Updated: June 3, 2022

Since 1971, the non-profit, non-partisan Close Up Foundation has been a trusted civic education provider with the safety and security of students and teachers being a top priority. The unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic has forced us to rethink and retool the way we serve students and teachers, as Close Up’s mission to help young people become active and engaged citizens remains as important as ever.

Here is how we are supporting students, teachers, and parents with our experiential travel programs and virtual learning opportunities:

Travel Programs: Close Up has resumed its in-person Washington, DC, programs.  We continue to monitor the guidance of health and government officials to make decisions about future programs, and we have every expectation that if you have a program planned it will take place as scheduled. Here is what we are doing to help prepare for programs and keep participants safe:

• Working with our travel and medical partners to develop enhanced cleaning and safety protocols;
• Collaborating and communicating with our teacher and parent coordinators to keep them apprised of all changes or updates to their program;
• Monitoring vaccination requirements of local jurisdictions and making necessary adjustments to ensure a safe and robust program experience.  Program curriculum including study visits to the monuments, memorials and Smithsonians are not impacted by current vaccination requirements;
• Requiring all Close Up Staff to be fully vaccinated and all program participants to wear a mask indoors;
• Providing increased flexibility for program planning. Please contact [email protected] or your Close Up Representative for more information on program cancellation policies; and,
• Offering travel insurance through Travel Guard International to protect against delays, flight cancellations, and other travel-related issues, including illness that may prevent passengers from traveling.

If you do not have a Close Up program scheduled yet for 2023, there is still time! Each year, we partner with teachers, parents, and youth organizations to welcome students to the nation’s capital. If you would like to organize a trip to Washington, DC, for your students or child please contact us today at 800.CLOSEUP or [email protected]!

Virtual Learning: In addition to our travel programs, Close Up is excited to offer a variety of virtual learning experiences for students. Led by Close Up’s experienced curriculum team, these opportunities are designed to help students gain the confidence to discuss important issues, learn how to engage in respectful civic discourse, and work together to build consensus and connections to their communities and the world around them. Close Up is able to bring its proven methodology into the classroom through professional development options for teachers as well.