From Community Action to Capitol Hill: 7th Grade Meets with North Carolina Reps in Washington, D.C.

During their annual trip to Washington, D.C., 7th grade students lobby on Capitol Hill alongside Friends Committee on National Legislation. Past issues have included climate justice, child tax credits, and immigration reform—giving students a firsthand look at how youth voice can shape public policy.

The steps of Capitol Hill are a long way from Wilmington, but for FSW’s 7th grade students, they’ve become a meaningful and memorable part of the Middle School journey. Each spring, the class travels to Washington, D.C. for a week of civic engagement, cultural exploration, and Quaker-informed advocacy—an experience designed to bring classroom learning to life in powerful and practical ways. Now a longstanding FSW tradition, the trip is a rite of passage for many students, even garnering national attention from C-SPAN, where students were featured for their lobbying work on the economics of climate change.

This year’s trip opened with a visit to the National Air and Space Museum, followed by a golden-hour walk on the National Mall, where students shared frisbee games, casual conversations, and the simple joy of being together in a place rich with history and possibility. It was a lighthearted start to a week that would quickly take a more focused turn toward advocacy, reflection, and civic engagement.

Soon after, students joined staff from Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) for a lobbying workshop, where they practiced how to speak clearly, listen carefully, and advocate respectfully. The next morning included a Capitol-area walking tour and a guided visit to the U.S. Capitol Building, where students explored the architecture, symbolism, and evolving purpose of the nation’s legislative branch.

In the afternoon, the class arrived at Senator Thom Tillis’ office to put their preparation into action. Their focus: just immigration reform. Each student spoke with care and confidence, backing up their positions with research, personal values, and a strong sense of shared responsibility.

“They were poised, prepared, and deeply thoughtful,” Middle School Director Amy McGlinn reflected. “The way they framed their arguments showed not only strong academic understanding but also empathy and conviction.”

Throughout the week, students also had the chance to explore museums of their choice, including the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Evening reflections offered space to share insights and experiences, whether about the emotional weight of a particular exhibit or the challenge of climbing actual Capitol Hill.

Their final day in D.C. brought one last dose of inspiration: a visit to the Senate Gallery, where students watched Senators Chuck Schumer and John Barrasso speak on the floor. It was a fitting bookend to their own lobbying experience, and a reminder that democracy is something people build, conversation by conversation, choice by choice.

At Friends School of Wilmington, trips like this are more than just travel; they’re part of how we help students understand the world and their place in it. In D.C., that meant stepping into roles as researchers, advocates, and engaged citizens. Whether walking the halls of Congress or reflecting quietly after a day of museum visits, our 7th graders showed us what it looks like when learning meets purpose—and when young people know their voices matter.