81 Eighth Graders Explore our Nation’s founding
I was lucky to participate in The Founding of a Nation trip from April 8-12 and travel with 80 of my classmates to visit Washington D.C., Mt. Vernon, Williamsburg, Philadelphia, and the Gettysburg National Military Park.
It was a fun and memorable experience. The Belen chaperones and the Close Up staff were brilliant in that they got us interested in educational activities. Every place that we visited was awesome!
On April 8, we began our trip by visiting Arlington National Cemetery. It was very cool to be able to see such a historic and famous landmark, but above all, it was humbling to be on such hallowed ground. I enjoyed seeing Robert E. Lee's mansion. The information that Mr. Collins gave regarding the history of Robert E. Lee and the mansion was very intriguing. It was also amazing that we got the opportunity to see the grave of American hero, John Glenn.
On April 9, we visited Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. It was cool to see how people in colonial times dressed, worked, and how their crafts were their actual jobs. My favorite parts of Williamsburg were visiting the House of Burgesses and the colonial prison. The food there was great. Another part that was of great interest was the printing press and learning how much work went into printing one page.
Next, on April 10, we visited Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, we saw the Liberty Bell, the U.S Mint, and Independence Hall, which was a favorite place because the Declaration of Independence and our nation's most sacred document, the Constitution, was written there. When we were done with Philadelphia, we went to a restaurant in Amish country. It was really interesting to see how the Amish dress and live.
On April 11, we traveled to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Upon our arrival, we saw the Gettysburg Cyclorama, a painting which measures 42ft by 377ft and accurately depicts the Battle of Gettysburg in great detail. Next, we visited the battlefields of Gettysburg and saw the cannons that were used in battle.
Finally, on April 12, we visited both Virginia and Washington D.C. Visiting Mount Vernon, George Washington’s plantation house, was very interesting. We learned about all the land that he owned and all of the things that occurred on his land. Going to our nation’s capital was awesome. In particular, it was fascinating to see the architecture, size, and scope of the Capitol Building.
We were very lucky to have been given the opportunity to go on this extraordinary trip. It was incredible to share this experience with my Belen brothers. I can't wait until my next Close Up journey, junior year.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.