In December of 2012, our 12-year-old daughter described a school field trip to Nature’s Classroom where she was forced into a slavery reenactment, enduring insults and taunts meant to make the children “feel” like slaves and being chased through the woods in the dark running from “slave catchers”.  The outrageous reenactment, thrust unknowingly upon the kids without notification to parents, made headlines across the country. Despite the attention and calls to end the reenactments, Nature’s Classroom has not backed down. Two years later and they continue to stand by and practice this horrifying way of “teaching” children about slavery and our nation’s past.  

Please add your voice to ours by signing this petition to stop Nature’s Classroom from deceiving parents into incorporating their young school children into slavery reenactments.  Ask them to end the reenactments now!

The problems started before the kids even got to Nature’s Classroom. The permission slip sent to parents deliberately denied parents the right to make an informed choice about whether our children should participate. The permission slip listed the following learning objective: “Living in cabins and learning about science and nature while enjoying the outdoors”.  Nothing about slavery at all! We unknowingly sent our child to be coerced by the adults we trusted.  We can’t imagine how confused the children must have felt when their school teachers/chaperones participated in the enactments in various ways and allowed the staff from Nature’s Classroom to demean, degrade, threaten and taunt them by calling them names and using racial slurs.

The typical age of children participating in the activity is between 10 and 12 years old. Imagine being at that age and being asked to take on the role of a slave, especially if you are a person of color, and having an adult suddenly dehumanize you as a part of a history lesson. Neither Nature’s Classroom staff members, nor the classroom teachers/chaperones that attended the field trip have the psychological training or skills needed to assess the vulnerabilities of children. The staff is not capable of discerning whether a child this young is able to handle such a stressful exercise

Nothing has changed since our daughter and classmates were forced into the reenactment. According to a 2013 report from the Connecticut State Department of Education, Nature’s Classroom Executive Director said there were no funds to alter or improve the curriculum despite admitting the program design needed to be improved. It is clear that they are choosing to ignore the concerns that have been raised about this simulation by school systems.  Later the report states, “There are no clear or concise goals and objectives identified for the program,” and “there are no clear instructions for staff regarding appropriate or inappropriate language or actions, or caution around possible emotional and/or psychological effects.”

As we found out after doing an interview, the program has been traumatizing students for years. We received an email from a college student who went through the same program and couldn’t believe it was still running. The student went through the program 11 years ago! Imagine how many students will have to endure the reenactments if we do not stand together to end it now. 

All children should be educated in a safe and nurturing environment. It should be an environment that encourages a healthy sense of identity. Middle school, in particular, is a time to emphasize activities that build confidence in our children and help develop a positive vision for their future. We are not suggesting at all that educators avoid teaching about slavery; however, we believe this was particularly insensitive to the African-American children who participated and was traumatizing and confusing for other children of color and white students.  

Imagine if this enactment were done with a Jewish concentration camp theme, Native American massacre theme, or a Japanese internment camp theme.  Any one of these simulations would be potentially dangerous and send could send unclear messages to children.  Anyone presenting historical material to children must give careful consideration to ensure the material is appropriate for their developmental stages. Join us in calling for Nature’s Classroom to end the reenactments immediately. Please sign and share our petition today.

Additional Details:

You may have seen us discuss the ordeal on MSNBC’s Melissa Harris Perry Show. Link to video of interview 

The permission slip: (Link to copy of permission slip)

Please read our daughter's account of what happened to her.​ 

Please read the report released by our daughter’s school, Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy (HMTCA).  In it students from HMTCA recount the details of their experience at Nature’s Classroom and share how the environment was racially charged and traumatic.  According to the students, Nature’s Classroom staff even used the “N” word.