Cultural Connections Trip: National - Part 2

Our goal is for every boy to experience the benefits of joining this program and preparing them to be a global citizen. Scholarships are available.

Please use this form to apply for a scholarship.

PDS will utilize the same information provided for your Variable Tuition application to determine eligibility and scholarship amount for Cultural Expedition Program. If you are applying for a CEP Scholarship and not enrolled in our variable tuition program, please contact the Business Office for more information.

Hotel rooms will be monitored by chaperones. Additionally, each night a security guard is present on the floor in the hotel that’s booked for PDS boys. Typically, there will only be two boys per room. All rooms are sequestered on a floor with chaperones and a security guard present throughout each night.

The cost is $2500 covering flights, hotels, charter buses, tour guides, and chaperones. Food costs (except breakfasts) and souvenirs are excluded.

We will provide students with a student ID that is sufficient for airline travel within the United States.

The cost of breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be each boy’s responsibility. We suggest each student budget $60 daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. In order to help you budget with food costs, we will give a precise schedule of meals prior to the trip. Boys typically bring cash and often a credit card or a mix of both. Faculty will help boys look after and allocate their money as needed or requested.

$60 Dollars a day for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks

This is an excellent opportunity to foster independence in our boys. If you are concerned about your son keeping up with his money, you may give this to his group leader at the airport. They will distribute his money as needed. 

If you prefer to send him with a credit card, please let your group leader know. We highly suggest using a Greenlight card. Boys have been having trouble with Gift Cards at many food venues in the past few trips, so we will strongly encourage you to NOT use a gift card.

We recommend dressing with layers that can be removed or worn as the weather dictates, such as a PDS collared shirt and sweatshirt with a rainproof windbreaker.  We always provide a packing list of items to be worn on the trip.  We are not traveling to Siberia, but remember that your extremities tend to get cold first so plan accordingly. We walk 7+ miles a day so it is essential that everyone wear a good pair of walking shoes.  If you plan to purchase these prior to the trip, we suggest that you wear them a few times to break them in before the trip to avoid blisters. The packing list will be sent several weeks before the trip.

Yes. Each day we follow PDS dress code.  

Additionally, no baseball caps are allowed.

Each year is typically different, depending on hotel availability. 

It’s safe to assume that you will walk on average 7+ miles a day. Since we travel primarily by Metro, it requires that we walk from our hotel to the Metro to every site on the itinerary.  We make this an active trip for boys to harness their energy and keep them engaged.

Electronics are not allowed on Cultural Expedition Trips. Daily communications are sent through Remind App and trip chaperones.

Yes. However, your bag will be examined and at some federal buildings you are not allowed to bring drinks inside. Chaperones will communicate what is allowed in bags before visiting federal buildings.  

No.  We will check in as a group on the day of our departure.  Please do not attempt to check-in early online