Greenwich sixth graders will head to Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, for their annual Outdoor Classroom trips as scheduled, the district confirmed, rejecting parent requests to move the four-day excursions over Israeli flags displayed at the Jewish camp facility.

Students from two Greenwich middle schools, including Central Middle School, take the overnight trips each fall. Outdoor Classroom, the independent organization that runs the program, rents the Eisner Camp site but is not affiliated with the camp's parent organization, the Union for Reform Judaism.

A group calling itself "Concerned Greenwich Parents" said families spotted what they called political signage in an orientation video and asked the district to remove the displays or relocate the trip. The parents said they had been in contact with school and district leaders since May 15 requesting changes, according to Greenwich Free Press.

The parents argued that displaying national or political symbols at a site they linked to foreign military activities creates security concerns and distress for Palestinian and Arab students. They said asking families to opt out would deprive children of a shared educational experience.

Farhan Memon, chair of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Connecticut, also sent a letter to Superintendent Toni Jones dated Oct. 13 urging the district to find another location, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. Memon wrote that the concerns "must be understood in the context of the devastation inflicted on Palestinians in Gaza," according to Greenwich Time.

In the Greenwich Free Press account, Memon compared the Israeli flag to a Confederate flag, calling the display "similarly problematic."

Jones responded to Memon on Oct. 14, according to JTA. The district said it would not take a political or religious stand but pledged to provide "an inclusive and safe educational environment for all Greenwich Public School students, including when they are on field trips under our care."

Eisner Camp director Paul Isserles defended the display. "URJ Eisner Camp is proud to have an Israeli flag displayed for our camp programs," Isserles said in a statement shared with JTA. The camp welcomes outside organizations to rent its 600-acre facility throughout the year, according to JTA.

Parents also raised concerns about Eisner Camp's past connections to Gadna, an Israeli military youth program. A July 2019 post on the camp's website described participants visiting an army base and practicing drills, JTA reported. Isserles said camp participants have not taken part in Gadna since 2023.

Outdoor Classroom works with seven locations across New England. Four are affiliated with Christian organizations, two have no religious affiliation and one is Eisner, according to JTA.

The district has not said whether it will create a new venue-selection policy or continue using Eisner Camp for future trips.