NEH Program: Project Director's Letter

Project Director’s Letter


Dear Colleague:

Fort Ticonderoga will be hosting two week-long NEH Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshops for School Teachers in July 2011. I invite you to apply to participate in:

The American Revolution on the Northern Frontier: Fort Ticonderoga and the Road to Saratoga

This NEH Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshop for School Teachers will be offered twice: July 10-15, 2011 and July 24-29, 2011. There is no fee for this program and all participants receive a $1,200 stipend to help defray expenses.

Fort Ticonderoga played a crucial role in the early years of the American Revolution on the northern frontier. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured the Fort and its valuable artillery in May 1775 for the colonial cause. It was a hive of activity in 1776, fending off an aborted British invasion from Canada. In 1777, when news reached London that the Fort fell to the British in July, King George III reportedly shouted to the Queen “I’ve beaten them! I’ve beaten them!” These week-long workshops explore Fort Ticonderoga and the first three years of the Revolution on the northern frontier.

Structure, Content, and Faculty
The NEH Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshops at Fort Ticonderoga feature lecture-discussions with featured visiting scholars, guided tours and activities at Fort Ticonderoga and other regional sites, and activities revolving around artifacts and documents in Fort Ticonderoga’s renowned collections.

Monday’s subtheme is Pre-cursor to Revolution: the French & Indian War.” William Fowler, Northeastern University, provides an overview of the French & Indian War in North America as part of a global conflict. David Preston, The Citadel, discusses the role of Native Americans on both sides during the conflict. Master Teacher Tim Potts will lead discussions each day making connections between the day’s content and the classroom.

Tuesday’s subtheme is “A Revolutionary People.” James Kirby Martin, University of Houston, explores Native Americans and the American Revolution. Douglas Egerton, LeMoyne College, discusses the role of African-Americans during the Revolution. Holly Mayer (week one), Duquesne University, and Nancy Loane (week two), independent historian, talk about women’s roles during the Revolution. Todd Braisted, independent historian, gives a presentation on the Loyalist side of the story.

“Benedict Arnold: An Unlikely Hero?” is Wednesday’s subtheme. James Kirby Martin, also the author of a biography on Arnold, gives an overview of Arnold’s life, followed by James Nelson, independent scholar, who focuses on Arnold’s military career at Fort Ticonderoga and on Lake Champlain. A field trip takes us to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM) in Vermont, where museum Executive Director Art Cohn discusses the on-going underwater archaeology at the site of the Battle of Valcour, Arnold’s naval battle with a British fleet on Lake Champlain. Erick Tichonuk, museum educator at LCMM, gives a first-person presentation as Captain Rue, commander of the gunboat Philadelphia during the Battle of Valcour.

Thursday’s theme is “The Battle of Saratoga: Turning Point of the Revolution” and involves a day-long field trip to Saratoga National Historical Park. Park Ranger and Historian Eric Schnitzer will spend the day with us as we explore the battlefield both by motor coach and on foot.

“Lasting Legacies” is Friday’s Theme. Gregory Urwin, Temple University, leads a summary discussion of the legacies of both the northern campaign and the Revolution in general.

Prior to attending the workshop, participants are expected to have read Benedict Arnold’s Navy by James L. Nelson, and Saratoga: Turning Point of America’s Revolutionary War by Richard M. Ketchum.

Workshop Staff
Richard Strum, Fort Ticonderoga’s Director of Interpretation & Education, serves as Project Director for the workshop. Rich has over twenty years' experience in the museum education field and has been at Fort Ticonderoga since 1999. He is the author of two books for young readers related to the American Revolution.

Timothy Potts, middle school teacher at Robert J. Kaiser Middle School in Monticello, New York, serves as Master Teacher for the workshop. Tim has taught middle school social studies for over twenty years and was named the New York State Council for the Social Studies (NYSCSS) Middle Level Educator of the Year in 2005. He currently serves as Vice President of NYSCSS and served on the faculty of the NEH workshop “The American Revolution in the Southern Backcountry” in 2009.

