Close Up Teacher/Coordinator - Mr. Hall (Room 131)Contact - Bryan Adams HS, (972)502-4900, or email me at http://mrhall@mrhallsroom.com
Get your sample "funds-seeking"  letter HERE.

Want to See the Real Washington, D.C.?

Close Up Washington is much more than a field trip - it's an  exciting weeklong study visit to the nation's capital, where you'll have the opportunity to experience your government and the political process firsthand. While most visitors to the city just see Washington's monuments and museums, Close Up Washington participants get an "inside" look at the nation's capital - with the people and the places that make this city unique.

Who Can Take Part?

Close Up does not restrict participants based on beliefs, background, or race. Close Up has no affiliation with any branch of government, political party, or interest group. By presenting many sides of an issue, Close Up's programs leave political judgments up to you.

Beyond any requirements set by your school, all high school students are eligible to participate. And that's only the beginning. In this on-line brochure, you'll find out why Close Up Washington is a once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity. So read on - the adventure starts here!

You, along with students from across the country and maybe even around the world, will embark on a learning adventure like no other - one with active participation, peer interaction, and most of all, fun!

Even as a high school student, you have the power to become an active citizen. The Close Up Washington program is designed to help you understand how you can influence your community, your state, and your nation.

Explore the corridors of power on Capitol Hill. Learn how interest groups, constituent concerns, and party politics can influence your legislators' decisions. Listen to the Supreme Court and think about how the decisions made there affect your life. Read the names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and reflect on the role the United States plays internationally. Focus on the characteristics of national heroes as you explore the Lincoln, the Jefferson, and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorials. Exchange viewpoints on current issues with newsmakers and government experts. From morning to night, Close Up Washington gives you an intensive look at government in action. From Embassy Row to ethnic neighborhoods, our nation's capital becomes a learning laboratory for you and your friends. In congressional meeting rooms or federal agency headquarters, in small-group workshops and guided bus tours, you will find that the Close Up Washington program is government studies like you've never seen before.

Instead of asking questions of your teachers, you will have the opportunity to ask Washington experts during face-to-face meetings in which you will also hear updates on important national issues. Through legislative meetings, topical seminars, and political debates, you'll have the chance to share your views with peers from around the country and also to listen to their opinions. Above all, Close Up combines an unparalleled learning experience with a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Washington Opportunities After High School

Students considering attending one of Washington's many distinguished colleges and universities can make an appointment to visit campuses during free time at the end of the program week.

Meeting the Costs of Participation

You can meet the costs of program participation in several ways. In many schools, students and teachers who are coming on the program work together to organize fundraising activities. (Close Up will provide your teacher with a variety of suggestions for activities, or you can devise your own.) Another way is to take advantage of fellowship funds Close Up awards to participating schools. These funds are intended to help support students from low-to-moderate-income households that meet federal guidelines. Some students seek out donations from local businesses and community groups. Your teacher can provide you with more information on all of these suggestions.

Your Close Up Washington Program Includes:

• Round-trip group transportation
  
• Six nights of lodging at a hotel in the Washington metropolitan area
  
• All meals and gratuities during the program week (Adult participants are responsible for one meal on their own each day, either lunch or dinner.)
  
• All program instruction
  
• All planned sightseeing, entertainment, and excursions, including entrance fees
  
• All academic materials
  
• An evening at the theater or other cultural activity
  
• Around-the-clock emergency nursing consultation
  
• All in-town transportation
  
• A $300 nonrefundable, nontransferable registration deposit
  
• An excess insurance policy (limited to $4,000 life and $2,500 for each accident or illness), secondary to any policy or program providing coverage to the participant
  
  Note: Coverage begins on the date of departure from the community embarkation point and terminates when the group arrives at the community release point after completion of the program. Close Up's insurance does not cover treatment of medical
  conditions or injuries that occurred before your participation on the program; it also does not cover dental work, problems associated with pregnancy, or self-inflicted illness or injury.

How to Enroll

Enrollment is easy. Just follow these steps.

1. Complete the enrollment form. You can get the form from your school's Close Up teacher. Make sure the form has the three required signatures.

