CWF - Trip of a Lifetime! 4-H Spotlight

4-H Spotlights

Trip of a Lifetime
by Taryn Overton, Lancaster County 4-H Member

[Trip Photos] Friendship, good times, education and laughter. All are true of the Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) trip. Everyone had such a good time! Thirty-two teens, five sponsors and one bus driver departed on June 10, not to return for 15 days. We traveled by bus to Chicago; Ontario, Canada; Niagara Falls; Corning, New York; New York City; Philadelphia; Valley Forge; Gettysburg; Washington, DC; Mount Vernon; Monticello and the Indianapolis Speedway. We also drove through the Appalachian, Pocono, Allegheny and the Blue Ridge Mountains, which was a real plus. They were beautiful! By the end of the trip, we had all developed new friendships because we had so much time to chat on the bus. Movies, cards and hairstyling helped pass the time, too.

This was the trip of a lifetime. How else could you possibly visit so many places and learn so much? Luckily, we had step-on tour guides at many of our destinations. The guides shared great facts we’d never have gotten just touring on our own. We ate at a variety of restaurants, from fast food to a Hard Rock Café. We even enjoyed “The Jazz Singer” at a dinner theater.

We spent five days with delegations from other states at the National 4-H Center near Washington, DC. There we held mock congressional sessions where we followed legislation through the process of becoming a law. It’s great to learn by doing. Each day we traveled into the city to tour important sites like the Capitol, the Smithsonians, the Holocaust Museum, Arlington Cemetery and all of the memorials. Wednesday, at the Nebraska breakfast, we were excited to meet all five of our Congressmen and Senators.

Sometimes we walked around as one big group. Then we’d have to count off like toddlers to make sure no one had wandered off. We even got all 37 of us safely on and off the metro! Wow, was that a chore! Other times we got to follow our own interests in small groups.

Hey, not everything was serious, though. At the 4-H talent show we did a “synchronized swimming” routine (on a dry stage) that was good for lots of laughs. We also had a fun day of games that involved getting dirty and wet.

This trip was a great opportunity to have fun while learning about citizenship and our country’s history. We’re looking forward to picture-swapping and reminiscing at a reunion in the near future. When it’s your turn, go for it!