The U.S. Capitol Historical Society has started an exterior walking tour of the Capitol designed to supplement and enhance the indoor tours offered by Congressional offices and the Capitol Guide Service.

The exterior tour will cover different material, including, according to a release, “why it took 40 years to build the Capitol, why and how it has been continually enlarged since then, famous incidents and crucial events that took place inside it, the scope and purpose of the massive construction project now under way, and the daily activities that occur in and around the building.”

The tours will be offered each Monday through November. The approximately two-hour walk begins at 10 a.m. at the top of the outdoor Union Station Metro escalator. There is a fee of $10 per person (children ages 6 to10, $5; children age 6 and under, free). Only cash is accepted, and reservations are not required. For more information, call the USCHS at 202-543-8919 or visit www.uschs.org.

Year-round Youth Program Is Accepting Applications

Applications are now being accepted for the 2007-08 season of the CAPE League, a year-round entertainment and arts program for urban youths.

Membership is free thanks to grants and donations, and includes at least 40 activities per year, free tutoring and a mentor. Past and future activities include field trips to the Kennedy Center, Washington Improv Theater and National Theater, plus meetings with the Washington Wizards, monthly dinner outings, a weeklong football camp with college coaches and NFL players, career days and community service projects.

“Our goal was to create a program that would capture the consistent attention of the kids and also support parental efforts in offering their children the chance to develop in positive, productive and educational ways,” Tracy Press, executive director of Powerful Beyond Measure, which runs the program, said in a statement.

The CAPE League currently serves about 30 youths and will accept a minimum of 15 new members beginning June 1.

For an application or more information, e-mail powerfulbeyondmeasure1@yahoo.com or call Stephanie Graham at 202-248-9201.

— Daniel Heim