"To many, the Great Plains are part of the Great Flyover, whose landscape and history alike are flat and featureless. But in this region in the middle of the nation, cultures have mingled and clashed for thousands of years. This seminar will focus on the 19th century, though also examining the first peoples and the continuing cultural exchanges of the 20th century. It will begin with the physical setting, plants, and animals, and consider early humans in both Native American traditions and anthropological/archeological studies. Europeans arriving in the 16th century accelerated the long history of change and evolution, initiating more than three centuries of converging peoples and cultures, new centers of power, flourishing trade, calamitous epidemics, and cultural and material intrusions from across the planet. Participants will visit Bent’s Fort to see a cultural crossroads illustrated through one family. The seminar will also examine cattle ranching, homesteading, scientific explorations, and the depiction of the plains in art."

This workshop will "explore Florida's past and her peoples through the lenses of archaeology and history, beginning with an overview of the archaeological record, moving to the historical, and then wrestling with contemporary questions of interpretation, perspective, and ownership of objects. What can the archaeological record reveal about social and economic status and cultural traditions? How do we reconcile different worldviews?"

This workshop will discuss issues important in Florida 20th-century history, which may include "The Harlem Renaissance: Critical Issues in Black Literature and Culture," "Spanish Florida," "Democracy in Florida," "World War II: Florida Home Front," African-American communities and experience in Florida, or an overview of the archaeological record and cultural history of Florida. Contact the given number for more information.

This workshop will discuss issues important in Florida 20th-century history, which may include "The Harlem Renaissance: Critical Issues in Black Literature and Culture," "Spanish Florida," "Democracy in Florida," "World War II: Florida Home Front," African-American communities and experience in Florida, or an overview of the archaeological record and cultural history of Florida. Contact the given number for more information.

"Using the site of the Old Marco Inn, archaeologist William Marquardt guides a tour of the ancient Calusa ceremonial site."

"Archaeologist William Marquardt discusses the archaeological findings that inform us today about the early peoples who inhabited the Marco Island area."

Participants in this program will learn to integrate field research activities into their classroom curricula using the Schoodic Education Adventure program. The two-day institute investigates opportunities to collect field data, apply it to classroom lessons across the curricula, and connect it to real world applications in America's national parks.

Participants will create schoolyard investigation kits to take back to their classrooms; be introduced to outdoor, field-based activities that can be reproduced in a number of settings; learn classroom-based activities relating to science, social studies, technology, math, language arts, small group communication, public speaking, art, health, and citizenship; use GPS units and computers to create digital maps of study sites; and qualify for student scholarships and transportation assistance to take their students to the Schoodic Education Adventure program.

Workshop activities highlight studying forest community structure, marine biodiversity, geology, soil development, and New England history.