Gilder Lehrman Teacher Symposium

Teacher Symposium

Join us and three hundred fellow educators at Gettysburg College for this four-day program. You will study one topic in depth with a world-renowned scholar and be able to attend optional events such as book talks, networking sessions, trivia night, and battlefield tours.

 

Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Dates: Sunday, July 7 to Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Registration Deadline: Sunday, May 19, 2024
Registration Fee: $200
Room & Board (Optional): $300

Historic Cannon at Gettysburg Battlefield
  • In Person

  • 7 Courses

  • Up To 21 PD Hours

The Third Annual Gilder Lehrman Teacher Symposium at Gettysburg College

Groups of teachers gathered on steps in front of classic Gettysburg building

We are excited for the return of the Gilder Lehrman Teacher Symposium, with three of our most popular scholars coming back and four new courses. Join us in July for the chance to work with subject experts, deepen your historical knowledge, and discover new ways to engage with your students in the classroom.

Eligibility: You must be an Affiliate School teacher, National Park Service employee, district supervisor, or librarian to register for the Teacher Symposium.

How to Register: Please click any of the courses below to learn more about content and to register for the symposium.

Teacher Symposium Courses

Additional Information

Please email us at seminars@gilderlehrman.org if you have questions that are not addressed here.

Registration

How do I register for the Gilder Lehrman Teacher Symposium?

Find the course you are interested in and register on the course page. The registration process includes filling out a form to collect your contact info and any health/dietary considerations. You will not be officially registered until you complete the form and submit your registration fee.

Can I register for multiple courses?

Symposium courses meet at the same time, which means attendees can only sign up for one.

Is there a deadline to register for the Teacher Symposium?

Registrations will close on May 19, 2024. There are limited spots available for each course, so once a course is full, registration for that course will close.

Eligibility

Who is eligible to attend the Gilder Lehrman Teacher Symposium?

  1. Full-time K–12 teachers of all subjects who work in Gilder Lehrman Affiliate Schools. If your school is not part of our Affiliate Program, sign up for free here.
  2. District supervisors who work in Gilder Lehrman Affiliate Schools. Check here to see if one of your district’s schools is an Affiliate School. If it is not, sign up for the free Affiliate School Program here.
  3. National Park Service employees who have a Gilder Lehrman Institute account on our website. If you do not already have an account, you can create one here.
  4. Librarians who have a Gilder Lehrman Institute account on our website. If you do not already have an account, you can create one here.

 

Cost and PD Credits

What expenses am I responsible for?

There is a $200 registration fee to attend the Teacher Symposium that is non-refundable after May 1, 2024.

There is an additional optional $300 fee for room and board on campus at Gettysburg College in single, air-conditioned rooms. All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a total of nine meals) are included in this fee.

Participants are responsible for their own travel and transportation costs.

For more information about how to get to Gettysburg College, please visit their website here.

What is included in the room-and-board fee?

This is an optional add-on to any registration. It will allow participants to stay on the Gettysburg College campus in single, air-conditioned rooms. All meals (dinner on Sunday, three meals on Monday and Tuesday, and breakfast and lunch on Wednesday) will be included for each day and provided by the Gettysburg College food service department. For more information on Gettysburg College housing, visit the On-Campus Accommodations tab. 

Please note: If you opt out of the room-and-board fee, you will be expected to find your own food and lodging for the duration of the Symposium.  

Can my school pay for my registration?

Yes. We can accept payment from your school for your registration, including purchase orders. Please email us at seminars@gilderlehrman.org with any questions on this process.

What if I register and cannot attend the Teacher Symposium?

If you give us notice by May 1, 2024, that you cannot attend the Symposium, we can refund your registration fees minus a $50 administrative fee. After May 1, we will not issue any refunds for Teacher Symposium registrations. 

Can I earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Professional Development Points (PDPs)?

Gilder Lehrman professional development programs are generally eligible for CEU and PDP credits, but it is your responsibility to verify eligibility with your school administration or state PD office. (The Institute is an approved provider of professional development in Massachusetts, Montana, New York, Texas, and Washington State, and in Michigan through a partnership with the Michigan Council for History Education.) If you need more information to determine eligibility than is available on the Teacher Symposium page, please email us at seminars@gilderlehrman.org.

Can I receive graduate credit?

At this time, we are not able to offer graduate credit for our Teacher Symposium. You may wish to consider taking courses in the Gettysburg College–Gilder Lehrman MA in American History program.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Please email us at seminars@gilderlehrman.org.

