I’ve been involved in bringing students to Washington to participate in Close Up for 17 years and we have always had positive experiences. The staffers are all hard-working, bright, and skilled at interacting with young people. Their representatives are also very responsive when we have questions or have encountered travel problems, and the program not only provides students with great insight on the role of the citizen in our republic, but an unforgettable experience in the nation’s capital.
My sophmore daughter attended the CloseUp 2025 Inauguration Trip to Washington DC. What an unforgettable experience. I'm so happy this opportunity was made available to her high school (and her friend asked her to go!) . She loved every minute - from the beautful hotel, meeting new friends from around the country to visiting monuments, memorials and a private tour at the US Capitol, it was an amazing and unforgettable experience. I highly reccomend CloseUp and their list of tour guide educators. Only request would be to have a case of water in each hotel room, as my daughter probably spent $100 in water at the hotel gift shop. Trip of a lifetime!
I have been involved with Close Up for over 30 years. It is an outstanding program for students as well as teachers. The organization and logistics of the program make it very efficient and resourceful for all involved. Their leadership does a great job of communicating and corresponding with the schools. I would highly recommend the Close Up program to any school or student group!
Close Up provides an extraordinary and rewarding experience for both teachers and students. The students are provided such a rich educational experience that strengthens their understanding of citizen responsibility. Teachers are given non-partisan tools and resources that help them improve civil discourse and deliberation in the classroom. They are a leader in civic education and their staff truly looks at each school, district or organization they work with as partners. They care about all those they serve and truly invest in ensuring their programs, trainings and curriculum are impactful.
The Close Foundation provides immigrant students with meaningful opportunities to learn about the history of the United States of America, and more importantly, students understand the need to become productive citizens. Lived experiences transform students into civic ambassadors within their communities.
My daughter learned so much about our country. Excellent job done by close up! Maybe offer a bit more time at the museums. Maybe a hotel closer to the central area would be great as well.
The only major change I would make is to have a direct flight. We had 50 kids miss connections and there were many tears very late at night. Delayed other flights trying to get on, and the kids had to split up in many groups. This would not have been an issue if the flights were direct. I know we can’t control weather or flights but one less thing to worry about would be great.
Great program for students and teachers alike. Good mix of fun, academics and sightseeing. Mock Congress and domestic issues debate are always a highlight for high school students.
Teachers have freedom to go on teacher program, student program or to play 'hooky' and do their own thing during the day. Close Up takes care of all instruction and night security at hotel. More expensive than some of the student tours out there--but way more beneficial if you're looking for an active learning environment versus a passive tour.
I Just returned from an amazing 16th trip with Students from Lawton High School. My Students always return with a newfound interest in Government and Civic Engagement. Their experience in DC is a once in a lifetime experience! Close Up hands down is the best!
CUCommunityRelations 03/01/2022
Thank you for being a long-time Close Up participant and supporter of civic education! If you have not done so already, we encourage you to register as an alumni to receive quarterly updates: https://closeup.org/about/alumni-network/alumni-registration/!
I strongly warn all Parents to NOT sign up for this program. They are not credible nor transparent. When All of the significant events were cancelled in our Washington DC program for this winter due to Covid-19, they refuse to refund any portion of the trip even though the trip is still one month out. I even asked for a credit for a future trip when things return to normal and was told that would not work. Their exact words were, "I assure you there is no refund." They will not return your phone calls. When I questioned our representative on the events that were not on the itinerary, he told me those things were never scheduled for the trip, even though they were listed on the original program we received from the school. This is a dishonest organization who are using Covid pandemic to scam parents. If they were credible, they would refund a portion or even the deposit. Do Not Trust This Organization, They should be investigated for misrepresenting themselves. I want this to be on the record.
The Closup Foundation trip is a highlight each year at my school. The people at the foundation are fantastic. They are extremelhy helpful and immediately respond to any question or request. The trip itself is fantastic. The learning experienced by the students is better than just about anything they can get in a classroom. The professional development the teacher gets is beyond compare. Each year, students and teachers come back energized and more engaged. The other people met on the trip have become friends of the students. One student last year went out west to visit some of his new friends met on the trip last fall. (Well, 2019 - we are not counting 2020 - the year that wasn't.) I cannot recommend this experience with more enthusiasm.
CUCommunityRelations 05/12/2021
Thank you for being a long-time supporter of Close Up and civic education! We always love to hear about students maintaining the friendships they create on program. If you have not done so already, we encourage you to register as an alumni to receive quarterly updates: https://closeup.org/about/alumni-network/alumni-registration/
As a teacher who has taken students on the Close Up trip for 12 years and counting, I can confidently say that it is a life changing experience for all involved. Every detail of the program is thoroughly planned out and the safety of participants is top priority. Students come away with not only seeing all of the sites of Washington D.C, but more importantly, knowledge of foreign and domestic issues facing the nation, the experience of engaging in courageous conversations and an increased desire for civic learning and political activism. I recommend the Close Up experience with enthusiasm and without any reservations. You will not be disappointed!
CUCommunityRelations 03/08/2021
Thank you for being a long-time supporter of Close Up and civic education! If you have not done so already, we encourage you to register as an alumni to receive quarterly updates: https://closeup.org/about/alumni-network/alumni-registration/!
Close Up provides amazing learning trips to DC with lasting impacts. Almost two years after her trip to DC, a student is still reflecting on the people she met and everything she learned, and she recently asked me how she could forge a career on the Hill. Our mantra is "In Close Up We Trust!"
