As I write this we are sitting at the gate waiting to board our plane. We've had a great day, here's a few highlights...
We woke up this morning to rain, lots of it! We headed up to Kennesaw to see a great movie that told the story of the amazing battle to spot the Union from advancing to Atlanta. The students enjoyed the gift shop very much and bought some fun Civil War memorablia.
For lunch we headed to Dave & Buster's...the students loved it!
After lunch we went to CNN for a studio tour, which was very interesting. The students asked great questions and were able to enjoy one of the fun moments of Atlanta!
Over and over again we received compliments on our students' behavior throughout the trip. People were very impressed by our students and their interest in the sites they were seeing.
The March is almost over...thank you for entrusting your students to us for a trip of a lifetime!
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Day Four: Montgomery to Atlanta
First stop of the day was the Rosa Parks Museum at Troy University...what a great museum. This museum has a very visual way to tell the story of Rosa Parks, who is known as "The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement." Our guide from the museum was interesting and told the story of Montgomery and its role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Next stop was the Dexter Avenue Church, which was Martin Luther King Jr.'s only church he pastored alone. I have the Dexter Avenue Church highlight for many due to the wonderful guide we had. She was amazing, sang songs to the students, told the story, and challenged them to live their lives fully using the gifts God has blessed them with. Our time there was a highlight...make sure you ask the students about it.
We started our drive to Atlanta...
We stopped at the Tuskegee air field ate lunch and then enjoyed the museum in honor of the Tuskegee airmen. What a honor to hear their story and see how they over came segregation to fight for our country during World War II...thankful for those men and women who continue to serve our country and protect our freedoms.
From there we traveled to Tuskegee University for a brief tour of the campus and heard a bit of the history behind this school. The school was founded by Booker T. Washington as a place to educate young people and by education change the world. George Washington Carver was also a significant person in the story of Tuskegee University and his role in helping farmers use their land more beneficially. It was a beautiful place.
Then on to Atlanta...
We ended our day at the top of the Westin Hotel seeing the view of the city. It was a beautiful night with lots of things to see from the 72nd floor high above Atlanta.
We arrived to our hotel late and now we are up again for our last day...
Kennesaw and Atlanta...then home!
See you at 10:15pm at LAX!
Next stop was the Dexter Avenue Church, which was Martin Luther King Jr.'s only church he pastored alone. I have the Dexter Avenue Church highlight for many due to the wonderful guide we had. She was amazing, sang songs to the students, told the story, and challenged them to live their lives fully using the gifts God has blessed them with. Our time there was a highlight...make sure you ask the students about it.
We started our drive to Atlanta...
We stopped at the Tuskegee air field ate lunch and then enjoyed the museum in honor of the Tuskegee airmen. What a honor to hear their story and see how they over came segregation to fight for our country during World War II...thankful for those men and women who continue to serve our country and protect our freedoms.
From there we traveled to Tuskegee University for a brief tour of the campus and heard a bit of the history behind this school. The school was founded by Booker T. Washington as a place to educate young people and by education change the world. George Washington Carver was also a significant person in the story of Tuskegee University and his role in helping farmers use their land more beneficially. It was a beautiful place.
Then on to Atlanta...
We ended our day at the top of the Westin Hotel seeing the view of the city. It was a beautiful night with lots of things to see from the 72nd floor high above Atlanta.
We arrived to our hotel late and now we are up again for our last day...
Kennesaw and Atlanta...then home!
See you at 10:15pm at LAX!
Friday, April 17, 2015
Day Three: Birmingham to Montgomery
We woke up to a rainy Birmingham morning...
After breakfast we headed to the 16th Street Baptist Church the site of the bombing that killed 4 young girls...our students did an exceptional job being respectful in the church and learning about the significance of the church in the Birmingham Civil Rights movement.
We went to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and learned more about the signficance of Birmingham in the Civil Rights movement. They learned about the events of Kelly Ingram Park and the children's march...which became a visual event throughout the country of the violence that was occuring in Birmingham. The students walked through Kelly Ingram Park looking at the statues and memorials to those who were involved in the movement throughout Birmingham.
From Birmingham we headed to Tannehill Iron Works, which was the lead producer of iron in the Civil War era for the South. The students toured the museum and hiked up to see the furnances at the top of the hill. Tannehill is beautiful and the students especially enjoyed the General Store and Sweet Shop.
