Eighth Graders to Embark on Washington, D.C. Trip

On Saturday, May 10, more than 130 eighth-grade students from Chattanooga Christian School, along with their teachers and parent chaperones, embarked on a memorable journey to our nation’s capital—a trip rich in CCS tradition and American history.

 

This annual trip offers students a unique opportunity to explore some of the country’s most significant historical sites while enjoying meaningful time together outside the traditional classroom setting. Highlights of the trip included visits to Monticello, the National Portrait Gallery, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Ford’s Theatre, the Museum of the Bible, the Washington National Cathedral, and several Smithsonian museums.

Students also experienced a variety of national memorials, including those honoring the Air Force, World War II, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, the U.S. Marine Corps, Martin Luther King Jr., Korean War veterans, Vietnam War veterans, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. To top it all off, the group enjoyed a scenic riverboat dinner cruise on the Potomac River. 

“This is the ninth year I’ve planned the Washington, D.C. trip and the seventh year I’ve had the privilege of leading it,” said Clay Huffaker, eighth-grade history teacher. “One of my favorite parts of the trip is simply walking around the city with the students and watching them take it all in for the first time. It’s a lot to absorb, and I think it can overwhelm the senses in a positive—and perhaps even challenging—way when we first arrive. Watching students process the space and significance of D.C. is something I look forward to every year.”

Since the 1971–72 school year, CCS has taken the eighth-grade class to Washington, D.C.—a tradition so deeply rooted that alumni who are now faculty still reminisce about their own trips with today’s students. This year’s trip continued the legacy of connecting classroom learning with real-world experience, helping students engage more deeply with the stories, people, and values that have shaped the nation.

As they walked through historic landmarks, paid respects at solemn memorials, and stood in the very places where pivotal events occurred, they were encouraged to reflect not only on the past but also on their role as informed and responsible citizens of the future.

As the eighth-grade class prepared to depart, excitement built—not just for the monuments and museums, but for the chance to step into history together.