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A student visiting the monument learns the process of wool carding, which involves disentangling, cleaning, and aligning wool fibers to prepare them for spinning, felting, or other textile uses.
NPS/Photo
On-site field programs at Booker T. Washington National Monument offer students hands-on learning opportunities. Developed by park staff, these educational programs enhance student engagement through innovative instruction and authentic park-based activities. The K-12 program exemplifies the monument's commitment to inquiry-based learning that aligns with school curricula and current Virginia Standards of Learning.
Programs and curricula that explore Booker T. Washington's early life in slavery on the Burroughs plantation deepen students' understanding of American history during the years leading up to and including the American Civil War. Reconstructed mid-19th-century buildings provide context for Washington’s early environment, where experiences with slavery, emancipation, and plantation labor shaped his perspectives on equality and African American advancement. These foundational experiences were integral to Washington’s later philosophy, achievements, and leadership.
"Parks as classrooms" started as an educational philosophy and program framework that uses natural environments and historic sites as living, hands-on learning spaces. Instead of studying subjects solely from textbooks indoors, students experience direct, experiential learning in nature, which encourages critical thinking, environmental stewardship, and a deeper connection to local history."
