terminal
Constitutional Walking Tour
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Dinner at Reading Terminal
Depart for Hotel
Arrive at Hotel

Nov. 8

Breakfast
Spy Museum
Lunch L'Enfant Plaza
Depart DCA 3:20pm
Arrive MEM 8:05pm

Frequently Asked Questions

Are scholarships available for Cultural Expeditions Trips?

Our goal is for every boy to experience the benefits of joining this program and preparing them to be a global citizen. Scholarships are available.

Please use this form to apply for a scholarship.

PDS will utilize the same information provided for your Variable Tuition application to determine eligibility and scholarship amount for Cultural Expedition Program. If you are applying for a CEP Scholarship and not enrolled in our variable tuition program, please contact the Business Office for more information.

SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE

The deadline to apply for a scholarship is April 8, 2024.

What do we visit on the trip?

We will visit the Capitol, Supreme Court, pass by the White House, Library of Congress, a bike tour of the monuments, visit the major memorials, Mt. Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, the National Museum of American History, and the Air and Space Museum. We try to provide the students with a balance of historical, cultural, and governmental sites tempered by a fun way of experiencing this from biking the city to investigative walking tours.

Which faculty will chaperone the Washington D.C. trip?

Mr. Tony Rudzena oversees the trip and will be accompanied by several faculty. Prior to the trip, we will notify parents of the various faculty members attending. Faculty act in a similar capacity to a camp counselor if your son has been to a summer camp. Throughout the trip, each boy will be part of a smaller group supervised by a faculty member. Communications will be sent during the trip via Remind App with pictures of your son each day.

What are the dates for the Washington D.C. Trip?

5th Grade Washington D.C. Trip – November 3 – 8, 2024

How will hotel rooms be supervised?

Hotel rooms will be monitored by chaperones. Additionally, each night a security guard is present on the floor in the hotel that’s booked for PDS boys. Typically, there will only be two boys per room. All rooms are sequestered on a floor with chaperones and a security guard present throughout each night.

What is the cost of the 2024-2025 Washington D.C. & Philadelphia Trip?

The cost is $2250 covering flights, hotels, charter buses, tour guides, and chaperones. Food costs (except breakfasts) and souvenirs are excluded.

Is the Cultural Expeditions Trip required?

Our desire is for every boy of PDS to experience their nation’s Capital and many of the most important sites in the founding of our country. While Cultural Expeditions Trips are not mandatory they are an essential component of PDS culture and curriculum. Students not electing to participate in the program will complete the same curriculum and engage in project based learning on campus.

What type of ID should I bring?

We will provide students with a student ID that is sufficient for airline travel within the United States.

Is the cost of food included in our trip?

Food costs are not included in the amount except breakfast. The cost of lunch, and dinner will be each boy’s responsibility. We suggest that each student budget $30 daily for lunch, dinner, and snacks. In order to help you budget for food costs, we will give a precise schedule of meals prior to the trip. Boys typically bring cash and often a credit card or a mix of both. Faculty will help boys look after and allocate their money as needed or requested.

How much money should I bring?

The cost of breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be each boy’s responsibility. We suggest each student budget $50 daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

In order to help you budget with food costs, we will give a precise schedule of meals prior to the trip. Boys typically bring cash and often a credit card or a mix of both.

Faculty will help boys look after and allocate their money as needed or requested.

What should I wear?

We recommend dressing with layers that can be removed or worn as the weather dictates, such as a PDS collared shirt and sweatshirt with a rainproof windbreaker. We always provide a packing list of items to be worn on the trip. We are not traveling to Siberia, but remember that your extremities tend to get cold first so plan accordingly. We walk 7+ miles a day so it is essential that everyone wear a good pair of walking shoes. If you plan to purchase these prior to the trip, we suggest that you wear them a few times to break them in before the trip to avoid blisters. The packing list will be sent several weeks before the trip.

Is there a dress code on the trip?

Yes. When we attend Arlington National Cemetery for the wreath laying ceremony, those students selected for laying the wreath (if the wreath laying ceremony is allowed) will need to comply with the dress requirements stipulated by Arlington National Cemetery. The day we visit the Capitol and Supreme Court, students will need to wear PDS spirit shirts or hoodies.

Additionally, no baseball caps are allowed.

Where is the hotel located?

Each year is typically different, depending on hotel availability. We will typically stay near Reagan Airport in Crystal City, VA.

How much walking is there on the trip?

It’s safe to assume that you will walk on average 7+ miles a day. Since we travel primarily by Metro, it requires that we walk from our hotel to the Metro to every site on the itinerary. We make this an active trip for boys to harness their energy and keep them engaged.

What electronics am I allowed to bring?

Electronics are not allowed on Cultural Expedition Trips. Daily communications are sent through Remind App and trip chaperones.

Am I allowed to carry a backpack to the places we visit?

Yes. However, your bag will be examined and at some federal buildings you are not allowed to bring drinks inside. Chaperones will communicate what is allowed in bags before visiting federal buildings.

Am I allowed to check-in early for my flight?

No. We will check in as a group on the day of our departure. Please do not attempt to check-in early online