“I Declare Independence” Explained

Get ready for an emotional experience that will rock your school, thrill your heart and give you
hope for the future of America! This is an interactive simulated experience that staff and
participants love!

Participants are Continental Delegates with the quest to become FOUNDING PATRIOTS. Most
people do not see themselves as active participants in the fight for liberty in America and have
never thought of themselves as such. However, in order to preserve our liberty from one
generation to another we must all become FOUNDING PATRIOTS to throw down tyranny and
espouse principles of freedom. This event provides an opportunity for students to become
Delegates to the Second Continental Congress on a quest to become FOUNDING PATRIOTS. It
is an opportunity to “re-declare” our independence in the free land of America!

Volunteers and faculty become “Convention Officials” who explain the Declarations of Freedom
and ask students to make the necessary freedom commitments before signing the Declaration of
Independence. Teachers also administer the delegates’ convention briefing before the event as an
in-class assignment.

We define a FOUNDING PATRIOT as someone who loves the principles America was founded
upon and who will work to keep America free!

To recognize FOUNDING PATRIOTS your school is turned into Independence Hall complete
with an interactive assembly, Declarations of Freedom, convention briefings, declarations of
freedom and much more! Those involved will sense a swell of patriotism as they go through the
requirements to become FOUNDING PATRIOTS.

Before the day starts teachers are taken through an in-service training where they are given
materials. Teachers administer a provided convention briefing to students to help orientate them
for the event. On the day of the event delegates (students) come to an assembly and learn about
the Second Continental Congress of 1776 and the events surrounding it. Then students are taken
through the Declarations of Freedom (staffed by parents who become Convention Officials)
where they make declarations of freedom in their official convention program. Upon completion
of all of the Declarations, delegates return for the closing assembly where they learn about the
risks and hopes the Founding Fathers expected when they signed the Declaration of
Independence. Then students formally sign their own copy of the Declaration of Independence
and become FOUNDING PATRIOTS.

The event can be left up in the evening for a presentation open to families and members of the
community too!