Innovative, interactive program designed to engage students, educators

(Black PR Wire) WASHINGTON, D.C. - The African American Civil War Museum announces its second Museum Passport to Freedom Festival welcoming students back to school on August 19, 2017 from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

The Museum Passport to Freedom Festival: Back to School event will be hosted at the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum on August 19, 2017 and includes a host of fun games, activities, music and food. Parents can pick up free school supplies for their scholars to start the school year. Supplies will be distributed to attendees while they last, between 10am and 2pm; children must be present for parents to collect supplies.

The Museum Passport to Freedom Festival is a part of the Encouraging Students to Visit the Museum Outreach Program. More than 2,000 students have participated in the program since its inception in December 2016. Educators have given it high marks for helping to form a framework for teaching African American history in the classroom, according to museum Founding Director, Frank Smith.

"We've had a number of successes with the outreach program," Smith said. "In addition to the educational materials provided to teachers, the museum has instituted several interactive activities, such as Museum Passport to Freedom, which was influenced by research from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, that shows children who visit museums score higher on achievement tests in math, reading and science. The activities are designed to promote critical thinking, listening and analytical skills."

The African American Civil War Memorial and Museum, located on Vermont Ave NW, was dedicated in 1998 with a mission to preserve and tell the stories of the 209,000 members of the U.S. Colored Troops who served in the Civil War.

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