2. Submit the enrollment form and a $300 nonrefundable, nontransferable deposit to your Close Up teacher before the deposit/enrollment deadline. (See your teacher for the deadline date.)

3. Submit FULL payment to your Close Up teacher before the final payment deadline. Your Close Up teacher can tell you the exact amount of the payment that is due.

All program payments may be made by check or money order payable to the Close Up Foundation, or by Visa, MasterCard,  American Express, or Discover card.

Cancellations and Refunds

If you decide to withdraw from the program after you have submitted your deposit, notify your Close Up teacher immediately. He or she must contact the Close Up office.

In the event of withdrawal for any reason, the following terms apply.

• The $300 deposit is nonrefundable and nontransferable. You do not get your deposit back.
  
• A full refund (less the $300 nonrefundable deposit) will be made if Close Up receives your
  cancellation notice at least 52 days prior to your scheduled participation date.
  
• If a cancellation is received less than 52 days prior to participation, a cancellation fee of $300 (the deposit) will be charged.
  
• No refunds can be made for merit donations.
  
• The refund check from Close Up will be made payable only to the person from whom payment was received.
  
• Refund requests should be in writing and should include the amount of the refund to be made.
  
• No refunds will be made for disruptions in program activities due to weather or other factors beyond Close Up's control.
  
• Please allow four to six weeks for refunds to be processed.
  
• Unless instructed otherwise, Close Up will send refund checks to the school's address.

Close Up Rules

• Students are expected to cooperate with the Close Up staff at all times.
  
• Male students are not allowed to visit in female students' rooms and vice versa. (Close Up defines "room" to include the threshold of the door.)
  
• Students are absolutely forbidden to possess and/or use alcoholic beverages.
  
• Students are absolutely forbidden to possess and/or use drugs other than those prescribed by a doctor.
  
• Students are absolutely forbidden to possess and/or use firearms or weapons of any kind.
  
• Abuse or defacement of facilities or theft of property is strictly prohibited.

• Students are assigned to rooms and workshop groups with students whose backgrounds may be quite different from their own. These assignments are strictly enforced. Students who are unable or unwilling to comply cooperatively with these assignments are subject to dismissal. Students are also expected to respect the diversity of opinions expressed by other students and speakers.

Infractions of any of these rules may result in immediate dismissal from the program. In case of such a dismissal, your parents and school are notified, and you will return home immediately at your own expense, with no refund of any payments.
These rules are strictly enforced Students who feel that they cannot observe the rules while participating in Close Up Washington are advised not to take part in the program. These rules are in effect at all times; beginning with your arrival at the hotel on the first day. Students are expected to comply with all local, state, and federal laws.

Close Up Policies

Daily Participation-You are required to participate in all scheduled events unless you are ill. It is your personal responsibility to know the daily schedule and be on time. You may not leave the hotel or the group unless you receive specific permission from the Close Up program supervisor.

Evening Curfew-Each evening, the Close Up staff sets curfews that are strictly enforced. Generally, the hotel curfew is 6:00 p.m. and your room curfew is 11:00 p.m.

Motor Vehicles-You may not rent, borrow, or drive a motor vehicle of any sort while participating in the Close Up Washington program. You may not be a passenger in a private motor vehicle (excluding cabs) without prior written parental permission. This policy includes independent time on Friday afternoon.

Meals-Vegetarian and no-pork options are available at all meals. Glatt kosher meals can be provided for an additional cost of $105. Request and payment must be received by Close Up 45 days prior to participation.

Visitors-You may receive visitors only during the independent activity time on Friday and only if you have prior written parental permission. You may not spend a night away from the hotel or leave the group during the Close Up week.

Room and Roommate Assignment-You may request to room with a friend from your school. Although every effort is made to house you with your chosen roommate, Close Up cannot guarantee this. Students are housed four to a room, so you will be rooming with students from another school. Generally each room has two double beds, and two students share each bed. You cannot change roommates after you have been assigned to a room.

School Policies-Students are expected to adhere to the policies of their own school.

Dress-Attire is usually casual during the program week, although there are several occasions when boys may want to wear a coat and tie and girls may want to wear a dress or dress slacks. These occasions include Capitol Hill day, diplomatic briefings, theater night, and the final banquet.

