Christian Explorations – Student Tour
Students grow in their personal faith while discovering the history of Washington and exploring all the symbols of our Christian Heritage at well known, iconic locations, such as The National Archives, The Supreme Court, The Lincoln Memorial, and much more! Time for devotionals, prayer, scripture discussions, and reflections can be allocated at your request and at specific locations and may include places of worship such as The Washington National Cathedral, The Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Pope John Paul II Shrine, and the Franciscan Monastery.
Duration
5 Days /4 Nights
Group size
40 + 4
Customization
Available!
Price
From $565.00
Highlights Include:
- Licensed, Professional Tour Leader
- Monuments & Memorial Touring
- Arlington National Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns
- George Washington's Mount Vernon and a tour of his mansion and estate
- Old Town Alexandria and Christ Church
- United States Holocaust Museum
- Capitol Hill and the Capitol Visitor Center
- Library of Congress
- Supreme Court
- White House Visitor Center
- Ford's Theatre and the Petersen Center for Education and Leadership
- Museum of the Bible
- Washington, DC Places of Worship
Sample Itinerary: Day 1 - Sacrifices of Others - Monuments & Memorials
- Arrive in our Nation’s Capital & meet your licensed, professional Tour Leader who will point out references to America’s Christian foundation at various monuments and memorials, such as:
- the Vietnam Veterans Memorial,
- the Lincoln Memorial,
- the Korean War Veterans Memorial,
- the World War II Memorial,
- and more!
- Stop at Arlington National Cemetery, America’s shrine to valor and sacrifice. Also located within these 624+ acres is the historic Arlington House and Memorials for the Space Shuttle Challenger Astronauts, Women in Military Service, and many other monuments for nearly every major sacrifice which affected our country. Be sure to stop by to see the Changing of the Guard at The Tomb of the Unknowns which speaks of our nation’s debt to the many whose ultimate sacrifice helped make a nation free.
- Suggested Discussion: The Sacrifices of Others.
- Fuel up on an included dinner at a local favorite.
- Visit the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Park honoring the 184 victims of the September 11, 2001, attack on The Pentagon. At the heart of the memorial, 184 illuminated benches are arranged according to the victim’s ages, from 3 to 71. Each Memorial Unit is also specifically positioned in the Memorial to distinguish victims who were in the Pentagon from those who were on board American Airlines Flight 77.
- Check in to your local area hotel for the night.
- Enjoy breakfast and optional morning prayer at your hotel this morning.
- Visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon, America’s most visited historic house, situated on a grassy slope on the banks of the Potomac River, and where the “Father of Our Country” escaped the rigors of public office and enjoyed the life of a successful Virginia planter. Tour the Mansion itself, many outbuildings and gardens, the Ford Orientation Center & Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center.
- Lunch is included while exploring Mount Vernon.
- Visit Old Town Alexandria and its historic cobblestone streets.
- See Christ Church dating back to 1773, and where silver plaques mark the pews of George Washington, who served as a vestryman, and of Robert E. Lee who was also a parishioner.
- See Robert E. Lee’s Boyhood Home.
- Explore the United States Holocaust Museum. This somber and moving museum tells the story of the Holocaust through artifacts, films, photographs, and oral histories. The museum’s primary mission is to inform Americans about the Holocaust, to remember those who suffered, and to inspire visitors to contemplate the moral implications of their choices and responsibilities as citizens in an interdependent world. While touring, be sure to stop and walk through “Remember the Children: Daniel’s Story”, an exhibition for youngsters presenting the history of the Holocaust in ways that children can understand. The Children’s Tile Wall, (also known as the Wall of Remembrance) is located on the museum’s lower level and memorializes the children murdered during the Holocaust. American schoolchildren painted the more than 3,000 tiles, many of which call for love, peace, hope, remembrance, and freedom.
- Enjoy an included dinner.
- Tour the Memorials for:
- Thomas Jefferson,
- FDR, and
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Suggested discussions: The Faith of our Founding Fathers and Nazi Racism compared to Racism in America today.
- Return to the hotel for the evening.
- Enjoy breakfast and optional morning prayer before departing the hotel this morning.
- Take an incredible Guided Tour of the United States Capitol Building Visitors Center on Capitol Hill, the seat of America’s government. The US Capitol has housed Congress since 1800 and is one of the most imposing public buildings in the world. The Capitol is where Congress meets to write the laws of our nation, and where presidents are inaugurated. Its ceilings are decorated with historic images, and its halls are lined with tall statuaries and paintings representing great events and people in the nation’s history.
- Enjoy lunch at the Capitol while touring.
- Visit the Library of Congress, the largest national library in the world with more than 100 million items in three buildings, and is perhaps Washington’s most richly ornamented building.
- Depart on foot and tour the Supreme Court. Within the walls of this white marble monument, the third branch of our government exercises its mandate to protect and interpret the spirit of the Constitution.
- Tour the White House Visitors Center where you can explore presidential artifacts, interactive exhibits, and a 14 minute film taking you inside the White House and First Families.
- Stop for a photo opp of the White House.
- Tour Ford’s Theatre, still an active theatre, restored as it was the night John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln. The historic site also permits your entrance to the Petersen House, the Center for Education and Leadership, the Ford’s Theatre Museum, and, of course, Ford’s Theatre itself.
- Tour the National Archives, home to the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. At night, the display is lowered 20 feet into a bomb and fireproof vault.
- Depart and visit the Air Force Memorial.
- Suggested discussions: Reflect on the cost of freedom and give thanks to our public servants.
- Enjoy an included dinner.
- Walk through the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for a spectacular view of the city from the terrace, and see the famous bronze bust of John F. Kennedy in the grand foyer.
- On the way back to the hotel, stop by the beautifully illuminated U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima).
- Enjoy breakfast and optional prayer at the hotel.
- Spend the morning experiencing the Museum of the Bible, the new, state of the art, 420,000 square foot facility. Discover one of the world’s largest private collections of biblical objects and artifacts which convey the global impact and compelling history of the Bible in a unique, and powerful way, including an absolutely amazing theater/ride experience where “riders” fly through Washington, DC and see the many sights where Biblical Scripture has been etched within the monuments, memorials, and buildings throughout the entire city.
- Enjoy an included lunch.
- This afternoon, tour the place of worship of your choice: The Washington National Cathedral, the Franciscan Monastery, Pope John Paul II Shrine, or any other local church of choice. Volunteer opportunities are also available.
- This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner and closing discussion:
- Suggested Topic: What is my purpose and how does it play a role in God’s plan for our Nation’s future?
- Return to your hotel.
- Enjoy breakfast at the hotel prior to checking out.
- Enjoy a visit to the National Zoo or visit the Smithsonian Museum of your choice along the National Mall before departing for home.
Photos
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