The Ticonderoga peninsula on Lake Champlain found itself at the center of two centuries of contest for control of the North American continent, especially during the French & Indian War (1754-1763) and the American Revolution (1775-1783). With the approach of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Fort Ticonderoga Teacher Institute focuses on the War for American Independence.
Twelve teachers will spend the week of July 14-19, 2024, at Ticonderoga, using Ticonderoga’s comprehensive document and artifact collection to explore the Revolution through five themes:
- Power of Place
- Subject, Citizens, Service
- Revolutionary Possibilities
- Manufacturing Independence
- Shaping Nations, Forging Identities
Learn more about the five themes here.
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Structure, Content, and Faculty
The Fort Ticonderoga Teacher Institute features lecture-based discussions with visiting scholars, experiential and immersive opportunities related to the American Revolution, behind-the-scenes opportunities, document, and artifact analysis using the Fort Ticonderoga Collection, as well as classroom applications. Participants take part in activities revolving around artifacts and documents in Fort Ticonderoga’s renowned collections linked to Historical Thinking practices, the C3 Framework, and applicable state learning standards.
2024 Faculty
- Richard M. Strum, Fort Ticonderoga’s Director of Academic Programs, serves as Institute Director. Rich has 30 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 has taught middle and high school social studies for 30 years at the Monticello Central School District. He is a Past President of the New York State Council for Social Studies and current Treasurer. Tim has presented at numerous local, state, and national conferences on innovative ways to teach Social Studies.
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Eligibility
Elementary, Middle, and High School teachers in public, charter, independent, religious-affiliated schools, and homeschooling parents are eligible. Teachers will be accepted from all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, US territories, as well as from Canada.
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Scholarships
Fort Ticonderoga offers scholarships to all teachers accepted to attend the Fort Ticonderoga Teacher Institute. The scholarship includes:
- Overnight accommodations for five nights at the Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn and Suites, based on double-occupancy. A limited number of private rooms may be available.
- Welcome dinner on Sunday evening, breakfasts at the hotel Monday through Friday, and lunches at America’s Fort Café Monday through Thursday.
- Admission to Fort Ticonderoga and all Teacher Institute activities.
- Up to $800 to reimburse travel expenses (receipts required).
- All teacher resources and books.
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Application Information
Teachers wishing to attend the Fort Ticonderoga Teacher Institute must submit an application due no later than March 1, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified by April 15, 2024.
Successful applicants will have ten days to accept and pay a $150 deposit. This deposit will be refunded upon receipt and acceptance of the final project, due no later than September 15, 2024.A complete application includes:
- The completed Google form includes the following information and submissions:
- Contact information
- Details about where and what you teach
- Several short-answer questions
- A place to upload an essay as either a Word or PDF document
- A place to upload your C.V. or resume
- Applicants should ask for a letter of recommendation from their principal or department head in support of your application. That recommendation should be emailed directly to Rich Strum at rstrum@fort-ticonderoga.org as an attachment. The email subject line should say “Teacher Institute Recommendation.”
- The completed Google form includes the following information and submissions:
Additional Information
Facilities & Housing
Our daily activities will primarily occur in the Mars Education Center at Fort Ticonderoga. Housed within the recreated Magasin du Roi (King’s Warehouse), the Mars Education Center provides modern classroom and meeting spaces with Wi-Fi for the museum’s expanding education and academic programs.
Teacher Institute participants will stay at the Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn and Suites, located about two miles from Fort Ticonderoga. Rooms are based on double occupancy. A limited number of single rooms may be available.
Graduate Credits
Teachers interested in earning graduate credits can accrue them through an arrangement with the Castleton campus of Vermont State University in Castleton, Vermont. To earn three graduate credits, teachers must meet course requirements by submitting all assignments no later than October 15, 2024. The cost is $435 (subject to change).
Deadline and Notification
Applications must be received by 11:50pm EDT on March 1, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified by April 15, 2024, and will have until April 25, 2024, to accept or decline the offer. Teachers accepting the scholarship will need to pay the $150 deposit at the time of acceptance.
Contact Information
Thank you for your interest in the 2024 Teacher Institute! If you have any additional questions, contact Rich Strum, Director of Academic Programs at rstrum@fort-ticonderoga.org