More than 130 Vermont high school students will travel on Tuesday to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston. This is the second trip organized by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to the bipartisan Kennedy Institute to help Vermont students learn about democracy, civic discourse and the legislative process.

Students from North Country Union High School, Oxbow High School, Peoples Academy and Castleton University’s Upward Bound program will participate in the second ever “Vermont Day” at the Kennedy Institute. The students will take on the role of a senator-for-a-day in a full-scale replica of the U.S. Senate chamber. The immersive experience includes researching public policy, introducing and debating legislation and working together to reach consensus. 

Sanders, who will be in Burlington, will address the students in livestreamed remarks at 1 p.m.

“At a time when many people feel alienated from the political process, and when voter participation is dangerously low, it is vitally important that we engage our students to prepare them to be critical thinkers and future leaders,” Sanders said. “This trip is a small, but important step for Vermont students to do just that.”

Sanders, who serves on the Senate education committee, said he is “very impressed with the hands-on civics taught to visiting students” at the Kennedy Institute. Sanders organized the first “Vermont Day” trip to the Institute last November. 

The bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate “is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities.”

Schools and students that are interested in participating in a future “Vermont Day” at the Kennedy Institute can contact Katarina Lisaius at Sanders’ Burlington office at 1-800-339-9834.