Eight Chelsea High School students recently participated in a week-long civic program called Close Up, where they spent a week in Washington D.C. learning more about our government. The Close Up program is sponsored by The Close Up Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization that offers students an in-depth view of the democratic process by interactive participation.

The intensive programs help students understand the key roles they play as citizens in being active participants in the U.S. democratic system. The five-day student program features meetings with elected officials on Capitol Hill, structured learning activities at Washington’s monuments and memorials, and the chance to “live and learn” with students from other schools nationwide. The Chelsea students were paired with other high school students from several states, including South Dakota, Idaho, Oklahoma, Michigan, Missouri, and Wyoming.

While in the nation’s capital, the Chelsea students met with Congressman Gary Palmer on Capitol Hill Day.  Along with Congressman Palmer, the students were also able to meet with Senator Richard Shelby and staff members from Senator Jeff Session’s office.

“This was the first year of our participation in this program with hopes of continuing in the future,” said Ryan Adams, who teaches AP US History at Chelsea High.

Adams said he is currently finalizing a potential visit for Congressman Palmer to visit Chelsea High School on March 7th as a result of the initial meeting in Washington D.C. The students are putting together a video/photo package so that we can inform potential future participants at Chelsea, but would like to share this as a potential for other students in the Shelby County school system.

The students are putting together a video/photo package so they can inform potential future participants at Chelsea High School and other schools in Shelby County who might be interested in the Close Up program.