The Trust’s Teacher Institute: Where’s “Waldo”

I’m not normally one for taking selfies, but I got to spend time with a lot of cool people and see a lot of cool stuff at the American Battlefield Trust’s Teacher Institute in Philadelphia this week, so I want to share some of those meetings and interactions. Everyone heads home today–although I’ll have more dispatches to share once I have the time to get my notes written up!–but I thought this would be a fun way to close out the conference. It feels a little like “Where’s Waldo” to pop up in photo to photo, though.

I’ll start with a pair of my ECW colleagues and good friends, Dan Davis and Phill Greenwalt as the three of us shared lunch at City Tavern:

Here’s the owner of City Tavern, the multiple-Emmy Award winning host of A Taste of History, celebrity Chef Walter Staib. Chef was a gracious host who provided a great historic atmosphere and a delicious lunch, including the best chicken pot pie I’ve ever eaten in my life!

On Saturday night, one of the Civil War community’s greatest military historians, Carol Reardon, presented the keynote address. Carol is so down-to-earth and friendly.

Phill Greenwalt took a selfie with the Baron von Steuben statue at Valley Forge, so I felt like I had to, too. There’s a new tour stop, parking area, and small plaza (complete with pergola and benches) to help visitors enjoy the spot and appreciate von Steuben’s immense contributions to the Continental Army.Finally, I took a selfie with some of the folks on my bus on Saturday. It was such a treat exploring Philadelphia with a busload of teachers (who are usually the ones chaperoning the busloads of students!). I was so amazed by the enthusiasm they have for their profession and for the kids they teach.