The sixth grade class traveled on Amtrak for a three day and two night adventure in Washington, D.C. They visited Smithsonian Museums, were tossed and turned in flight simulators, and sang songs from the Civil Rights Era in front the Woolworth's counter relocated from Greensboro, North Carolina. They explored the Mall and all of the monuments and memorials found there, attended a jazz concert at The Kennedy Center, went to The National Zoo, found a cacao plant at the US Botanical Gardens, and ate in Chinatown. They explored U-Street's history and ate at the world famous Ben's Chili Bowl. While in D.C., students stayed at William Penn House, a Quaker hospitality center located blocks from the Capitol Building. While there they met students from Highpoint Friends School and travelers from Jordan and Scotland.
Here are some excerpts from reflections that they wrote on the train ride back to Philadelphia:
"We joked around with shocking gum...bought cool hats and bragged about who was the coolest."
"There's one thing I'm going to remember...and that's Ben's Chili Bowl. I saw all of these familiar faces on the walls. Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, and even Obama. I couldn't believe I was in the same place all those people ate."
"One part of the trip that I will never forget is the jazz concert at The Kennedy Center. Picture this, hundreds of strangers together in a room brought there...to listen to one band... made up of seven young musicians...from different places in the world...coming together for their love
of jazz...something I can't explain happened that gave me a feeling of love in the room."
"It seemed like no matter what happened we had fun."
"I will never forget seeing the Lincoln Memorial with my class...first of all, it is beautiful and when you view it with your friends, you see new opinions and ideas from their perspectives."
"I felt like we were a family sitting down to eat...all of us were laughing, having a good time, and just able to be real around each other. I think this is an example of how our class has grown and gotten close. It was a really happy time and I will keep it in my heart forever."
"I will always remember riding on the Metro...standing and holding on to the poles with my friends...rocking back and forth (sometimes falling). A very simple memory but I enjoyed it a lot."
"One thing that we did was go to a concert at The Kennedy Center...it was not how I expected it to be...the whole concert was unbelieveable. I like it a whole lot more than I thought I would have."
