Explore DC (EDC) is a multi-day experience that includes service with nonprofits, exploration of neighborhoods, DC history and culture and evening programming for incoming first-year and transfer students at American University. It is part of AU All American Welcome, sponsored by the Center for Community Engagement and Service. Explore DC gives new students a chance to acclimate to their new home through logistical issues like transportation and food, and to learn about how the city works by exploring the burning issues faced by community members, and to be exposed to some of the cultural and historical resources that exist. The week's activities are listed below:

Monday 

Title - Explore DC: Getting to Know the Neighborhoods (Sophomores)

Date - Monday, August 23^rd

Start/End Time – Breakfast: 9am Service: 10:30-4pm 

Description - The first day of Explore DC will give sophomore students an opportunity to get to know the city a lot better. Students will meet in the SIS atrium for breakfast and then join a group to be a part of a deep dive into one particular neighborhood in DC.  They can choose from 9 different locations and will learn more about the culture, history, local transportation, and where the best spots for food in town are.

Tuesday

Explore DC: Through Service (Sophomores)

Title - Explore DC: Getting to Know the Neighborhoods

Date- Tuesday, August 24^th

Start/End Time – Breakfast: 9am Service: 10:30-4pm 

Description - The second day will expose students to some of the big issues the DC metro area is faced with and give them an opportunity to get involved. Students will meet in the SIS Atrium for breakfast and get into groups of 8-10, led by an upper-class peer through a service project hosted by one of our many community partners. Students will learn more about the issues that the community partner works to combat in the context of their local area and all of the resources they are able to use. Some of the issue areas will be youth & education,  food security, affordable housing, immigration and others.

Wednesday

Title – Explore DC: Culture & Politics

Date - Wednesday, August 25^th

Start/End Time – 6-7pm

Description - CCES will host an ice cream social at The Bridge coffee shop/lounge prior to the evening programs put on by our office. This will give students a chance to engage with other students on campus, meet CCES staff,  and find new friends to attend one of the evening programs with!

Title – Explore DC: Culture & Politics

Date - Wednesday, August 25^th

Start/End Time – 7-8:30pm

Description – There will be five different programs this night tackling important topics related to the culture of DC. All students are welcome and will be able to choose from events ranging from spoken word, music,  gentrification and homelessness, and voting rights.

Thursday

Title - Explore DC: Getting to Know the Neighborhoods (First-years)

Date - Thursday, August 26^th  

Start/End Time – Breakfast: 9am Service: 10:30-4pm 

Description –This part of the Explore DC will give first-year students an opportunity to get to know the city a lot better. Students will meet in the SIS atrium for breakfast and then join a group to be a part of a deep dive into one particular neighborhood in DC.  They can choose from 9 different locations and will learn more about the culture, history, local transportation, and where the best spots for food in town are. 

Friday

Explore DC: Through Service (First-years)

Title - Explore DC: Getting to Know the Neighborhoods

Date - Friday, August 27^th  

Start/End Time – Breakfast: 9am Service: 10:30-4pm 

Description - The last day will expose students to some of the big issues the DC metro area is faced with and give them an opportunity to get involved. Students will meet in the SIS Atrium for breakfast and get into groups of 8-10, led by an upper-class peer through a service project hosted by one of our many community partners. Students will learn more about the issues that the community partner works to combat in the context of their local area and all of the resources they are able to use. Some of the issue areas will be youth & education,  food security, affordable housing, immigration and others.