When you set foot on the grounds of the historic Rancho Camulos on Thursday, June 2, you’ll be taking a trip back in time, thanks to the students of SCVi Charter School who are producing their fourth annual Civil War living history event.

“These 8th-grade learners go all-out to re-create the mood, the environment, the life and the culture of the Civil War era,” said Dustin Lengning, one of two SCVi facilitators who oversee the project.

“At SCVi, we believe in allowing children to immerse themselves in their learning experiences, and the Civil War re-enactment is a terrific example of that,” Lengning said. “The learners apply 21st-century skills to produce this event, and the actual living history day is the culmination of two months of preparation.”

The public is welcome to attend the living history event, scheduled 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rancho Camulos in Piru, about 10 miles west of Santa Clarita along State Route 126. There is a $5 donation for the general public.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of this tumultuous time in our nation’s history, SCVi’s 8th graders have been taking their learning beyond simply reading about history. Instead, each student has chosen a person who may have lived in that time, whether a historical figure or a persona they created based on what they’ve learned and researched about life in mid-19th century in America.

The learners will spend the entire day in character as part of the event. They will present their knowledge to their facilitators to be assessed, but also, and perhaps equally importantly, they will present the results of their learning to the 1,000-plus visitors expected to attend.

The living history will feature performances, battle re-enactments, displays of Civil War-era inventions, a cotillion with period dances, and other interactive experiences. The students also create a sutlery, featuring student-made provisions that reflect the Civil War era. The goods are made available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting SCVi and Rancho Camulos programs.

Throughout the event, the 8th grade learners participate as living-history docents, sharing their knowledge from a first-person perspective.

Facilitator Keith Faulkner said the living history event provides a window into how SCVi’s project-based learning model engages students and taps into their creativity.

“The students work together to create, schedule, budget and plan the event, and they’ve also been spending a great deal of time learning about the era and developing the characters they will portray, based either on real-life people or composite figures of their own creation, drawing from history,” Faulkner said.

He added: “People who come visit the Civil War living history day are in for a wonderful experience. These kids are really going to bring that period to life.”

Rancho Camulos is located 10 miles west of Valencia on scenic Highway 126. A $5 donation is requested from nonparticipant visitors. The event starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.