HANCOCK – Some Hancock students will get a firsthand experience with American democracy when they visit Washington, D.C., in January for the presidential inauguration.

The trip to the capitol is being organized by Hancock Middle School and Hancock Central High School social studies teachers Matt Dennis and Senia Kuntze.

Kuntze said in the 10 years she’s been at Hancock schools, this is the first trip students have taken to observe the presidential inauguration. So far, it’s expected 45 students in grades eight to 12, teachers and parents will be going.

The cost per person for the trip is $800, Kuntze said. Some families have already signed up, and some are making payments on the $800. Total cost for the trip is about $36,000.

To defray the costs of the trip, Kuntze said the two schools have conducted fundraising events, such as bagging groceries, having a cookout and collecting receipts, all at Tadych’s Econo Foods in Houghton. There will be a spaghetti dinner at HCHS in early November, and donuts will be sold around Christmas time. Donations also can be made directly to the two schools.

There is no specific dollar goal, however.

“As much as we can (raise),” Kuntze said.

Kuntze said the trip is managed by North Carolina-based Educational Travel Adventures.

“They provide security, they provide food, they set up our tours,” she said. “We don’t have to worry about a thing.”

The company also arranges lodging in a location outside the capital. Participants will be bunking four to a room.

Kuntze said trip participants will leave Hancock on Jan. 17. The travel to Washington, D.C., is expected to take about 20 hours. In the capital, besides the inauguration on Jan. 20, they will also visit several monuments and historic locations. They will have a photo opportunity at the White House, but they won’t be taking a tour of the building.

“They keep us moving,” she said of the activities in Washington, D.C.

The group will return on Jan. 22.

Kuntze said she’s looking forward to the trip.

“We’re really excited for our kids to be part of history,” she said.