Mr. Kennell received a competitive grant from the American Battlefield Trust’s History Field Trip Grant Program.
Woodlawn Elementary’s Mr. Kennell and his 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classrooms will soon head to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, thanks to a grant from the American Battlefield Trust’s History Field Trip Grant Program. This trip will provide students with an exceptional, hands-on history learning opportunity. Grants are awarded based on a competitive national application process, demonstrating Mr. Kennell’s commitment to excellence in the classroom.
Woodlawn Elementary School is part of the Princeton City School District, which currently only approves field trips that are grant-funded due to recent budget cuts.
“Education is most powerful when it comes to life beyond the classroom. I am thrilled for our trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, where students will step into history, connect with powerful stories of courage, and deepen their understanding of freedom and resilience,” Kennell shared. “This experience will ignite curiosity, inspire critical thinking, and leave a lasting impact on their learning journey!”
Superintendent of Princeton City Schools, Mr. G. Elgin Card, added, “We are excited for this opportunity for our students! The experiential learning that this trip provides to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is memorable and valuable. Thanks to Mr. Kennell’s dedication and the financial support of the American Battlefield Trust, our students will engage with history in a way that fosters empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs that shaped our nation.”
“Woodlawn Elementary School is proud to be a grant recipient. This grant opens the door for our students to experience history firsthand, beyond the pages of a textbook. Visiting the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will provide them with a powerful perspective on resilience, justice, and the fight for freedom—lessons that will stay with them for a lifetime,” explained Sherry Thompson, principal.
The American Battlefield Trust is the largest battlefield land preservation organization in the country, having saved more than 58,000 acres of hallowed ground across 24 states. Through visiting preserved battlefields and walking in the footsteps of the citizen soldiers who fought there, the Trust aims to provide a foundation of good citizenship for the leaders of tomorrow. The Trust strives to produce excellent educational resources in a variety of formats for both educators and the public alike, ensuring that Americans never forget how their country was forged.
Every year, the Trust receives applications from classrooms across the country to participate in the History Field Trip Grant Program, which offers funding and assistance to K-12 teachers planning field trips to Civil War, War of 1812, or Revolutionary War battlefields and related historic sites. During the 2022-2023 school year, more than 10,000 students from 33 states took part.
“These kids get a chance to go to where history was made, where our country was created and defined,” said Trust President David Duncan of the History Field Trip Grant Program recipients. “Battlefields are outdoor classrooms that will teach future Americans about our democratic republic.”
Mr. Kennell has enormous enthusiasm for teaching history. He is excited to utilize the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center as an outdoor classroom that will give his students a meaningful and memorable experience. The American Battlefield Trust is proud to support and empower such excellent educators as they inspire the next generation of proud Americans.
The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.
