MVGS Juniors Competed in DC Mystery Challenge and Seniors Enjoyed a Day in the City
On Friday, October 27, 2023, Mountain Vista Governor’s School (MVGS) 11th and 12th graders traveled to Washington, DC for the school’s annual DC Field Experience. Students from the Middletown and Warrenton campuses traveled to Washington DC by charter bus and were dropped off at the National Gallery of Art. Juniors completed a DC Mystery experience while seniors got to choose their own adventure at either the National Zoo, the Capitol, or the Air and Space Museum.
Juniors, divided into small teams of four or five, each with their own chaperone, were given instruction packets outside of the National Gallery of Art for the DC Mystery. Their task was to decode mysterious clues at various museums around the National Mall. Thirteen teams competed all day to see which campus, Middletown or Warrenton, would bring home the ultimate prize, the Lego Capitol.
MVGS Physics teacher Allen Burton has been a part of the DC Mystery experience from the beginning. He explained, “During the first year of MVGS, three teachers were tasked with developing a field experience in Washington D.C. that would be something unlike any typical D.C. field trip. The goal was to create an ungraded, challenging activity that would require the full effort of a small group of highly motivated, intellectually strong students to complete. Thus the D.C. Mystery was born.”
Based on student feedback, it appears that the teachers achieved their goal. Eastern View High School junior Emilia Hoover said, "I really enjoyed the DC Mystery trip because it wasn't just a boring tour around the capitol. Instead it was a fun filled day full of mysteries, collaboration, and some friendly competition that allowed us to explore cultural and historical landmarks in our own way."
The experience was complex, with clues to be solved and entered into an app on the students’ cell phones. Burton said, “It began as a pencil and paper challenge and has evolved as the students and technology have evolved. Today it is a web-based app challenging students to collect challenging clues around the National Mall area in an effort to decode and ultimately solve a complex set of riddles leading to the solution of the D.C. Mystery.”
Student teams raced against the other teams and the clock to gather as much information as they could on the National Mall to try to win the challenge. The more clues they could solve, the easier it would be to solve the mystery. Students had until 5:00 p.m. to collect information before they met back together for dinner, and then headed home.
The adventure was not over though as students had the weekend to continue working to solve the mystery. In the end, Team Mesa Verde from Middletown edged out the competition and took home the Lego Capitol. Team Yosemite was the top team from Warrenton, and included CCHS junior Elle Crosley.
Prior to the trip each year, MVGS teachers go to Washington DC to prepare. MVGS Humanities teacher Mindy Stephens said, “John Faircloth and I make an annual trip to the Mall to visit the museums and update clues,” she continued, “my task is writing new clues and updating old clues after we verify what has changed with the exhibits.” Faircloth, the Computer Science teacher, and coding expert of the group, then updates the mobile app with the new information.
Reflecting on the experience, Stephens said, “The DC Mystery is the highlight of my year.” She explained that she enjoys “the opportunity to work with Allen Burton and John Faircloth as part of a "well-oiled" machine.” One parent chaperone noted that the collaboration and preparation of the trio was evident through every detail of the successful day.
Stephens added, “As the humanities teacher at a STEM school, I love to watch our soon-to-be engineers, software designers, physicians, etc. spend a day eagerly exploring all that the Smithsonian museums have to offer.” She concluded, “Finally, we know our students navigate complex schedules split between two campuses, varsity sports, work schedules, music programs, and volunteering in the community. If we encumber their valuable time for a full-day field experience, it needs to be an adventure to remember. I believe the DC Mystery meets that goal, and I feel privileged to be a part of the team that makes it happen.”
While the juniors were racing around the mall to solve the DC mystery, MVGS seniors had a different experience. Since they had completed the DC Mystery last year, they were given a choice of spending the day at the National Zoo, the Capitol, or the Air and Space Museum. Culpeper County High School MVGS senior Sarah Rechkemmer chose the National Zoo. She said, “It was a great experience getting to see the pandas before they left.” She added, “One of my favorite parts about Mountain Vista is the connections we’ve built with one another, and with the zoo being one of our last senior trips, we all decided to wear white shirts and sign them for each other to remember the experience.”
Many chaperones attended the event with both groups and MVGS sent out a big thank you to all who made the day run smoothly. Mother Nature was on their side and provided a beautiful day for outdoor adventures.
