Hundreds of Medfield, Mass. 3rd grade students, and even more in the years ahead will be impacted by the recent change to the Rocky Woods field trip. 

Since 1978, more than 8,000 Wheelock School 3rd graders have benefited from participating in the Rocky Woods Feast organized by Medfield school staff, parents, students and community volunteers. The feast is part of the elementary school curriculum based on Massachusetts History and Social Science frameworks.

For more than 40 years, the Rocky Woods event has provided an intensive, engaging and hands-on learning experience that has been stated by countless Medfield alumni as the highlight of their elementary school years, and something they look forward to from the time they enter Kindergarten.

The day features the chance for students to:

-Enjoy a feast made with vegetables planted in the spring of 2nd grade and harvested in the fall;

-Tend an open log fire and learn cooking skills;

-Experience fishing, archery and Colonial-era games;

-Hike into town conservation land; and

-Dress up in costumes that mimic Colonial settlers giving students the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the experience (costumes have never been mandated).

Unfortunately, on September 29, 2022 without a chance for parent and community input, 3rd grade parents received an e-mail from Wheelock Principal Holli Caulfield stating that the Colonial costumes would be replaced by t-shirts that families would need to purchase for the day. Gone would be the costumes that had been a big part of the tradition, and had been crafted by hundreds of volunteers over the years. No reason for the change was provided other than a desire to “foster community.”

This was a clear effort by a small number of parents to dismantle a longstanding, beloved event that was squarely designed to comply with the state curriculum framework for 3rdgrade that seeks to help students understand “the challenges for Pilgrim men, women, and children in their new home (e.g., building shelter and starting farming, becoming accustomed to a new environment, maintaining their faith and keeping a community together through self-government).”

It should be noted that this annual outdoor event has historically been supplemented by classroom lessons and guest speakers who provide Native American perspectives, and allow students to understand the impact of settlers on local indigenous cultures. However, the Rocky Woods event itself focuses solely on helping students experience “the day of a life” of a Colonial settler, with costumes a critically important component.  

One would never visit Pilgrim Plantation, King Richard’s Faire, or other historic festivals and living museums and see reenactors wearing t-shirts! Hence, the Rocky Woods costumes are critically important for adding authenticity to the overall experience for 3rd graders in Medfield.

If you agree, we are asking you to sign this petition to demand that the Wheelock School administration:

1. Brings back the Rocky Woods costumes that had been used in prior years for the 2022 event.
2. Commits to not making changes to any aspect of the Rocky Woods Feast in future years without significant parent and community involvement and input (including Site Council).
3. Communicates its process for how it plans to heighten community engagement overall going forward – beyond this one event.  

If this change is made to one of the most beloved experiences our elementary students have they will lose a chance to  be reenactors of history -- to have one day when they can pretend to be someone else and act out parts among their peers that has been done for 40 years. 

 

 

Please sign this petition with the hopes that the current 3rd Graders can have the chance to wear the colonial attire when they go to Rocky Woods starting November 1, 2022.