Q&A: Group Leader Danny Lackey discusses his trip to Washington, D.C.

Danny Lackey recently took students from his Indiana high school to Washington, D.C., on his first tour. He and his students came home with a better understanding of their heritage and a renewed appreciation for their country. They were amazed by the profound connections they made to their country—one student even had a chance to see her brother’s grave for the first time at Arlington National Cemetery. Lackey and his students loved their Smithsonian Student Travel experience so much, they’re planning another tour with us—this time to New York City.

Q: Why did you decide to lead a student tour to
Washington, D.C.?
A: I am the sponsor of a club called S.T.A.N.D. (Socially Together and Naturally Diverse) here at the high school. The club is dedicated to promoting an appreciation for diversity through community service and a trip to Washington, D.C., sounded like a great way for my kids to develop a better understanding of service. I wanted my kids to
have a better understanding of the roots of our country and to know that they are a part of something bigger than the community in which they live. I also wanted them to have the chance to feel more connected to our country by experiencing its history in a more intimate and personal manner.

Q: What did you hope your students would get out of the experience?
A: I wanted my students to gain a better appreciation for how far our country has come by reliving its history as a result of touring the many monuments and historical sites throughout Washington, D.C.

Q: How did you prepare them?
A: We talked about the fact that this trip would be one that they would never forget, simply because they would be experiencing our nation’s capital together. My students were also told that they would be responsible for keeping a journal of their experiences in D.C., and that we would spend time talking as a group about our experiences.

Q: Did they seem changed after the trip? How so?
A: My students were overwhelmed, enlightened, energized and amazed at what a wonderful time they had in Washington, D.C. They thanked me and the chaperones repeatedly afterward. They also seemed to be more socially conscience and talked about wanting to do something to enlighten others as well.

Q: How did this trip impact your larger school community?
A: Part of the Washington, D.C., experience required my students to prepare a program on genocide. After visiting the Holocaust Museum, the Save Darfur Organization, and talking with survivors of the Holocaust and Darfur, they had no problems pulling it all together. They serviced over 500 students at our school with their program and received very positive feedback from students and staff alike.

Q: What did you take away as a group leader?
A:As you can imagine, I was a little hesitant about taking 18 teenagers across the country. After all, they are teenagers and they can sometimes veer off track if you’re not keeping a close eye on them. However, this was not my experience. I learned that when you give teenagers the chance to genuinely challenge themselves and provide opportunities for them to work on understanding how they fit in the world, they can surprise you with what they learn and how they feel about it.

Q: Will you travel again?
A: Absolutely. This was not only an educational experience for my kids, it was an emotional one as well. They learned a lot about the history of our country and also about each other. One of those moments came when we visited Arlington National Cemetery. One of my kids had, unfortunately, lost an older brother to war, and her brother was buried in the cemetery. My student was too young to attend the funeral at that time and never had the opportunity to visit his burial site. After dealing with some conflicting feelings, she decided to visit her brother’s grave and because of the support of her peers, she was able to experience and share her tearful moment in the safety of their arms.