Who can participate on a program?
Students in grades 6-8 can participate on our
Middle School programs. Students grades 9-12 can participate on our
High School programs. A minimum GPA or previous leadership experience is not required.
Our programs are physically and mentally demanding. Students should be able to be on program for 10+ hours per day and be able to interact positively with peers, our staff, and the other people with whom they will have contact on program. Check out our
Middle School Video or
High School Video for more information.
What types of programs and publications does Close Up offer?
- • Current Issues, the nations leading supplemental social studies text, is a great way to stimulate classroom discussions with your students about the key policy issues the U.S. faces today. Contact Joe at jgeraghty@closeup.org for more details. See our Current Issues Video.
- • Our specialized, D.C.-based civic education programs for students grades 6-12.
From decades of experience to the highest quality educational programs, come discover why teachers choose us and why Close Up is the leader inside Washington.
When do programs begin and end?
Most programs begin on Sunday with orientation, dinner, and an activity at a famous site. They end on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, depending on the options selected. If you want to pick your own start and end dates, our customizable programs enable you to do so. For details, click
here.
Can parents/teachers observe student program?
Yes, teachers and parents can be silent observers on our student program, space permitting. Please discuss your interest ahead of time with the Program Leader.
How do I get a Participant ID and password?
If you are participating with your school, your teacher will give you a participant ID number and password. If you are participating without your school, we are glad to have you with us. Call us at 800-256-7387 or
email us and we'll give you an ID and password.
When are enrollment forms and fees due?
Enrollment forms and fees of $300 per person are due 45 days prior to the start of the program for programs running November through December. Enrollment forms and fees of $300 per person are due 120 days prior to the start of your program for programs running January through June. Enrollment forms must be submitted online.
Can a student enroll after the enrollment deadline?
Yes. A student can enroll after the enrollment deadline but participation is subject to availability. Teachers enroll the student online as usual. If space is unavailable, we will contact you ASAP.
Can a student enroll after the enrollment deadline?
Yes. A student can enroll after the enrollment deadline but participation is subject to availability. Teachers
enroll the student online as usual. If space is unavailable, we will contact you ASAP.
If a student needs to cancel, can they re-enroll?
All cancelled participants may be re-enrolled pending space availablethat program week and they agree to pay any additional charges Close Up incurs. If the re-enrollment occurs within 33 calendar days of the program start date, the entire payment is due in full at the time of the registration. Please contact us prior to submitting payment to determine if we can accommodate additional participants.
How do I cancel from a program?
If you are a student who wants to cancel, notify your teacher immediately. If you are not participating as part of a group and want to cancel, call 800-CLOSE UP (256-7387). Please be aware individual and school cancellations are subject to cancellations fees as outlined in our
Dates & Deadlines chart.
What should students wear on program?
Students should wear casual clothes (jeans and sneakers). Be sure students bring comfortable shoes as they will be walking a great deal. High school students are expected to dress up for Capitol Hill Day. This means dress shirts and ties for boys and dresses/slacks/skirts for girls. Students may also wish to dress up for the final banquet and dance. If you're coming in the colder months be sure to pack a winter coat, hat and scarf, because you will be outside at times.
Can students leave program to visit family, friends, or local colleges?
Yes. Students can visit family, friends, and local colleges during their independent time. Students must receive prior approval from the Program Leader, as well as provide a signed permission slip from their parents.
How can students receive college credit for the Close Up program?
Students who complete our Washington High School Program can earn 1
college credit from The University of Virginia (UVA), the #2 ranked public University by
U.S. News & World Report. Questions? Email Paul at
pburneko@closeup.org for more information.
How do I contact my child while he/she is on a Close Up program?
During the week, your child will be very active exploring Washington and meeting students from around the country. His/her day begins early in the morning and generally ends late in the evening. If you need to get in touch with your child, below are a few options we recommend:
- • Provide your child with a cell phone that has a national calling plan. (Check the details of your calling plan.)
