Fourteen Arkansas City High School students recently traveled to Washington, D.C., and Baltimore as part of an educational trip organized by sponsors of the ACHS Multicultural Club and open to all ACHS students.
During the four-day trip, students visited Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives, Mount Vernon, Smithsonian museums, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The group also toured national memorials and other historic sites tied to key moments in American history.
According to ACHS teacher and trip sponsor Brandon Pride, the experience gave students an opportunity to connect classroom learning with the places and events they have studied.
“One of the reasons this trip is so important to me is that it gives students the opportunity to experience history rather than just read about it,” Pride said. “As a history teacher, I’ve found that students make stronger connections when they can stand in the places they’ve studied and see firsthand the stories that shaped our nation.”
One highlight of the trip was a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where students watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visited the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy.
Students also toured the U.S. Capitol, viewed the nation’s founding documents at the National Archives and explored several Smithsonian museums.
“It was a huge opportunity, and seeing all these large parts of history in person was really interesting and inspiring,” said ACHS junior Naydelin Garcia. Continue below ad.
For trip sponsor and ACHS interpreter Mayra Fernandez, visiting the 9/11 Memorial was among the most memorable moments of the trip.
“As we walked by the names, I realized some of the people would have been about my parents’ age,” Fernandez said. “As an immigrant who watched 9/11 unfold from my hometown in Mexico, I never imagined I would one day have the opportunity to visit the memorial in person.”
The group also spent time at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
“Visiting sites like the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Holocaust Memorial Museum allows students to engage with history on a much deeper level,” Pride said. “These experiences help them better understand the struggles, sacrifices and triumphs of people throughout history while encouraging empathy, critical thinking and civic responsibility.”
Pride said he believes the lessons students learned during the trip will stay with them long after they return home.
“I truly believe that the lessons students learn on this trip will stay with them far longer than anything they could learn from a textbook alone,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to bring history to life and help students see themselves as part of the ongoing American story.”
The trip was made possible through the efforts of ACHS Multicultural Club sponsors, participating students and their families.