On-Campus Accommodations

Dormitories

Participants who include room and board ($300 fee) in their registration will be housed on campus in Gettysburg College dorms. Dorm types vary according to availability on campus. Rooms will be assigned at random based on dorm availability and registration numbers.  

All participants will have a single bedroom but may share common space and bathroom facilities with other participants in either an apartment-style or traditional dorm as outlined below.

Dorms are equipped with basic bedding and furniture. Participants will be provided twin extra-long sheets, a pillow, blanket, and towels, but some participants prefer to bring their own linens. Participants should plan to bring toiletries, including hand-soap, body wash, shampoo/conditioner. 

Apartment-Style Housing

  • A private bedroom with shared bathrooms and common areas within the suite or apartment
    Primarily located on the northwest side of campus, near the Jaeger Fitness Center and College Union Building
  • Recommended parking – Stadium Lot
  • ADA-compliant rooms available in each building, and most apartment buildings have elevators
  • All suites or apartments equipped with standard dorm furniture in bedrooms and shared living areas, a full-size refrigerator, and a microwave

Traditional-Housing

  • Motel-style residence halls with exterior corridors and attached parking lots
  • A private room and bathroom
  • Primarily located on the northeast side of campus, near Carlisle Street and the Admissions building
  • ADA-compliant rooms available in each building, but no elevator access as most motel-style buildings are one level
  • All rooms equipped with standard dorm furniture, mini-fridge, and microwave.

Off-Campus Accommodations

Gettysburg Hotel

As a courtesy, the Gilder Lehrman Institute has a room block on hold at the Gettysburg Hotel, July 6–11, 2024. Participants who wish to stay in an off-campus hotel must make a reservation and pay the hotel directly.

  • 0.8 miles to campus 
  • Room rate: $189–$259 per night
  • Booking by phone: Call 717-337-2000 and ask for the Gilder Lehrman Institute Courtesy Block. The block code is GLID070624.
  • Rooms are based on availability.
  • Contact the hotel directly if you have any questions.
  • Room blocks are available starting on July 6 through July 11.

You may also click this link to book online and take advantage of the room block.

Meal Plan

Participants who stay off campus will not receive a meal plan on campus (although they may purchase a meal plan separately closer to the start of the Symposium). 

Symposium Events

Book Talks

Throughout the Symposium, each scholar will lead a discussion on one of their books. This is a great opportunity to learn from as many of our incredible scholars as possible. All book talks are open to all participants, regardless of which course you are taking. Books will be available for purchase and there will be opportunities for book signings.

Campus Walking Tours

Gettysburg College will provide optional campus walking tours on Sunday, July 7 for those who arrive before check-in. Tours will begin at the College Union Building.

Opening Remarks and Book Discussion

To kick off the Gilder Lehrman Teacher Symposium, Professor Gary Gallagher will join us for a book talk and Q&A on Civil War Places: Seeing the Conflict through the Eyes of Its Leading Historians. Immediately following, participants will enjoy an opening dinner and book signing with Professor Gallagher.

American History Trivia Night

Put your knowledge of American history to the test during Trivia Night! Team up and compete for prizes as you use the knowledge gained from your first day of the Symposium. Trivia Night will be curated and run by former Jeopardy! contestant and Gilder Lehrman staff member Daniel Pecoraro.

Gettysburg National Military Park Tour

Symposium participants will take a short ride down to the Gettysburg Battlefield, where we will have a private walking tour of different areas and histories of the battlefield. Participants will be asked to select which experience they would like to explore before the Symposium.

Networking and Happy Hour, sponsored by the Gettysburg College–Gilder Lehrman MA in American History

Join us for drinks, light refreshments, and learn about our MA course offerings. Program administrators, students, and graduates will be on hand to answer your questions about the MA program, application process, scholarships, and more!

 

Scholarships

Will the Gilder Lehrman Institute offer scholarships for Symposium registration?

The Institute has limited funding to offer scholarships to a few participants. To apply for a scholarship, please fill out this form.

 

Previous Teacher Symposiums

Praise for the Teacher Symposium

“Being with amazing authors, scholars, and teachers was just an incredibly rich environment for learning, growth, and enjoyment.”

“I really enjoyed being immersed in the learning environment.  [The opening talk] was incredible, and I got so much out of the lectures and book talks.  I also enjoyed reconnecting with old friends that I met at previous GLI seminars.”

“I enjoyed the ability to meet and work with teachers from all around the country.  I also enjoyed hearing from scholars on important topics.”