- • Purchase a pre-paid calling card for your child to use during the program week. (Don’t forget to check the calling card and phone being used to place the call for usage charges.)
- • Contact your child at his/her Close Up hotel. Call the hotel front desk, and ask for your child by name. The hotel will connect you to your child’s room. Participants are responsible to pay any additional charges they incur - long-distance phone charges, hotel damages, etc. - while attending the Close Up program.
Do you schedule appointments with Members of Congress?
Yes, we schedule well over 2,000 of these meetings per year. Typically, we try to schedule 3 meetings for you: 2 with the Senators representing your state and 1 with the House Member from your Congressional district. Despite the fluidity of Members' schedules, we're almost always able to schedule at least 1 or 2 of these meetings. To help us coordinate these, we ask that you not contact the offices directly regarding these meetings without contacting us first. In addition, we encourage you to stop by the various offices, sign the guest books and pick up any available materials and gallery passes.
Will I meet with a Member or with Staff?
Often, you'll meet directly with a Member. Other times, you'll meet with staff. Why? Sometimes Congress is in recess and Members are at home (see calendars at
http://www.house.gov and
http://www.senate.gov). Other times, schedule changes require Members to attend hearings or deal with other pressing matters of national concern. Many staffers are adept at speaking on a Member's behalf and in talking in-depth about specific issues. They also can provide insight into the inner workings of Congress. They tend to be younger, relate well to students and can offer advice on internships and other opportunities.
Are there security restrictions at the Capitol Building?
Yes. Security is extensive; the less you carry, the easier it will be to get through the checkpoints. Please see
the Capitol Visitor Center site for list of prohibited items.
What should we wear on Hill Day?
Business or business casual is the most appropriate dress for the Hill - and don't forget your Close Up nametags.
How do I pay for my program?
We strongly encourage people to pay online, preferably by electronic check. We also accept credit and debit cards. Go to
"My Account" then "Individual Account Login," enter your participant ID and password (given by the teacher), and follow the directions there. If you prefer to use a personal check or money order, please make payable to Close Up Foundation and mail to:
REGULAR MAIL
Close Up Foundation
c/o Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co.
P.O. Box 25228
Alexandria, VA 22313
OVERNIGHT OR EXPRESS MAIL
Close Up Foundation
1330 Braddock Place, Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
IMPORTANT: Your 6 digit participant ID must be written on your check to ensure proper posting.
Participants can print their own payment coupons by logging in to Make a Payment and click on "Print Payment Coupon."
Where can I go to see my account balance?
Log into your Close Up account using
"My Account" and clicking "Individual Account Login," then enter your Participant ID number and password. Next, click on "Make a payment" to see your latest balance, payment options and may print the payment coupon if paying by check.
What types of credit card payments are accepted?
We accept all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
How do I print payment coupons?
Participants can print their own payment coupons by logging in to "Make a Payment" - under Payment by Mail, click on “Print Payment Coupon.”
How long does it take for payments to process?
Electronic check payments take 5 business days to process and post to your account. Credit/Debit card payments take 1 business day to process and post to your account. Payments that are mailed to our lockbox generally take about 2 weeks to process from the date they are mailed.
When are my payments due?
See our
Dates & Deadlines chart for the schedule.
What happens if my payments are late?
Participants are subject to cancellation from the program if payments are not received by the deadline (please
refer to our
Dates & Deadlines chart). Final payments must be received no later than 30 days prior to the start of the program.
Who do I contact if I have a question about my account?
Call 800-CLOSE UP (256-7387), ext. 3416 or email
schoolaccounts@closeup.org.
Will Close Up arrange my transportation?
Yes. Close Up offers roundtrip group transportation from a designated departure point in your community to Washington, D.C. We use all three D.C. metro airports which include: Washington Dulles (IAD), Reagan National (DCA) and Baltimore Washington International (BWI).To take advantage of this, choose the Close Up transportation option when you enroll. Whether you choose to travel with us or on your own, we strongly urge you to buy travel insurance from
Travel Guard. You may do so as part of the enrollment process or add it on a later time.
