ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Students from Liberty Pines Academy in St. Johns County recently returned from a memorable trip to Washington D.C., which was filled with first-time experiences for many.
For eighth-grader Ruby Grace Kight, the highlight was something Floridians rarely encounter—snow.
“It was pretty insane,” Kight said, adding that she woke up around 6 a.m. to see the nation’s capital coated in snow.
Mother Nature’s efforts to turn the nation’s capital into a winter wonderland did cause a slight tweak to the students’ itinerary, however.
LPA parents got a message from Principal Donny Hoessler regarding the snow, which read:
Even though the snowy weather has caused us to make some changes in our plans for today, we have been able to pivot nicely. The students are having fun playing in the snow and hanging out in the hotel while playing games together
Message to LPA parents from Principal Donny Hoessler
That fun included a snowball fight among the almost 200 students who made the trip.
“The only not fun part was people would get chunks of ice, and they were thrown at us,” Kight said with a laugh.
The field trip came during a week with several monumental moments taking place in Washington D.C., including the certification of the 2024 election and former President Jimmy Carter lying in state.
Kight said students were even able to see some of the setups in preparation for the inauguration on Jan. 20.
“It was really fun just being with my friends, and I’m a history nerd,” Kight said. “I really like history, so it was really fun just learning the history of our nation.”
Despite the cold, Kight said the trip left a lasting impression.
“Sometimes I was like, ‘It’s so cold, I just want to go back to Florida.’ Then I realized, ‘No, I’m really loving it here.’” she said.