We began our drive to Selma...
In Selma we walked the Edmund Pettus Bridge which was the beginning of the march to Montgomery for voting rights. Our students "marched" the bridge and came to the other side where we reloaded the busses and drove to Montgomery. As we drove the students paid attention to the distance of the march...54 miles. They asked questions of "Is there anything I believe in this much?" It was a powerful experience as we ended our drive on capital steps where the march ended. It was great moment.
From there we went to dinner at the Golden Corral...excitement all around from the kids for the desserts and the ribs. :) It was a fun night.
It's time to go to bed as tomorrow we are learning about Rosa Parks and then heading to Atlanta!
After breakfast we headed to the 16th Street Baptist Church the site of the bombing that killed 4 young girls...our students did an exceptional job being respectful in the church and learning about the significance of the church in the Birmingham Civil Rights movement.
We went to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and learned more about the signficance of Birmingham in the Civil Rights movement. They learned about the events of Kelly Ingram Park and the children's march...which became a visual event throughout the country of the violence that was occuring in Birmingham. The students walked through Kelly Ingram Park looking at the statues and memorials to those who were involved in the movement throughout Birmingham.
From Birmingham we headed to Tannehill Iron Works, which was the lead producer of iron in the Civil War era for the South. The students toured the museum and hiked up to see the furnances at the top of the hill. Tannehill is beautiful and the students especially enjoyed the General Store and Sweet Shop.
We began our drive to Selma...
In Selma we walked the Edmund Pettus Bridge which was the beginning of the march to Montgomery for voting rights. Our students "marched" the bridge and came to the other side where we reloaded the busses and drove to Montgomery. As we drove the students paid attention to the distance of the march...54 miles. They asked questions of "Is there anything I believe in this much?" It was a powerful experience as we ended our drive on capital steps where the march ended. It was great moment.
From there we went to dinner at the Golden Corral...excitement all around from the kids for the desserts and the ribs. :) It was a fun night.
It's time to go to bed as tomorrow we are learning about Rosa Parks and then heading to Atlanta!
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Day Two: Memphis to Birmingham
It's late...it's been a long day...but, it's been an incredible day!
Started our day with a morning river boat cruise aboard the Island Queen on the mighty Mississippi River. The Island Queen is just what you would expect a Mississippi River boat to look like. We had a great ride, complete with a great guide who shared lots of local andecotal stories with us. The day was beautiful, the weather was wonderful, we could not have asked for a better time on the river. I think our students really caught a glimpse as to why the Mississippi is important to our country, and it's historical significance as well. The Mississippi also is a RIVER, it makes our Californian rivers look tiny. It flows over 2,300 miles starting and Minnesota and ending in the Gulf of Mexico...what an amazing time.
We ate our Subway lunch in route to Shiloh driving through a bit of Mississippi to get back into Tennessee.
Shiloh...some of the bloodiest days in the early years of the Civil War. We were able to have a park ranger on our motorcoach who toured us around the battlefield. The battlefield is over 6,000 acres...think bigger than Gettysburg if you have been there. Our students heard lots of stories, walked in fields where dead bodies once lay, saw the Tennessee River a major strategic point in the South...it was wonderful! The students spent time journaling about their experience and their thoughts about the loss of life, the significance, and historically what Shiloh means to our country.
After Shiloh we began our drive to Birmingham, Alabama.
But, first a stop at the Rattlesnake Saloon...anything I write will not do the restuarant justice. It is unique and just so cool! The students loved it, complete with a few karoke numbers! The food was great, the atmosphere was great, and the company awesome!
Our 8th graders are doing an exceptional job...truly, they are a wonderful group of people who are soaking in the culture around them.
Tonight is off to sleep and then a very full day in Birmingham, Selma, and on the Montgomery!
Started our day with a morning river boat cruise aboard the Island Queen on the mighty Mississippi River. The Island Queen is just what you would expect a Mississippi River boat to look like. We had a great ride, complete with a great guide who shared lots of local andecotal stories with us. The day was beautiful, the weather was wonderful, we could not have asked for a better time on the river. I think our students really caught a glimpse as to why the Mississippi is important to our country, and it's historical significance as well. The Mississippi also is a RIVER, it makes our Californian rivers look tiny. It flows over 2,300 miles starting and Minnesota and ending in the Gulf of Mexico...what an amazing time.
