Juniors Take on DC Mystery Challenge While Seniors Explore the Nation’s Capital
On Friday, October 25, 2024, Mountain Vista Governor’s School (MVGS) juniors and seniors, which includes students from Culpeper County High School (CCHS) and Eastern View High School (EVHS) took part in the school’s annual DC Field Experience. It was a beautiful, sunny, fall day in Washington, DC for the students from both MVGS campuses, Middletown and Warrenton, to embark on an exciting adventure.
For the juniors, the day held a thrilling test of teamwork and problem-solving with the DC Discover Your Capitol Challenge. Working in small, chaperoned teams, students deciphered clues at landmarks across the National Mall, racing to solve a series of complex puzzles and competing for the coveted prize: a Lego Capitol to take back to their school campus. The teams spent the day cracking codes and gathering clues, striving to see which campus—Middletown or Warrenton—would triumph.
MVGS Director, Ladona Gorham, said, “The DC Trip has been a long standing tradition at MVGS and one I hope continues for many years. The DC destinations are chosen with both fun and education in mind and our staff works hard to make meaningful experiences for all of our students on this trip.”
MVGS Physics teacher Allen Burton, who helped create the DC Mystery Challenge in the school's first year, shared insights into its origins. “The aim was to design an intellectually stimulating, ungraded experience that would take students out of the traditional classroom,” Burton explained. “Our idea was to challenge a small group of motivated students to push their limits in an immersive, real-world context. And so, the DC Mystery was born.”
Prior to the trip each year, MVGS teachers Mindy Stephens and John Faircloth go to Washington DC to prepare for the trip, writing new clues and updating old clues after they verify what has changed with the museum exhibits. Stephens has said that the DC Mystery is the highlight of her year. The Mystery Challenge, which has evolved from a paper-based exercise to a web-app-driven adventure, offered students a blend of digital and in-person puzzles.
EVHS junior Andy Harrold remarked, “Every area we explored in DC felt like an exciting maze, and I especially loved the National American History Museum. I learned how entertainment, trends, technology, and music in America evolved---stuff I would've never paid attention to in a regular class that I can now happily devote to memory. It's why trips like these are so important; when knowledge is made fun to learn, students love learning.”
EVHS junior Catherine Lomis also appreciated the teamwork that is built into the experience, noting, “The trip was a great way to bond with my peers and learn how to work with everyone. We stayed in smaller groups, but it was interesting to see how we all began to collaborate together and even got to know students from MVGS' other campus at Middletown. The shared experience really helped bring us all together.”
As the clock ticked down, students were tasked with solving as many clues as possible before a 5:00 p.m. deadline. While the DC portion of the trip ended, the mystery continued into the weekend, allowing students to one last chance to solve any remaining clues. In the end, the Lego prize was won by a Middletown team, keeping the trophy on their campus for another year.
While the juniors engaged in the Mystery Challenge, MVGS seniors enjoyed a day of exploration. Having completed the DC Mystery the previous year, seniors had a range of options to choose from that were designed by the MVGS teachers. Seniors had a choice of visiting the National Zoo, tour Ford’s Theater and the U.S. Mint, or immerse themselves in the rich collections at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History.
With a team of dedicated chaperones and perfect autumn weather, the event was both memorable and seamless. MVGS extends its gratitude to all who contributed to this year’s successful field experience. Gorham says that she is already looking forward to next year.