How do I contact Close Up Transportation?
Please call 800-336-3689 for any airline or ground transportation questions or concerns.
What are the benefits of choosing Close Up transportation?
The Close Up travel package is designed to provide our customers piece of mind.
Close Up's transportation package includes:
• Round-trip airline or ground transportation to and from the Close Up program.
• Round-trip airport/train station transfers on motor coach buses.
• Our Close Up staff will meet you on your arrival day at the airport or train station and help facilitate your transfer to your assigned hotel. Return service on your departure is also provided.
• Close Up provides a toll-free number staffed by our transportation team. Our team monitors all arriving and departing flights throughout the day. If any problems arise (delays or weather), please call 800-336-3689 and we will work with you in finding a solution.
Can one student travel independently?
Yes. The student must complete and submit an
independent transportation form. By choosing this option, however, the student must make his or her own arrangements to get to and from the hotel. Forms must be submitted no later than 60 days before travel. After this point, we do not allow independent transportation with any price reductions.
How do I get from the airport to my hotel?
If you purchase our transportation package, we'll greet you at the airport, escort you to a coach bus and transfer you to your hotel. If you book your own travel, you will need to make arrangements to get to and from the hotel via taxi, airport shuttle, Metro, or other means.
Do I need identification to travel?
Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight. Please refer to
www.tsa.gov> for a list of acceptable identification.
What are the new airline travel security rules?
Please go to the
Transportation Security Administration's website for the latest updates and frequently asked questions before you travel. TSA recommends that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.
Are baggage fees included in the transportation package?
No. Baggage fees aren't included in the package price. All travel related fees are the sole responsibility of each passenger traveling and checking luggage. Please check your airline's website for the most current and up to date information regarding fees.
What do I need to know before I travel?
For a complete list of travel requirements and suggestions, print and read your Travel Checklist before you travel.
Should I buy travel insurance?
Yes. We strongly recommend you and your students purchase travel insurance to protect your trip from the unexpected such as flight delays/cancellations, illness and bad weather. To purchase travel insurance or for more information, contact
Travel Guard or call 800-826-1300.
Where do participants stay during their program?
Our participants stay in convenient, quality hotels located in the metro area. Each hotel is carefully inspected to be of the highest quality possible at an affordable price. Our ability to secure close-in hotels enables teachers to spend more time learning and less time commuting.
When will the hotel information be available?
Hotel information is available through the
Teacher: School Account 40 days before the program start. Hotel assignments are confirmed roughly 30 days before the program starts.
What happens if the hotel assignment changes less than 30 days before my program starts?
If we need to change a school's assigned hotel, we will notify the coordinating teacher by email.
How are students housed during the week?
Students are housed four to a room. Each room has two double beds. On our high school program, each student chooses one roommate from his/her school. Another pair of students from a different community will be assigned to the room at random. In the event a school brings an odd number of participants, the participant without a roommate from his or her school will be placed in a room with participants from different schools. They will be placed in the same workshop and bus as a few of their classmates.
For our middle school program, students are housed four to a room with students from their own school. If a school does not have multiples of four, students may have to room with students from a different school. We will do our best to ensure there are at least two students from the same school housed together. Teachers, please fill out the
Middle School Rooming Request and email it to Ashley at
amoran@closeup.org or fax it to 703-706-3530.
How are adults housed during the week?
Adults are housed two to a room. Adult rooms may be located on the same floor as student rooms. Each room has two double beds. Adults may indicate roommate choices on their enrollment forms. Adults may also request a private room for an additional charge. All private room requests are subject to availability.
How do I request a single room?
Adult participants may request a single room when they complete their enrollment form. The Teacher Fellowship does not cover the price of a single room. Payment for the single room is due at the time of the request. You may also contact your Close Up Representative.