We ate our Subway lunch in route to Shiloh driving through a bit of Mississippi to get back into Tennessee.
Shiloh...some of the bloodiest days in the early years of the Civil War. We were able to have a park ranger on our motorcoach who toured us around the battlefield. The battlefield is over 6,000 acres...think bigger than Gettysburg if you have been there. Our students heard lots of stories, walked in fields where dead bodies once lay, saw the Tennessee River a major strategic point in the South...it was wonderful! The students spent time journaling about their experience and their thoughts about the loss of life, the significance, and historically what Shiloh means to our country.
After Shiloh we began our drive to Birmingham, Alabama.
But, first a stop at the Rattlesnake Saloon...anything I write will not do the restuarant justice. It is unique and just so cool! The students loved it, complete with a few karoke numbers! The food was great, the atmosphere was great, and the company awesome!
Our 8th graders are doing an exceptional job...truly, they are a wonderful group of people who are soaking in the culture around them.
Tonight is off to sleep and then a very full day in Birmingham, Selma, and on the Montgomery!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Day One: LA to Memphis
Today started very early...4:30 at LAX.
Our students did an outstanding job navigating the airport, TSA, and the flights. We made it Houston safely, had a brief layover, and then we were off to Memphis. While in Houston we received compliments about our students, people were so impressed with their behavior and attitudes. As chaperones, it was so nice to hear at the start of the trip that the students were representing themselves well.
First stop...the mighty Mississippi River. It immense and just amazing. The students took photos and we talked briefly about the significance of the Mississippi to the United States. Tomorrow we will got on a river boat cruise!
After the Mississippi River we headed to the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. This museum is outstanding, truly one that you could spend hours in. Our students saw the journey of Martin Luther King Jr. throughout his time in the Civil Rights Movement and also pivotal moments throughout the movement. We encouraged them to be ready to discuss "What did they see?; What did they think about it?; and What can they do about it?" Listening to the students discuss their thoughts I was blown away by their depth and insight. It was awesome.
From there we took a walking tour of Memphis which included present day sites connected to Civil War and Civil Rights history. It was interesting for students to walk around down town and notice that it was not like Los Angeles...not as busy, not as crowded.
Then dinner...are you tired yet?? Dinner was delicious...Memphis BBQ, baked beans, slaw, sweet tea; a true Southern meal. The students enjoyed their dinner immensely!
Finally to the hotel...we have nightly devotionals focusing on the book of the Bible Philemon. Mr. Ratchford does a wonderful job weaving Biblical truths into the things that the students see and think about. These are neat times to hear the students thoughts.
Now, it is to bed...it's been a long day, off to Shiloh and Birmingham tomorrow!
Our students did an outstanding job navigating the airport, TSA, and the flights. We made it Houston safely, had a brief layover, and then we were off to Memphis. While in Houston we received compliments about our students, people were so impressed with their behavior and attitudes. As chaperones, it was so nice to hear at the start of the trip that the students were representing themselves well.
First stop...the mighty Mississippi River. It immense and just amazing. The students took photos and we talked briefly about the significance of the Mississippi to the United States. Tomorrow we will got on a river boat cruise!
After the Mississippi River we headed to the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. This museum is outstanding, truly one that you could spend hours in. Our students saw the journey of Martin Luther King Jr. throughout his time in the Civil Rights Movement and also pivotal moments throughout the movement. We encouraged them to be ready to discuss "What did they see?; What did they think about it?; and What can they do about it?" Listening to the students discuss their thoughts I was blown away by their depth and insight. It was awesome.
From there we took a walking tour of Memphis which included present day sites connected to Civil War and Civil Rights history. It was interesting for students to walk around down town and notice that it was not like Los Angeles...not as busy, not as crowded.
Then dinner...are you tired yet?? Dinner was delicious...Memphis BBQ, baked beans, slaw, sweet tea; a true Southern meal. The students enjoyed their dinner immensely!
Finally to the hotel...we have nightly devotionals focusing on the book of the Bible Philemon. Mr. Ratchford does a wonderful job weaving Biblical truths into the things that the students see and think about. These are neat times to hear the students thoughts.
Now, it is to bed...it's been a long day, off to Shiloh and Birmingham tomorrow!
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