CUCommunityRelations 03/03/2021
We love hearing that students are still talking about their Close Up experience even years later! If your student has not done so already, we encourage them to register as an alumni to stay in touch: https://closeup.org/about/alumni-network/alumni-registration/!
I got to participate in the NCGS Civic Ambassadors program for empowering women and girls. This program was really interesting and I learned so many new things, as well as meet many new people. From learning about case studies to root cause analysis I have really benefitted from the program. Overall I feel more empowered to share my ideas and make change in my community.
CUCommunityRelations 03/03/2021
We're so glad to hear you enjoyed your Close Up experience! If you have not done so already, register as an alumni to stay in touch: https://closeup.org/about/alumni-network/alumni-registration/!
Previously taught with this foundation. It’s unfortunate but the experience was deeply disappointing and highly concerning. It is poorly run, the schedules are unrealistic and the curriculum needs a lot of work.
Most importantly, for how much money that this group makes and how much money parents pay it is sad to see it not being put to good use.
A nice concept however ineffective and unrealistic. Significant financial, programmatic and leadership restructuring needs to be done.
Do not donate or do business with this company. They are refusing to refund $300 to each one of the thousands of parents that were not able to send their kids on the trip this year (2020) because of the Corona virus pandemic. This is unethical, and unfair to the parents and kids that make a great effort to get the money needed.
Do not give your money to this organization. They took $2,200 per student for 14 students at our high school in California for a trip to Washington D.C. When they had to cancel the trip due to the Coronavirus they would not refund the money, offering only $800 and an airline voucher on United Airlines which most of us will never use. (That expires in a year.) Eventually they offered $150 more, but even with the value of the forced voucher they are just keeping close to $600 for each student of our money. So each family lost $1250 per student.
I am a teacher at Fair Park Preparatory Academy. Fair Park is an inner city middle school in Shreveport, Louisiana. The large majority of our students have never traveled outside of their neighborhoods, much less our city limits. We were fortunate to attend Close Up this year with the help of a couple of organizations and many generous community members. We raised 100% of the funds for eleven of our scholars to attend the Close Up program with the assistance of Volunteers for Youth Justice and Louisiana Association of Non-Profits Change Fund. Our students had the experience of a lifetime! It was amazing to watch my students lead their groups during a mock Congress and be filled with the confidence most of them were lacking. They were able to meet children from all over the country that they would have never had an opportunity to meet. It is hard for me to put into words the feeling of seeing my students having lessons and meaningful discussions about our history and our government at the many different monuments/museums they were able to visit. Wow! What an experience!
On our return, several of the students made the decision to attend a local high school that offers a law magnet program. The Close-Up program inspired them! I believe this experience has shown my students they are capable of great things. They just needed the exposure to this type of opportunity. It inspired me as an educator as well. Upon our return from our trip, I worked with Volunteers for Youth Justice as they sponsored a summer law symposium taught by local attorneys. Many of our students attended. As you can see, our involvement with the Close Up Foundation has had a ripple effect. The way to change our communities is to change the mind set of our youth and I believe the Close Up program helps do just that. It helped open their minds that they can make a difference. Our Close-Up representative guided us through the entire process. We look forward to bringing more students next year!
The Rotary Club of Downtown Los Angeles is a proud supporter of the Close Up Foundation. We have helped fund students from Camino Nuevo Charter Academy of Los Angeles to visit Washington DC for an immersive experience in civic education. We applaud the Close Up Foundation for their great work in empowering future generations to be informed and engaged in the work of U.S. democracy. Special gratitude to staff member Eleanor Vogelsang who's been an excellent point of contact for our club with the Foundation!
Review from Guidestar
Close Up Foundation has changed my life and that of my students. It is a real interactive experience. My students have become more involved and more interested in politics and awareness of civic issues because of their experience with Close Up. I have had students who want to go on the trip more than once. They go as a sophomore and want to go again as a junior or senior.
It has changed how I teach and how I approach teaching to make it more of an experience. Close Up gives teachers so many resources to help in the classroom. I highly recommend Close Up for your ultimate DC experience.
Review from Guidestar
The Union City Lions Club from Union City California, is a proud sponsor for the Close Up Foundation, through their office in Oakland California. Through the Foundation we are honored to sponsor students from the local High School(s) so they may travel from the West Coast to experience our government in action, first hand and Close Up, in Washington D.C.
Base on the testimonials from those students attending the program in Washington D.C., they returned with a broader base of knowledge of governance; and, although we hold different perspectives of how to govern and what the government should do for the people of this great country, our students realized that no point of view is wrong, just different and worthy of consideration!
We strongly encourage other organizations consider donating to the Close Up Foundation, and lets start helping our youth develop into great leaders of tomorrow. Your support is good for our communities, our Country and the World! Quite honestly, it is the right thing to do.
This organization is exceptionally poorly run and has struggled financially for years, while paying their CEO and other executives bloated salaries (The CEO took, in three years of the organization running 6-figure deficits, $50k/year in BONUS money, on top of a $200k base salary. This is plainly seen on their 990 forms.) This organization is largely "fee-for-service" so that school children often fundraise for years for a chance to come on a "Close Up Trip" to Washington DC. It is unconscionable that anyone give money to such an organization that has demonstrably failed in it's mission, and cannot get its financial house in order. There are other, smaller, civics education organizations out there where school children are not asked to fundraise to cover bloated executive salaries.
Review from Guidestar
Comments ( 1 )
CUCommunityRelations 05/12/2021 Thank you for being a long-time supporter of Close Up and civic education! If you have not done so already, we encourage you to register as an alumni to receive quarterly updates: https://closeup.org/about/alumni-network/alumni-registration/!