Washington, D.C.
Spy Kids: Sleuths & Secrets With Your Grandchild
Program No. 23214RJ
Decode D.C.’s history of espionage with your spy kid grandchild, as you visit the city’s most notorious spy sites and learn about investigative gadgets from former CIA and NSA agents.
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5B 4L 4D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Washington, DC
2
National Cryptologic Museum, DC Highlights
Washington, DC
3
Mount Vernon, SpyKids Mission Training
Washington, DC
4
International Spy Museum, Free Time
Washington, DC
6
Program Concludes
Washington, DC
At a Glance
Invite your grandchild to join the ranks of Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Encyclopedia Brown as they transform into student sleuths and spy kids during a week of mysterious adventure. Together, you’ll investigate Washington D.C.’s cryptic history during visits to the city’s most notorious spy sites, as well as the International Spy Museum and the Cryptologic Museum at the NSA Headquarters. Meet former CIA agents, and learn about different spying devices and decoding tactics on this covert adventure!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Program involves walking up to two full miles each day, taking Washington, D.C. public transportation, and getting on/off motor coach.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy a private, hands-on presentation on the art of espionage from a former intelligence officer.
- View rare spy artifacts and learn all about the art of espionage at the International Spy Museum.
- Decode D.C.’s history of espionage at Mount Vernon as you learn about the Culper Ring, America’s first network of spies, coordinated by George Washington himself.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Lee Ann Rose
Lee Ann Rose has found a way to use her theatre degree and her love of history into a career that has spanned 20 years at Colonial Williamsburg and now has allowed her to step out creating her own company called, Shades of Our Past. At her time at Colonial Williamsburg, she has played Martha Washington and coached other character interpreters and Nation Builders. When she is not performing, she is working on a book about Martha Washington's children.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Lee Ann Rose
View biography
Lee Ann Rose has found a way to use her theatre degree and her love of history into a career that has spanned 20 years at Colonial Williamsburg and now has allowed her to step out creating her own company called, Shades of Our Past. At her time at Colonial Williamsburg, she has played Martha Washington and coached other character interpreters and Nation Builders. When she is not performing, she is working on a book about Martha Washington's children.
Christi Pancoast
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Christi Pancoast is originally from Ohio and has been a teacher in Richmond, Virginia for over two decades. She is a self-proclaimed travel junkie, lifelong learner, and people enthusiast. In her free time, she enjoys Zumba, yoga, and being with her friends.
Ira Deutsch
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Ira Deutsch was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. At age 20, he moved to Israel and joined the Israeli military, retiring with the rank of LTC after 26 years of military service. His service included international affairs, coordinating relationships with multiple countries including the United States military. Ira’s last assignment before retiring was as a Foreign Liaison Officer to the U.S. National Guard and FEMA, stationed in Washington, DC. His coordinating experience makes him uniquely qualified to serve as a Group Leader.
Brian Hilton
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Brian Hilton was a guide and researcher at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate for 10 years, and has portrayed George Washington as a historical interpreter since 2007. He was selected as the James Madison Fellow for the Commonwealth of Virginia from 2021-2022, and currently is the official George Washington for the City of Alexandria, Virginia. He is, first and foremost, an educator and academic portraying Washington with the goal and intention of informing, inspiring and interacting with audiences across the country and around the world.
Rick Salamida
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Richard J. Salamida holds an M.S. in manufacturing systems engineering from Lehigh University, a B.S. in Computer Science from Rochester Institute of Technology, and an A.A.S. in mathematics from Herkimer County Community College. His career spans both the commercial and service industries, with over 30 years in consulting, business process improvement, and technical analysis in HR/payroll systems. He also owned and operated businesses in the restaurant and technology sectors, later transitioning into the travel industry as a group leader.
Dennis Diggins
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Dennis Diggins is a passionate exploration leader dedicated to connecting people through shared experiences. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he earned a B.A. in history from San Jose State University. His love for storytelling has taken him across America’s iconic cities and breathtaking national parks. Whether leading tours through New England’s vibrant fall foliage or the majestic landscapes of the West, he finds joy in fostering meaningful connections. An avid reader and traveler, Dennis believes the heart of every journey lies in its people.
Suggested Reading List
(10 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Spy Kids: Sleuths & Secrets With Your Grandchild
Program Number: 23214
Harry Potter and the Art of Spying: Young Agent Edition
Harry Potter. Rubeus Hagrid. Severus Snape. What do they have in common? Well, yes, they're all wizards, but just as importantly, each of them is an accomplished spy. And while we Muggles may not be able to use magic in our own adventures, we can learn a lot from the wizarding world in terms of secret-agent techniques! The book you hold in your hands will teach you the ways of the world-class spy, with Harry Potter and all his friends (and enemies) as your guide. Along the way, Potter-themed activities start you on the way to becoming a spy yourself.
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales take young readers into American history with graphic novels that bring the dangerous, bloody, exciting history of America to life. The Revolutionary War and the Civil War, World War I and World War II, the Donner Party, the Marquis de Lafayette, Harriet Tubman, the Alamo, and more all come to life in a way that will excite young readers of history.
The Secret Life of Spies
Uncover the lives of 20 real-life spies who made it their mission to uncover the truth and collect secret information from their enemies… This book presents personal accounts and testimonies from spies all over the world and throughout history and brings key moments in history to life for young readers.
Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown
As World War II comes to a close, the United States and the Soviet Union emerge as the two greatest world powers on extreme opposites of the political spectrum. After the United States showed its hand with the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, the Soviets refuse to be left behind. With communism sweeping the globe, the two nations begin a neck-and-neck competition to build even more destructive bombs and conquer the Space Race. In their battle for dominance, spy planes fly above, armed submarines swim deep below, and undercover agents meet in the dead of night.
Spy School
Ben Ripley may only be in middle school, but he’s already pegged his dream job: CIA or bust. Unfortunately for him, his personality doesn’t exactly scream “secret agent.” In fact, Ben is so awkward, he can barely get to school and back without a mishap. Because of his innate nerdiness, Ben is not surprised when he is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on science, but he’s entirely shocked to discover that the school is actually a front for a junior CIA academy. Could the CIA really want him? First book in the Spy School series.
Top Secret: Spies, Codes, Capers, Gadgets, and Classified Cases Revealed
Oh, didn't realize you were leaving behind a trail of evidence? You will after you read this book! In fact, you'll know all the tricks of the spy trade, get the scoop behind sleuthing, and discover all kinds of skills, like how ninjas walked on water. You'll read about cold cases and hidden places, cool disguises and wicked surprises, menacing mysteries, undiscovered histories, and so much more!
George Washington's Spy
Ten-year-old Matt Carlton and 6 other children travel through time to 1776 Boston, Massachusetts. The British occupy the city and the redcoat guards are everywhere. The boys in the group find themselves captives of Patriot spies while the girls are taken in by a wealthy Tory family. The modern-day children learn about life for Loyalists and Patriots in early America as they meet Benjamin Franklin, learn about colonial medicine, and become part of a rebel spy ring before returning home.
Alex Rider: Stormbreaker
They said his uncle Ian died in a car accident. But Alex Rider knows that’s a lie, and the bullet holes in the windshield prove it. Yet he never suspected the truth: his uncle was really a spy for Britain’s top secret intelligence agency. And now Alex has been recruited to find his uncle’s killers . . .
Passport
An unforgettable graphic memoir by debut talent Sophia Glock reveals her discovery as a teenager that her parents are agents working for the CIA.
Harriet the Spy
It's no secret that Harriet the Spy is a timeless classic that kids will love! Every day can be an adventure if you just look carefully enough!