Thirteen Langford Area students and several adults recently got to do a little traveling during their summer break. The group took a fourday trip to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. And by all accounts, they had a great time even as they learned and experienced a great deal.
This isn’t the first time the school has organized a trip to Washington. JaKelle Hardy, who was one of the trips leaders, said that Langford Area had made the trip in the past, with the most recent being in 2019. But since COVID, the trip hasn’t happened.
Last year, they started planning a new venture that would take them to the capital city. Hardy explains that they worked with World Classrooms, an educational travel company that was founded and is still based out of Aberdeen. “They were great to work with,” said Hardy. “They were really well-organized.”
JT Berger, the World Classroom Travel Ambassador that the school worked with, explained that their company enjoys working with smaller schools. “Besides Langford, we’ve planned trips for Groton and Waubay as well,” he said. “We work with schools all over the Midwest, including the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa.”
The company plans some senior trips to New York City, but Berger said their main focus is planning Washington D.C. trips like the one Langford Area went on. “Our emphasis is education but of course we want everyone to have fun as well,” noted Berger.
For the LA group, they took off on their adventure and met up with students from St. John’s school in Jamestown, N.D. that they would share the experience with. The group boarded a plane and headed east. For some of the 13 local students, it was even their first trip on an airplane. The group was made up of three eighth graders, five ninth graders, three tenth graders, and an eleventh grader. Hardy’s fifth grade son Booker also got to join the adventure since she and her husband Chad were both chaperones.
When the travelers arrived, they hit the ground running. They met up with their World Classroom Chief Experience Officer (CEO) who would take care of them throughout the trip. Berger added that the company also engages with local experts who guide them through the various stops.
On the first day, the group visited the Museum of American History and Culture, the National Archives, and (Continued on p12) World War II and Washington Monuments. On day two, they saw Arlington Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum, The White House, the Lincoln and Vietnam Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.
Day three took them on a bus tour of Gettysburg & the battlefield, plus the Jefferson, FDR and MLK monuments before finishing up with the National Harbor. On their last day, they enjoyed Mt. Vernon, Washington’s Plantation, Iwo Jima, and wrapped up at Capitol Hill, before hitting the airport.
Hardy said it was indeed a whirlwind, but a great time. “We were moving non-stop,” she emphasized. “But the kids were all great with really positive attitudes. And the staff was awesome and so great to work with.”
Brynn Samson who will be in the ninth grade this fall said the trip was her first time in D.C. Her mother Krissa and brother Jake were also on the adventure. Samson said she had a lot of fun on the trip but also found it to be a good learning experience. She most enjoyed Mount Vernon, the home of first president George Washington. She also found the Holocaust Museum meaningful and liked the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials. “It was a great way to learn about the history of our country,” commented Samson.
Samson said the trip was eye-opening as well. “There was so much going on and just so many more people than we are used to,” she stated. Hardy added that some students saw a protest for the first time and other new things that they might not get to experience in a small Midwest town.
Tucker Hardy, who will be a tenth grader this fall, also went on the trip. “My favorite part was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” he said. “It was cool to see how perfect the guards are at protecting the tomb. Arlington National Cemetery was a great place to show true respect to the veterans that served us.” He added that he also enjoyed the other veterans memorials. He said, “I would recommend this trip to anyone, but it makes it much better if you go with World Classrooms because they take you right where you need to go and show you all the great things. It was a great experience.”
Like Tucker, those who took the trip will no doubt look back on it fondly. Some might even get the chance to go again. Hardy explained that they are already hoping to take another trip in 2025 and will work on planning that starting this fall. “If students can start planning now, they’ll have time to do some fundraising to held with costs as well,” said Hardy.
Berger said that other local schools are also invited to reach out to World Classrooms if they are interested in participating in future trips. He asserted, “It really is the trip of a lifetime, and we would love to get more small schools involved.”