Participants- Close Up does not exclude any participants on the basis of race, gender; disability, religion, income, or national origin.

Close Up Staff-The Close Up Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, offering employment solely on the basis of ability, qualifications, and merit, and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of any characteristic protected by law.

Smoking-Consistent with local law, use of any tobacco product is prohibited.

Valuables-Participants should leave valuables at home. Close Up is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Small-group workshops

Washington Exploration
A study visit of the city's neighborhoods
and landmarks

Lunch: Union Station

Group photograph at the Capitol

Judiciary Seminar
Cynthia Mabry, Associate Dean, Howard University School of Law

Dinner: Hotel

Media Seminar
Wes Kosova, Newsweek

Workshops

Student-teacher meetings

Washington Explorations
Receive an overview of Washington, D.C., by traveling through the neighborhoods and discussing the concerns and challenges facing the metropolitan area not only as a city but also as the nation's capital.

BA students in front of the US Supreme Court.

Walking Workshop
Capitol Hill

Lobbying Study Visits
AFL-CIO, Concerned Women for America, American Bar Association, or Center for Democracy

Lunch: The Pavilion at the Old Post Office

Workshops Without Walls
Guided exploration of selected sites in the city

Large-group activity on the Constitution

Dinner: Armand's Pizzeria

Domestic Issues Seminar
John McNutt, Office of Representative Visclosly (D-Ind.), and Sean Spicer, Office of Representative Foley, (R-Fla.)

Workshops

BA students in front of the US Capital - East Front.

Walking Workshop on Capitol Hill
Close Up transforms Capitol Hill into your classroom. As you walk through the halls of Congress, you'll become acquainted with the legislative process. You may also visit the Supreme Court and consider the historic decisions made there or see the Library of Congress, which was resurrected in 1815 with books from Thomas Jefferson's personal collection.

Public Policy Seminars
While on program, you and your peers will have the chance to meet and discuss hot topics with Washington movers and shakers. Close Up gives you the opportunity to ask questions and hear answers from the people who make the news.

You  will take part in six to eight seminars, each featuring a different Washington expert. Seminars begin with short introductory remarks, followed by a question-and-answer session where you can interact with the speaker. Seminar topics include domestic issues, foreign policy, the judiciary, the media, and current events. Before each seminar, Close Up staff will brief you with background information on the speaker and his or her topic.

Capitol Hill Meetings
With members of Congress or their staffs

Dinner: Fashion Centre at Pentagon City

Workshops

Legislative Meetings
Close Up staff makes every effort to schedule seminars with both your senators and your representative, who are eager to hear what's on your mind. If your representative and senators are not available, meetings will be scheduled with members of their staffs.

With Representative Jeb Hensarling - Bryan Adam's 5th District US Congressman!

Monument Study Visits
Close Up staff will guide your exploration of Washington's historical
sites, including the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the Vietnam
Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorials, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima), and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

Topical Seminars (student's choice)
"Election 2004: Campaigns and the Media"

"The World Trade Organization: Friend or Foe?"

Diplomatic Study Visits
Embassy of France, Embassy of Brazil, Embassy of Israel, Embassy of South Africa, or Embassy of New Zealand

Lunch: The Shops at National Place

Workshops at hotel

Defense Policy Seminar at the Pentagon
Representatives of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines

Dinner: Hard Rock Cafe

Evening at the Theater
Reunion on stage at Ford's Theatre

Topical Seminars
You'll attend a topical seminar designed and led by Close Up instructors. Each "topical" focuses on a current social, political, international, or economic issue. You choose the topical most interesting to you.

No classrooms here. We learn US Government Close Up!

On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial - Washington Monument in the background.

Options include-

Arlington National Cemetery: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; John E Kennedy gravesite, the Challenger Memorial

Smithsonian Institution: Nine city blocks of museums, including the National Museum of American History; National Air and Space Museum, and Museum of African Art

Georgetown: A bustling neighborhood along the Potomac River filled with shops and restaurants; home of Georgetown University

Lunch on your own (meal money provided)

Student-teacher meetings

Farewell banquet and dance

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Honor Guard 24/7.

Washington Monument.

Tell your friends about BA Close Up!