Eligibility
Full-time and part-time classroom teachers and librarians in public, charter, independent, and religiously-affiliated schools, as well as home-schooling parents, are eligible to participate. Other K-12 school personnel, including administrators, substitute teachers, and classroom professionals, are also eligible to participate, subject to available space.

The most important part of the completed application is an essay of up to one double-spaced page. This essay should include information about your professional background and interest in the subject of the workshop; your special perspectives, skills, or experiences that would contribute to the workshop; and how the experience would enhance your teaching or school service.

Additionally, applicants should submit a letter of recommendation from the principal or department head of your school or home schooling association in support of your application.

Application information is included with this letter. Your completed application should be postmarked no later than March 1, 2011, and should be addressed as follows:

NEH Landmarks Workshop
Fort Ticonderoga
PO Box 390
Ticonderoga, NY 12883-0390

For complete application information, go to our website at: http://www.Fort-ticonderoga.org/education/NEHProgram/ and click on “Application.”

Facilities
The Deborah Clarke Mars Education Center at Fort Ticonderoga serves as the workshop base throughout the week. Housed within the recreated magasin du Roi (King’s Warehouse), the Mars Education Center opened in 2008 and provides modern classroom and meeting spaces for the Fort’s expanding education programs.

Fort Ticonderoga, its museum, the Thompson-Pell Research Center, and the historic landscape will also be utilized during the week. The French began construction of Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga) in 1755 during the French & Indian War. It fell to the British in 1759, who renamed it Ticonderoga. In 1775 Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold led a successful raid to capture the Fort for the colonial cause. In 1777, British and German forces under General John Burgoyne successfully recaptured the Fort.

Fort Ticonderoga fell into ruin after the Revolution. William Ferris Pell purchased the Fort and its surrounding garrison grounds in 1820, preserving the ruins of the Fort. His great-grandson and his wife, Stephen and Sarah Pell, began restoring Fort Ticonderoga in 1909. Today, Fort Ticonderoga is owned by the non-profit Fort Ticonderoga Association, which preserves the Fort and 2,000 surrounding acres.

Housing
We have arranged for NEH Summer Scholars to be housed at Best Western Ticonderoga Inn & Suites, based on double occupancy. A limited number of single rooms are available as well: cost per night $140 (single); $70 (double). Best Western Ticonderoga Inn & Suites is the newest hotel in the Adirondack area and offers everything for your comfort. Guests feel right at home in one of its 54 new, nonsmoking rooms in a quiet setting with luxurious bedding. Plasma televisions, free Wi-Fi, and guest laundry are also available to all of our guests. Guests also enjoy an extensive continental breakfast, a restaurant featuring a 5 star chef, an Adirondack-style pub, indoor heated pool and hot tub, and a state of the art fitness facility. Situated 3 miles from the Fort and an hour north of Lake George Village, and just a short 20 minutes off exit 28 on I-87; Best Western Ticonderoga Inn & Suites has everything your group will need and more. http://www.bestticonderogahotel.com/

Stipend
NEH Summer Scholars will receive a stipend of $1,200 at the end of the workshop session. Stipends are intended to help cover housing, living and travel expenses, and workshop materials. Stipends are taxable. As part of our negotiated rate with the Best Western, we will deduct the cost of your room and three dinners from your stipend before processing the check.

Final Reminder
Just a reminder, your completed application must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2011. Successful applicants will be notified of their selection on April 1, 2011, and will have until April 5, 2011, to accept or decline the offer.

Thanks you for your interest. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information at http://www.Fort-ticonderoga.org/education/NEHProgram/ or (518) 585-6370. I anticipate an engaging, enlightening, and enjoyable week at Fort Ticonderoga and look forward to receiving your application.

Sincerely,

Rich Strum
Project Director