Required Medical Forms
You must bring to Washington: 1) a completed
Medical Questionnaire Form and Consent for Treatment Form, and 2) your Health Insurance card or a copy of the front and back.
What if a student gets sick on program?
Close Up partners with several leading health care providers, including
Georgetown University Children's Medical Center (GUCMC) to ensure that students have access to quality health care should they get sick while on program.
911 emergency service is available around the clock -- from when our program starts until it ends. Fortunately, our program activities and the hotels students stay in at night are close to a number of excellent hospitals. Thus, help is usually not far away.
For a non-911 situation, typically we will be in contact with a triage nurse at GUCMC to determine what course of action to take. In some cases, we will transport the student to GUCMC for diagnosis and treatment. Its hours are Mon-Thurs, 8AM-7PM, Friday 8AM-6PM and Saturday 9AM to noon. If treatment is required outside these hours, GUCMC maintains a pediatric doctor on-call who will assist and make appropriate referrals. In the more serious cases, the student might be referred and transported to a specific medical facility for diagnosis and treatments. In others, a student might simply drink fluids and rest in her or his hotel room under the periodic supervision of Close Up staff.
As added precautions, Close Up program staff are trained in CPR, AED and First Aid. We also maintain a dedicated staffer on each program to assist students who are ill. Typically, this assistance includes accompanying them when they're taken for medical treatment, waiting with them at the facility while they're being treated, and accompanying them back to the hotel as well.
Close Up, along with your teachers will work together to ensure that students get timely access to quality health care should the need arise while on program. We have dedicated staff members to stay with any students that are not able to participate on program.
What if adults get sick on program?
911-type emergencies will be handled as such. For non-emergencies, a number of excellent community and urgent care facilities are available and we will work with you to coordinate your access to one of these should the need arise while you're on program.
Does Close Up staff receive any training?
Yes. Our program staff is trained in CPR, AED and First Aid.
What are Georgetown University Children's Medical Center office hours?
Monday through Thursday: 8AM to 7PM EST,
Friday: 8AM to 6PM EST,
Saturday: 9AM to noon EST.
How will I get to Georgetown Children's Medical Center?
A staff member will accompany and wait with any ill student during their appointment. Together, staffer and student will then return back to the hotel or program.
Will my child/student have to pay a co-pay for visits?
The amount of the co-pay depends on your primary insurance carrier. If your child/student doesn’t have money for the co-pay at time of service, Georgetown will bill the responsible party.
Will Close Up's secondary insurance cover medical bills?
You can apply for reimbursement through Close Up’s secondary insurance after using any travel insurance benefits and your primary insurance. Just like many other insurance policies, our secondary insurance has a $100 deductible for which participants are liable if they use this insurance while on program.
What if I don’t have health insurance?
We recommend that all participants purchase travel insurance that has medical coverage. To purchase travel insurance or for more info, contact
Travel Guard or call 800-826-1300. Our secondary insurance may also reimburse any paid, qualified expenses after the deductible.
Should I buy travel insurance?
Yes. We strongly recommend you and your students purchase travel insurance to protect your trip from the unexpected such as flight delays/cancellations, illness and bad weather. To purchase travel insurance or for more information, contact
Travel Guard or call 800-826-1300 for more information.
Who do I contact for special needs?
If you have questions or requests for students with special needs, contact Sharon at 800-256-7387, ext. 3499 or email at
shunter@closeup.org. Although we defray some of the costs, specialized assistance such as health techs or sign language interpretation may incur additional charges.
Should I bring my own prescription medicine?
Yes. You need to bring an adequate supply of medication and will self-medicate while on program. You need to notify us in advance of all medication that needs to be refrigerated and agree to pay additional charges of up to $60 for refrigerator use or rental.
Should I bring my own over the counter medicine?
Yes. You need to bring an adequate supply of medication and will self-medicate while on program. We are not able to provide participants with medications.