By Crystal McGough, Associate Editor
MONTEVALLO – Area homeschoolers with Trussville-based Faith Community Christian School spent President’s Day this year not only learning about but experiencing American history first-hand at American Village’s annual Washington’s Birthday Celebration on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.
Students ranging from pre-school through high school seniors – and a few FCCS alumni – began their tour with a visit to the Colonial Chapel, where they had an audience with President George Washington. From there, the students proceeded to the Encampment where they were enlisted into Washington’s Continental Army.
These young revolutionaries were not done yet, as their next venture found them in a meetinghouse where they were trained in the art of Colonial spy techniques.
Finally, at noon, all in attendance met in front of Washington Hall to “share cupcakes with George Washington and sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the Father of our Country.”
“Washington’s Birthday at the American Village means family-friendly fun, learning a little bit about American history and meeting, of course, President Washington and many other patriots of the past,” American Village communications officer Melanie Poole said. “You can meet Abigail Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Washington, of course; you can play Colonial games on the green, learn to march with the Continental Army and lots of other things that will remind you what it means to be an American.”
Following the birthday celebration, attendees were free to choose from a variety of other educational opportunities and experiences, including lessons in 18th century fashion or being an 18th century apothecary, learning to play Colonial games, attending the “Ye Old Two-Lipped Theater” puppet show, or hearing speeches from Abigail Adams, John Adams and Martha Washington.
At 2 p.m., a patriotic concert titled “Made in the U.S.A.” was held at Liberty Hall.
“Going to American Village on President’s Day was a great opportunity for us to get a better look at history, with their interpreters dressed in full costume and not breaking character,” FCCS Elementary Activity Coordinator Tabatha Feduska said. “Although we’re not able to actually meet people from the past, we are able to experience and have a better understanding of who they were.”
While the local homeschool group has visited American Village before, Feduska said that it was many years ago and before her time with the group. She has been trying to plan a trip in recent years, but the Covid pandemic put a hold on things.
“With the pandemic and everything that’s happened, we just haven’t been able to go, and they (American Village) haven’t really been able to take field trips and large groups,” Feduska said. “But like I told my kids, if we don’t learn about history, we forget history. I just thought this would be a great time for all of us, and what better day than President’s Day. I know that some of the kids were probably a little too young to fully understand what they were hearing, but I know there are pieces that they will remember, and I am hoping that those will be building blocks for them to remember and want to learn more about later.”
While the future is yet to be determined, Feduska said that she hopes the students of FCCS will have the opportunity to visit American Village again, to build onto those foundational blocks of knowledge they laid Monday, as well as to visit areas of the Village they may have missed this time around.
According to Melanie Poole, “Washington’s Birthday Celebration” is an event that has been held annually on President’s Day since the year 2000, after American Village first opened in November 1999.
To learn more about American Village, visit www.americanvillage.org.
To learn more about Faith Community Christian School, visit their website at fccstrussville.com or call FCCS Administrator Melissa Jordan at (205) 616-7947.