Los Alamos Eighth Graders Offered Annual Washington D.C. Spring Trip

Organizers of the long-running spring break trip to Washington, D.C. told parents Jan. 2 that it is not too late to reserve spots for Los Alamos Middle School and homeschool 8th grade students. The four-day, three-night private trip, offered to local students for 41 years, includes round-trip air transportation, hotel accommodations in Arlington or Crystal City, meals, sightseeing, admissions, in-city transportation, night chaperones, and accident and health insurance. An on-call doctor will be available for student illness or emergencies.

Highlights on the itinerary include tours of the White House and the U.S. Capitol, visits to the Holocaust Museum and Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, Arlington National Cemetery, and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. The group will conduct night tours of the Lincoln, FDR, and Jefferson memorials and visit war memorials including Iwo Jima, the Korean and Vietnam memorials, and the Pentagon Memorial. On March 30 at 9:15 a.m., four students will be selected to lay the morning wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

Parents are being asked to sign up quickly to lock in reservations and the current trip price, which organizers warned could increase after Jan. 9. Flexible payment plans are available through WorldStrides, the travel provider facilitating the trip. Because the excursion is a private trip and not school-sponsored, families should note that school district resources, subsidies, and liability protections tied to school-sponsored activities may not apply.

The trip’s public health provisions, accident and health insurance plus an on-call physician, address some immediate medical concerns of out-of-state travel. Still, families should review students’ routine immunizations, bring necessary medications and documentation, and confirm emergency contacts and health-plan coverage for travel outside New Mexico. Group travel and hotel stays increase the potential for infectious disease exposure and other health risks; planning and clear communication between organizers and parents will be essential to reduce those risks.

Equity and community impact merit attention. The longstanding tradition creates meaningful civic and educational opportunities, yet cost and private status can limit access for lower-income families. Flexible payment plans help, but local leaders and community organizations may want to consider additional supports or transparent selection processes for special opportunities such as the wreath-laying ceremony.

Parents who want to enroll students should use the WorldStrides registration link or contact trip coordinator Roberta Cocking for more information.