The Young Civil War Historians Conference offers high school students an opportunity to become their own historians. Participants will follow in the footsteps of a soldier who fought at Gettysburg through hands-on work with original archival documents. One of the highlights of the camp will be a trip to Washington featuring a visit to the National Archives to explore the official records of Civil War regiments.
The conference will be held July 14-19, 2024.
Contact information: civilwarcamp@gettysburg.edu.
On this page:
Application Information
To apply to participate in the Young Civil War Historians Conference, complete the online application. Applicants will be notified of their application status within two weeks of submission; at that point, accepted candidates will receive a link to the registration form and instructions regarding payment.
Please note that the $50 application fee is nonrefundable and in addition to the cost of the conference itself.
Scholarship Information
A limited number of scholarships in the amount of $500 are available. To apply for a scholarship, students should submit a 1-2 page letter explaining their interest in history & the Civil War era and what they hope to get out of the conference AND a recommendation from their social studies teacher. For full consideration, materials should be emailed to civilwarcamp@gettysburg.edu by MARCH 15. Applicants may send the teacher recommendation directly, or have their teacher email it to us.
Camp Director
Peter S. Carmichael is Robert C. Fluhrer Professor of Civil War Studies at Gettysburg College, and Director of the Civil War Institute. He is a specialist in 19th-century US history, Civil War and Reconstruction, southern history, public history and cultural history, and the author of several books, including The War for the Common Soldier: How Men Thought, Fought, and Survived in Civil War Armies (University of North Carolina Press, 2018) and The Last Generation: Young Virginians in Peace, War, and Reunion (UNC, 2005). Professor Carmichael is an expert in using Civil War battlefields as an outdoor classroom, and served as Gettysburg National Military Park's first Scholar-in-Residence. He speaks frequently to both general and scholarly audiences, and has served as a content expert on many popular Civil War documentaries.
Camp Goals/Overview
Much of the week will be devoted to exploring Gettysburg National Military Park, the nation’s most famous battlefield, as a historical source. We'll read the words of Joshua Chamberlain at Little Round Top; examine artifacts from the battle; walk Pickett’s Charge; study Civil War photographs; learn about Civil War medicine; go behind the scenes at the famous Cyclorama painting; and stand where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. Participants will experience a taste of college life, and have the opportunity to develop friendships with other students who share their interest in the past.
Details at a Glance
Where: Gettysburg College campus
When: July 14-19, 2024
How Much: $1,395 for all activities, tours, room and board
Who: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: Applications will be received on a rolling basis until July 1st
Schedule
| SUNDAY, JULY 14 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 – 4:30 pm | Check-In | |
| 5:00 – 6:00 pm | Dinner | |
| 6:30 – 7:30 pm | Overview of the Battle of Gettysburg | |
| 7:30 – 8:45 pm | Battlefield Walk and Ice Cream | |
| 8:45 – 9:30 pm | Free Time | |
| 9:30 PM | Curfew | |
| MONDAY, JULY 15 | ||
| 8:45 – 9:30 am | Breakfast | |
| 10:00 – 11:00 am | Uniforms of the Civil War | |
| 11:15 am – 12:15 pm | Civil War Medicine | |
| 12:45 – 1:45 pm | Lunch | |
| 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Civilians of Gettysburg | |
| 3:00 – 3:30 pm | Break | |
| 3:30 – 4:30 pm | Prep Session for National Archives Trip | |
| 4:30 – 5:00 pm | Break | |
| 5:00 – 6:00 pm | Dinner | |
| 6:30 – 8:30 pm | Civil War Photography | |
| 9:30 PM | Curfew | |
| TUESDAY, JULY 16 | ||
| 7:30 – 8:15 am | Breakfast | |
| 8:30 AM | Board bus for Washington, DC | |
| 10:00 am – 3:00 pm | Research Time at the National Archives | |
| 3:00 PM | Board bus for Gettysburg | |
| 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm | Dinner on campus | |
| 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Why Soldiers Fought | |
| 9:30 PM | Curfew | |
| WEDNESDAY, JULY 17 | ||
| 8:45 – 9:30 am | Breakfast | |
| 9:30 – 10:45 am | Oak Ridge in History & Memory | |
| 11:15 – 11:45 am | Session with Admissions Staff | |
| 11:45 am – 12:30 pm | Lunch | |
| 12: 45 – 2:15 pm | Classroom Session: Research & Writing Time | |
| 2:15 – 3:15 pm | Locating the Regiment | |
| 3:30 – 4:30 pm | Exploring Soldiers National Cemetery | |
| 5:00 – 6:00 pm | Dinner | |
| 6:30 – 8:00 pm | Relics of Gettysburg | |
| 9:30 PM | Curfew | |
| THURSDAY, JULY 18 | ||
| 8:45 – 9:30 am | Breakfast | |
| 9:30 – 11:30 am | Little Round Top | |
| 11:30 am – 12:00 pm | Lunch | |
| 12:00 – 2:00 pm | Gettysburg NMP Museum & Visitor Center | |
| 2:00 – 4:00 pm | Walking Pickett’s Charge | |
| 4:00 – 5:00 pm | Break | |
| 5:00 – 6:30 pm | Dinner in the Atrium | |
| 7:00 – 8:30 pm | Escape Room Experience at Seminary Ridge Museum | |
| 9:30 PM | Curfew | |
| FRIDAY, JULY 19 | ||
| 8:00 - 8:30 am | Checkout | |
| 8:15 – 9:00 am | Breakfast | |
| 9:00 - 10:15 am | Soldiers' Stories | |
| 10:15 - 10:30 am | Pickup & Departure |
FAQs
Registration and Logistics
- When is the camp?
- The camp will take place from July 14 to July 19.
- How much does it cost to attend?
- The camp fee is $1,395, plus a $50 nonrefundable application fee. This includes all activities and tours, as well as room and board. The number of admitted campers is limited to facilitate close contact with camp director (professor) and additional faculty and guest speakers.
- When is the application deadline?
- Applications will be accepted until July 1st. Once admitted, campers will receive instructions for completing online registration. When the camp is full, registration will close.
- What is the refund and cancellation policy?
- Gettysburg Conference Refund Policy: Refund requests received up to 60 days prior to the start of the camp will be given a full refund. No refunds will be issued less than 60 days from start of camp.
- What is the contact information for the camp?
- Young Civil War Historians Conference
- Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College
300 North Washington Street
Campus Box 435
Gettysburg, PA 17325
717-337-6590 - The email address is civilwarcamp@gettysburg.edu.
- Who is eligible to attend the the camp?
- The Young Civil War Historians Conference is designed for rising high school juniors and seniors.
- Does my camper need to do academic preparation for the camp?
- No. We welcome campers with varying levels of knowledge from no knowledge to extensive knowledge.
Camp life
- Can my camper bring a cellphone?
- Yes. However, campers will be asked to turn off cellphones and other portable electronic devices during all classroom sessions, tours, etc.
- Does my camper need a computer?
- Yes, campers should bring a laptop computer/tablet with word processing software.
- What does a typical day look like?
- See a sample day at the Young Civil War Historians Conference.