Amazing Time!

by Hilda Edgerton

OMG!!!!!! We are having an amazing time! The students have been engaged constantly as we visit all of the popular tourist sites. Our journey began with a tour of the Gettysburg Museum which kept the students attention. The students gained a wealth of rich history and insight about The famous Gettysburg address and much more. Believe it or not.............although it was raining and we had to walk a few miles to get to the actual cemetery the students had few complaints due to the great learning experience the students put personal feelings aside! We are so proud of our students.

The real life experiences our students have experienced is lifelong. The Close Up organization instructors are doing a fantastic job keeping the students engaged as well. We even have class talk or discussions on the bus after visiting memorials. Pretty cool, huh....................... ;)

Well off we go to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.................We'll check in later.

Oh yeah, great places we have visited............:
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Arlington National Cemetery
Natural History Museum
Lincoln Memorial
Washington Monument

The wheels on the bus go round and round!

Our trip has been phenomenal so far! From the historic and hallow grounds of Gettysburg to the unforgettable conversations with war veterans at the WWII Memorial, to the dramatic presentation at the African American Civil War Museum, our students have been experiencing treasured lessons that will last a life time! Although we are fatigued, we excitingly anticipate our last adventures in Washington, D.C.!

VECA Travels to DC

VALDOSTA -- The classroom will come alive for eighth graders at the Valdosta Early College Academy (VECA), as they travel to Washington, D.C., and spend five days in the nation’s capital.

The group of 29 students, along with teachers Johnnie Marshall, Hilda Edgerton, and Matt Cribbs, left early Sunday morning to begin what will be an educational experience of a lifetime.

The tour begins at Gettysburg with a comprehensive study of the famous Civil War battle. The students will also visit the Capitol, National Archives, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

“Eighth grade students in Georgia study American history and specifically the Civil War period,” said Dr. Brian Gerber, VSU’s liaison to VECA. “This trip will not just focus on history but integrate all subjects including language arts, math and science. The trip gives the students a strong foundation in all subjects.”

The students spent last year preparing for the trip and conducting various fund raisers to pay their expenses, including the South Georgia Pecan holiday sale, which raised approximately $8,000.

“The community has been very supportive. VSU’s faculty, local businesses and many individuals have donated money to pay for the trip,” Gerber said. "It has been a community-wide effort to send the students on this educational trip.”

The students will journal about their experiences and excerpts, along with photos, will be posted on blog located at http://veca2dc.blogspot.com