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Cultural Connections Trip: National - Part 1

Washington, D.C.

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.

5th Grade:
November 1-6, 2026

LINKS

2026 Trip Details

Email to Parents: 9/10/26

Fifth Grade Parents:

We hope you’ve had an excellent start to the school year. We have an exciting Cultural Expeditions trip planned, one your son will remember for years to come, especially as he grows in his understanding of government and the history of our nation. Below you will find a few announcements and reminders about the Washington D.C. Trip:

Confirmation

This email confirms your son’s attendance on the Washington D.C. trip.

Trip Leaders:

Tony Rudzena, Mark Fruitt, Jackson Boyd, Kristen Griffith, Stephanie Anderson, Kim Pruitt, Ann Lovelace, and Jason Hewer.

Billing

The remaining trip amount after the deposit will be billed to your account and is due 10/1. If meeting these deadlines creates a challenge, please contact our business office.

Packing List

Boys will follow the PDS dress code while traveling. We ask that each boy bring a PDS hoodie or long sleeve PDS shirt for a couple of group pictures.

Each student is to have one suitcase and one backpack. The average temperatures in Washington D.C. for early November are: 64°F (High) and 46°F (Low). Please be mindful of the temperatures as you pack for the trip.

  • Backpack
  • Raincoat / poncho (no umbrellas)
  • We will take two group photos while on the trip in PDS attire. We will notify the boys of the days they are to wear PDS attire. We ask that each boy bring a PDS hoodie or long sleeve PDS shirt.
  • Each day of the trip will follow PDS dress code.
  • 2 pairs of comfortable walking shoes
  • Sleeping attire
  • Spending money (small bills) / secure wallet
  • Toiletry items (toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, brush/comb).
  • Camera
  • Medication (if needed) in ziploc bag labeled

THINGS NOT TO BRING

  • Pillows
  • Blankets
  • Sleeping bags
  • Phones / tablet / computers / electronic devices

Flights

Flight Departure – Southwest

  • WN4695 1 NOV 2026
  • MEM 8:20AM (Depart) to BNA 9:25AM (Arrive)
  • WN4324 1 NOV 2026
  • 10:05AM (Depart) to DCA 12:50PM (Arrive)

Flight Return – Southwest

  • WN4865 6 NOV 2026.
  • DCA 6:05AM (Depart) to HOU 8:35AM (Arrive)
  • WN875 6 NOV 2026.
  • HOU 9:45AM (Depart) to MEM 11:15AM (Arrive)

The boys will NOT be allowed to return to school on Friday, November 6th. Please make arrangements for your son to be picked up from the Memphis Airport at 11:15am. If your son is getting picked up by someone other than their parents, please let Tony Rudzena know in advance via email, text, or phone call.

Hotel

Crystal Gateway Marriott
1700 Richmond Hwy
Arlington, VA 22202

Remind App

Pictures of the boys’ experiences in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia will be sent via the Remind app. Please text 81010 with message: @pdsdc26 or click this link

Bike Assessment

Boys will tour the various monuments by bike, making it an enjoyable way of taking in the sights and learning about the history of the monuments. To ensure each boy is comfortable riding a bike we will hold a brief assessment of bike skills on campus. This tour requires basic riding skills and is led by biking guides trained in taking groups around Washington D.C.

Bike Waiver Form

Boys will receive a waiver form for the Bike Tour that will be sent home soon. All boys must get the waiver form signed by their parents and returned to Mr. Rudzena by Oct. 29th.

Food Costs

The cost of breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be each boy’s responsibility. We typically will eat at food courts. We suggest that each person budget $60 daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks ($10 for breakfast, and $20 for lunch and $20 for dinner, $10 for snacks).

You may wish to send cash with your son (if so, please place it in an envelope). If you are concerned about your son keeping up with his money, you may give this to his group leader at the airport. They will distribute his money as needed.

If you prefer to send him with a debit or credit card, please let your group leader know. We highly suggest using a Greenlight card. Boys have been having trouble with Gift Cards at many food venues in the past few trips, so we will strongly encourage you to NOT use a gift card.

Next Communication – Late October

Another communication regarding the trip will be sent late-October with room assignments, medication instructions, and any remaining forms to be completed.

Packing List

Boys will follow the PDS dress code while traveling. We ask that each boy bring a PDS hoodie or long sleeve PDS shirt for a couple of group pictures.

Each student is to have one suitcase and one backpack. The average temperatures in Washington D.C. for early November are: 64°F (High) and 46°F (Low). Please be mindful of the temperatures as you pack for the trip.

  • Backpack
  • Raincoat / poncho (no umbrellas)
  • We will take two group photos while on the trip in PDS attire. We will notify the boys of the days they are to wear PDS attire. We ask that each boy bring a PDS hoodie or long sleeve PDS shirt.
  • Each day of the trip will follow PDS dress code.
  • 2 pairs of comfortable walking shoes
  • Sleeping attire
  • Spending money (small bills) / secure wallet
  • Toiletry items (toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, brush/comb).
  • Camera
  • Medication (if needed) in ziploc bag labeled

THINGS NOT TO BRING

  • Pillows
  • Blankets
  • Sleeping bags
  • Phones / tablet / computers / electronic devices
FAQ's
2022-reflection-pool
Senate
Supreme-Court
jefferson-memorial2
2022-philly
House-Chamber
2022-arlingoton
lincoln-memorial-statue
2022-capitol
2022-capitol2
jefferson-memoria
arlingtonnationalcemetery
lincoln-memorial
Smithsonian
monticello

Scholarships for Cultural Expeditions

We desire for every boy to participate and have these seminal experiences and for 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.

We offer a need-based scholarship providing over a limited amount of students the opportunity to participate in the Cultural Expeditions Program.

Apply for Scholarship

Tentative Itinerary

Nov. 1

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. 2

Breakfast
Naval Academy Tour
Lunch in Annapolis
Recess on the National Mall
Air and Space Museum
Dinner at Gallery Place
Lincoln Assasination Tour

Nov. 3

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. 4

Breakfast in Crystal City
US Capitol Tour
Lunch at the Capitol
Library of Congress Tour
Recess at National Mall
National Archives
Dinner at Pentagon City Mall
Pentagon Memorial

Nov. 5

Breakfast
Depart for Monticello
Lunch at Michie's Tavern
Spy Museum
Dinner at L'Enfant Plaza 

Nov. 6

Breakfast
Depart DCA 7:20pm
Arrive MEM 12:05pm

Frequently Asked Questions

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 1 - November 6

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 Washington D.C. Trip?

The Early Bird cost is $2350 covering flights, hotels, charter buses, tour guides, and chaperones. After the Early Bird deadline, the cost is $2500. Food costs 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. The cost of breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be each boy’s responsibility.  We suggest that each student budget $60 daily for breakfast, 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 $60 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, we have PDS Dress code for the trip. 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, 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

For more information on our Cultural Expeditions program, contact Tony Rudzena.