How to Prepare for a Week Long School Field Trip to Washington D.C

Don'ts of Packing

Do not pack large items. Large items, such as large laptops, boxes, multiple puffer jackets, and shampoo bottles should be kept at home. If you bring these items, they may make your luggage exceed the weight limit. You may have to pay extra to bring your luggage onto the plane. The rest of the items in your bag may not even fit if you pack too many large, clunky items. Pack travel-sized items, such as travel-sized toiletries. Bring small quantities of toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.

Do not pack unnecessary entertainment items. You may think that you will be very bored on the plane and the bus, and that you will have time to scroll on your phone or do other things while visiting the landmarks in D.C. You will not; your 5-7 days of touring will most likely be very busy, and you will spend most of the time walking around and taking pictures. You will probably only arrive at the hotel at night, which leaves you with only a few hours to do other things. So, keep most of your puzzles, game consoles, and books at home. You can bring 1 or 2 of them for entertainment on the bus or plane though.

Do not pack inappropriate clothing. If you don't wear certain clothing to school, then don't pack it in your luggage. Avoid packing very short clothing or revealing tops. Clothing with curse words and offensive imagery on it should also be avoided. If you wear this on the trip, you will be asked to change and get new, appropriate clothing (from the school or from D.C.). Stick with appropriate clothing, and don't try to bend the rules. Your school may be stricter on clothing policy. They may ask you to wear more formal clothing. You may only be allowed to wear athletic, comfy clothing in the hotel, and you may be asked to dress up a bit during the tours outside. So, check with your school to make sure.

What to Pack in your Luggage

Bring one luggage and one carry-on. It's recommended that you don't bring more than one luggage and carry-on because these take up extra space on the plane and in your hotel room. You will probably be sharing a room with 1-3 other people, so be considerate of their space. It's also difficult to carry around multiple suitcases, bags, and luggage around all day. You may move slowly because of this, which slows down the whole trip and wastes time. The carry-on can be a backpack or bag.

Bring a week's worth of clothes. Don't bring too little or too many clothes. Bring 5-7 shirts, pants, socks, and underwear. Depending on the time you're going to D.C, the weather may be cold and chilly or humid and warm (in the spring), so check the weather on the days before the trip. If it's raining, bring a raincoat along with some long-sleeved shirts. If it's humid and warm, don't pack too many layers. You can pack some thin shirts, leggings, and short pants. Don't keep too many heavy or thick clothing in your luggage. This will decrease the space you have in your luggage for other important items. You can pack one thick jacket or multiple layers, though. Don't wear the same clothes for multiple days at a time. Continue to keep up with your hygiene on the trip. Even if you arrive back at the hotel late one day, you should still make an effort to clean and wash yourself. If it's too late to bathe, at least change out of your clothes you wore today.

Bring some toiletries. There will probably be some toiletries such as shampoo and soap in the hotel room, but the supply may not be enough if you're sharing a room with multiple people. So, bring your own toiletries if someone else is using the hotel's toiletries or if the supply runs out. Don't bring large, unwieldy bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and soap though; minimize your load, and pack travel-sized items instead. You can buy these in most stores. You could also buy small ounce containers and fill them up with your regular shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and soap. Bring toothpaste, a toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.

Bring something from home if you get homesick. For many kids, the Washington D.C. trip is their first vacation without their parents or guardians. It may be your first time on a plane too, which might make you scared and anxious. You can set this item on your desk or set it on your bed to cuddle with to sleep. If you frequently get homesick, bring a journal to journal your feelings in. You can bring a small stuffed animal, a bracelet, a photo, or another comfort item. If you really miss your family, make sure to call them every night.

What to Bring in Your Carry-On

Pack any of your needed medications. Put this in your carry-on (which you're going to carry around on the tour), as emergencies may arise when you're not in the hotel with your luggage. Bring in any allergy medication, diabetes medication, an asthma inhaler, an Epi-Pen, or any other medical items you may need in your carry-on. If you get car or plane-sick, bring anti-nausea or motion sickness medication. If your ears get painful or plugged on the plane, bring some chewing gum and chew on it to relieve the ear pressure. You can also bring a decongestant.

Bring needed sanitary products. If you're starting your period on the week of Washington D.C, bring your needed sanitary products. Bring a week's worth of products (you may need some extra if you leak while touring D.C.) plus extra underwear and a portable heating pad. You can also take period pain medication. You may feel self-conscious while on the trip, as you are sharing a room with people while menstruating. You may also be worried of leaking while walking with others during the trip. Calm down, and assure yourself that it won't happen if you pack enough supplies and prepare.

Take a bottle of hand sanitizer or some sanitizing wipes. Hand sanitizer and wet wipes will help sanitize and clean your hands and surfaces you may be touching (especially at indoor areas like restaurants). Take hand sanitizer to clean your hands if there are no restrooms nearby. You can also use wet wipes to sanitize surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and cutlery.

Bring a small hat and/or sunglasses. If you're going to Washington D.C. in the spring, it may be hot and humid. Bring a small hat like a baseball cap and sunglasses to protect your eyes. You can also bring a small container of sunscreen, as there will be a lot of sunshine there.

Bring some spare change. Keep a few dollars in your wallet if you stop by a vending machine or are ordering food during the trip. Keep your change in a wallet in a secure place. There are pickpockets everywhere, including Washington D.C. So, it may be wise to get a lock on your luggage and on your carry-on to ensure no one steals anything from it.

Bring a portable electronic device, preferably a phone. You can call your parents if there are any emergencies on the trip if you have a phone. If you don't have one, buy one, use a tablet or smartwatch, or borrow a friend's phone. Bring your phone and its own portable charger. The hotel won't have enough chargers for tens and hundreds of students, so bring your own.

Put in some entertainment items. Don't overpack entertainment items (as you won't have time to use them much; only in the hotel for a couple of hours). But, if you're bored in the hotel, bus, or plane, pack things that you would need, like a puzzle, novel, drawing pad, comic book, or a tablet. You can also take a small notebook and pencil/pen to take notes on the scenery you see during the trip (on the bus and while walking around). You can pack a few fidget toys if you need some stimulation. Pack earbuds or headphones if you want to listen to music.

Bring some small snacks. You will go to restaurants and dining areas in Washington D.C. You may also go to convenience stores and vending machines. In case you are hungry and can't find any nearby restaurants or vending machines, bring your own food. Pack small snacks like granola bars, pretzel bags, chip bags, and some bite-sized fruit. If you're packing fruit, make sure you eat it first. Fruit will go bad faster than processed food, so eat your fruit first.