Registration
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The Civil War Institute summer conference is held on the campus of Gettysburg College (300 N. Washington Street, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania).
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Absolutely! Whether you teach history in the classroom or just love touring battlefields, this conference is designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences.
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You may register online.
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While we wish we could have an unlimited number of participants, our facilities can only accommodate a set number of conference-goers. If you have been waitlisted, it means we have reached that maximum number. However, in the months leading up to the event we receive a few cancellations. In that case, the next person on the waiting list will be notified and may take the open spot.
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Final payment for early registrants is due March 15. If you register after March 15th, full payment will be due at the time of registration.
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Any cancellations made after April 15 are non-refundable. If you cancel prior to April 15, you will be charged a $100.00 cancellation fee, but the balance of your payment will be refunded.
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If you are under 18, you must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who is also a registered conference participant. Call the CWI office for more details at 717-337-6590. *Please note: High School Student Scholarship winners are not required to have chaperones in attendance. Visit the Scholarship page for more details.
Accommodations
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As a participant in the Civil War Institute, you have the opportunity to stay on-campus for the duration of the conference. You may choose to stay in one of the college dormitories (you will be able to see the various dorming options and select your preference when you register). You may find more detailed descriptions of the dorming options on our Lodging Page. Keys will be provided to you upon check-in on the first day of the conference.
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No. Many of our conference participants choose to find their own lodging off-campus, and make use of the assortment of local hotels. If you would like to find your own accommodations, you would select the Tuition Only option on your registration form. We have reserved blocks of rooms at the following hotels: Gettysburg Hotel (717-338-5404 or go to this link to register); Hilton Garden Inn (717-334-2040 or go to CIVIL WAR INSTITUTE (hilton.com); Quality Inn Gettysburg Battlefield (go to this link to register); and Inn at Cemetery Hill (call 717-334-9281 to make reservations. The Gaslight Inn also offers 10% off for conference attendees; those interested should call 717-337-9100 to make reservations.
Looking for a little historic charm for your conference lodging? Book a room at the historic Gettysburg Academy on West High Street!
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Yes, all the dorms have air-conditioning.
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Gettysburg College will supply each conference participant with one pillow, one fitted and one flat sheet, a pillow case, a thin blanket, and two towels. If you prefer, you may want to consider bringing your own bedding to fit an extra-long twin size bed. Those who tend to be cold in air-conditioning may want to bring an extra blanket. Rooms come furnished with refrigerators, closets, drawers, beds, desks, and chairs, but do not include a television. Soap and other toiletries are not provided. Please remember to bring your own!
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No, Gettysburg College only allows their dormitories to be occupied by participants in on-campus educational programs. Once the event is over, participants are no longer allowed to stay in the dorms.
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Yes. Please make a note on your registration form if you require a ground floor room, or any other accessibility concerns you may have.
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Parking is available on-campus in student lots (participants are not allowed to park in faculty or staff lots). You will need a parking permit, but this will be provided to you upon check-in. In the weeks leading up to the conference, you will receive specific details about where to park upon your arrival.
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You may take advantage of Gettysburg College’s Transportation Services. The Transportation Office offers shuttle service to/from Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI); the BWI Amtrak station; Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD); Harrisburg International Airport (HIA); and the Harrisburg Amtrak & bus stations. Conference attendees interested in making use of this service should complete the online reservation form, by going to the college's Transportation Office website and selecting Guest Personal Shuttle (in the middle of the page). Questions regarding shuttle transportation should be directed to the Transportation Services office at 717-337-6923 or transportation@gettysburg.edu.
Meals & Amenities
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Yes, all of these campus facilities are available to you during the conference. A list of hours for these facilities will be provided at check-in.
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If you choose to stay on-campus, your registration fee includes all of your meals for the duration of the conference (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Most of your meals will be in the campus dining hall except for tour days, when bagged lunches will be provided. Gettysburg College’s Dining Services has consistently been ranked in the top 20 nationwide for Best Campus Food by the Princeton Review...so hopefully, you won't be disappointed!
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Tuition Only participants have not paid in advance for any on-campus meals. If you would like to join your fellow Civil War Institute participants for meals in the College Dining Hall, you may purchase individual meals tickets from CWI staff members during the conference (cash, checks, and credit cards accepted).
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The vast majority of dietary needs can be accommodated. Be sure to note these needs on your registration forms!
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All facilities at Gettysburg College (dorms included!) are smoke-free. Smoking is prohibited within fifteen (15) feet of all campus buildings.
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Yes! Gettysburg College's open public wireless network (gbcwifi) can be accessed using your personal computer/device, so long as your antivirus software is up to date. Simply click on the gbcwifi network and it should connect (no password necessary). There are also several computers available for general use on the main floor of the Library.
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The lectures are held in the ballroom in the Campus Union Building (CUB). Concurrent sessions and break-out sessions will be held at other locations throughout the Gettysburg College campus, but the majority of the conference lecture program will take place in the CUB ballroom.
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The Campus Union Building ballroom is air-conditioned and has a tendency to get quite cold during the lectures, so we highly recommend you bring a sweater, sweatshirt, or light jacket! We also recommend you bring a notepad and pen to take notes. Some tables are also provided.
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Yes! Lecturers will be available to sign books during the conference. We have designated “Book Signing” times throughout the conference, so please be sure to check the schedule.
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You will indicate your tour preferences upon registration. Early registrants are more likely to get the tours they prefer.
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Maybe. Please see Ashley Luskey during the week of the conference to see if a tour group switch is possible.
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Most of the tours require a great deal of walking, so participants should wear appropriate footwear. For battlefield tours, it is always a good idea to bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and insect repellant. Some of our tours will be walking through fields of tall grass, in which case it’s important to wear long pants to help prevent poison ivy or tick bites. Water is always provided on tours, but you are certainly welcome to bring your own water bottle as well. For full day tours, a boxed lunch is also included. You will be heading to some incredible sites with expert guides -- so don't forget your camera!
Scholarship Opportunities
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Scholarships are available for K-12 teachers and public historians.
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Applicants may e-mail (to civilwar@gettysburg.edu) or mail in their application package. Applications are due by February 15.
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No. Scholarships cover the cost of room, board, and tuition for conference.
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If you would still like to attend as a participant even if you are not awarded a scholarship, be sure to notify the Civil War Institute office at civilwar@gettysburg.edu or call (717) 337-6590.
Questions?
If you still have questions about the Civil War Institute summer conference, please feel free to call the CWI office at (717) 337-6590 or email civilwar@gettysburg.edu.