The Young Civil War Historians Conference offers high school students an opportunity to explore the American Civil War from multiple vantage points. Participants will gain hands-on experience in doing what professional historians do: use original historical documents, battlefield landscapes, Civil War photographs, and commemorative pieces like monuments and memorials as sources for drawing conclusions about the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Civil War more broadly. Held in conjunction with the Civil War Institute annual summer conference, the Young Civil War Historians Conference offers participants the best of both worlds: access to top-notch Civil War historians and unique battlefield experiences and many smaller-scale sessions tailored specifically for high school students.
The conference will be held June 12-17, 2026.
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 apiece 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 1, 2026. Applicants may send the teacher recommendation directly, or have their teacher email it to us.
Camp Directors
Ian Isherwood ‘00 is Associate Professor of War and Memory Studies at Gettysburg College and Director of the Civil War Institute. Most of his scholarly work considers the experience of war and representation in era of the two world wars, but he is also deeply interested in connections between the American Civil War and broader concepts of historical memory. Isherwood is the author of Remembering the Great War (Bloomsbury, 2017) and The Battalion: Citizen Soldiers at War on the Western Front (Pen & Sword, 2024), and co-editor of Serpents of War (Kansas, 2023) with Steve Trout. He is currently working on a book concerning the politics of commemoration from the Civil War to the Global War on Terror tentatively entitled Remembering America’s Wars.
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 examine artifacts and original accounts of the battle; walk Pickett’s Charge; study Civil War photographs; learn about Civil War medicine; and stand where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. Approximately half of the conference sessions will dovetail with the larger conference, and the other half will be standalone experiences tailored exclusively for the youth attendees. Participants will experience a taste of college life, and have the opportunity to develop friendships with other young people who share their interest in the past while simultaneously interacting with some of today’s leading historians of the Civil War.
Details at a Glance
Where: Gettysburg College campus
When: June 12-17, 2026
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 June 1st or available spaces have been filled, whichever comes first.
FAQs
Registration and Logistics
- When is the camp?
- The camp will take place from June 12 to June 17, 2026
- How much does it cost to attend?
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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 directors and guest speakers.
- When is the application deadline?
- Applications will be accepted until June 1st, or available spaces are filled, whichever comes first. 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. Parents of successful applicants who share an interest in the Civil War with their children have the option of registering themselves as participants in the larger conference at a discounted rate, but will be housed separately from their campers.
- 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.