For two weeks in June, Scott Ingalsbe learned about the inner workings of an international organization with other talented youth from around the world.Ingalsbe was chosen to participate in the United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth based on an essay he wrote last year for the local contest and a speech he gave this year at the state level.
The goal of the program is to educate youth about the United Nations and the United States government. Each summer, four sessions take place. Ingalsbe's session lasted from June 19 until June 30.
Scott visited the Liberty Bell while in Philadelphia.
After flying into Philadelphia, Ingalsbe spent the first week traveling by bus with other students from Minnesota, Texas, and Louisiana.
They began by visiting the sights of Philadelphia, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. They also saw both the American and Canadian sides of Niagara Falls and rode on a ferryboat called the Maid of the Mist.
They spent a day driving around the civil war battlefield at Gettysburg, discussing the battle, and visiting monuments.
Another day was spent in Washington, D.C. There, they saw the Smithsonian museums, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Vietnam and Korean war memorials. They also visited the Library of Congress and the Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson memorials.
Some of their meals were provided by Oddfellows and Rebekahs lodges from those areas. "The Oddfellows lodges in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. took really good care of us," said Ingalsbe.
Ingalsbe spent the second week of his trip in New York City. His bus group met up with other students at the Southgate Hotel by Madison Square Garden. Over 200 students assembled for this portion of the Pilgrimage.
On the first day, the students toured the actual United Nations building. They saw where branches of the organization, such as the security council and the general assembly, meet.
"I was surprised at its accessibility," said Ingalsbe. "It's this big world organization, but anyone can go in."
While in New York, they also saw the New York Public Library, the Museum of Modern Art, the Empire State Building, and went shopping on Fifth Avenue. They also took a ferry to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
One of highlights of Ingalsbe's trip was attending the Broadway musical Les Miserables. "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen," said Ingalsbe. "I knew all the music because I had sung it in choir, but I had never seen the show before then."
Another highlight for Ingalsbe was visiting the fire garage next door to the hotel. He went on his own and ended up spending a half hour talking to one of the firemen and touring the facility.
All of the delegates were also required to participate in a speech contest. The topic of the speech was the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child.
Throughout the week, the delegates listened to speakers and held question and answer periods to compile the information for their speeches. The winner, who rode on the same bus as Ingalsbe, received a $1,000 scholarship.
On the last day of the trip, the group drove back to Philadelphia, visited Valley Forge, and got on their return flights.
"It was a very well run trip," said Ingalsbe. "It was definitely worth the time to write up an essay."