New York City to Washington DC & South Carolina

July 11 - 21, 2024

Our destination is South Carolina, with an important stop in Washington DC. The upcoming July ‘24 trip is now fully booked, but please register for updates about future trips.

In Washington, we will learn about public service by meeting a variety of Capitol Hill professionals:

legislators
Congressional committee staffers
lobbyists

We’ll also tour the Department of Justice, the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

South Carolina is our ultimate destination because, relative to our home base in New York City, it is far enough away to have markedly different culture, history and geography. We’ll learn to understand these differences, recognize our many similarities and appreciate the strength we draw from each.

We will also enjoy and learn about South Carolina’s:

world-class dining
robust local agriculture
long, rich, complicated history
notable recent societal progress
breathtaking, diverse natural beauty

We travel by train between NYC, DC and SC because it’s the most green-conscious mode of transportation. To watch the zooming landscape gradually transform, also highlights the vast distances between us, helps explain our differences and encourages us to appreciate our still many commonalities.

The only payment is a $400 commitment fee, which covers transportation, lodging, admission fees, breakfasts and dinners. More details provided upon registration.

Step 1: Check out our itinerary

July 11 (Thu): New York City to Washington DC via Amtrak; meetings in DC

July 12: explore Washington DC

July 13: Washington DC to Charleston SC via Amtrak

July 14-16: explore historic, evocative Charleston

July 17-18: explore the capital city of Columbia

July 19-20: explore the reborn city of Greenville

July 21 (Sunday): Greenville SC to New York City via Amtrak

The itinerary will be jam-packed with fun, fascination, friendship and new fellowship, resulting in minds better equipped to understand, relate to and communicate with others who may be quite different.. or who may be surprisingly similar. The experiences are uniquely-curated and people-focused.

The South Carolina experience includes:

Kayaking or canoeing on local waterways
Boating Cypress Gardens swamp preserve (from The Notebook)
The eagerly-awaited International African-American Museum
McLeod Plantation and its unvarnished depiction of history
Tours of two college campuses
Half-day visit to Fort Jackson Army Base
Free time on Charleston’s famed King Street and Greenville’s scenic Main Street
Visit farmers, learning about our connection to earth…and each other
Eat diverse cuisine: local fast food to soul food to seafood to BBQ and more
Dine with South Carolina high schoolers
Community service activity

Please note that the itinerary may vary from original plans for any number of reasons. Please also note that no travel is risk-free, despite precautions, accidents may occur.

Start Registration

How are our trips different?

Unique experiences for college applications
Rare opportunity to meet Capitol Hill professionals
Intimate group of ~6 students
Green-conscious train travel
Travel with organization founder…not a hired hand.
No passport necessary
No lost luggage or other air travel headaches
Lack of language barrier enhances socializing & self-learning
Learn about America to promote the fellowship we need…to become leaders our nation in the 21st Century requires

Step 2: Check out scenes from our pilot trip to South Carolina

Get a glimpse of our pilot trip in August 2022 with a few NYC area high schoolers

Click on the photos below to view some of the experiences!

Charleston

Columbia

Greenville

Step 3: Check out these testimonials

Step 4: Let’s Connect!

Click below to register for our newsletter and get information about our next trip: