Southampton Middle School students receive grant to visit the Gettysburg National Military Park, Seminary Ridge Museum, and Adams County Historical Society

Mr. Bob Rinehart received competitive grant from American Battlefield Trust’s History Field Trip Grant Program

(Bel Air, MD) - Southampton Middle School’s Bob Rinehart and his eighth-grade classroom will soon head to Gettysburg, PA, thanks to a grant from the American Battlefield Trust’s History Field Trip Grant Program. This trip will provide students with an exceptional, hands-on history learning opportunity. Grants are awarded based on a competitive national application process, demonstrating Mr. Rinehart’s commitment to excellence in the classroom.

"When we travel to Gettysburg, the students gain new perspectives about the historic importance of the battle, war, topography of the land, impact on the civilians, and about preservation efforts of the Hallowed Ground,” said Mr. Rinehart. “They can walk the same land as many historic figures. These are figures they have read about in books or researched online, figures such as George Meade, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, James Longstreet, Tille Pierce, and so on." In addition, “through the American Battlefield Trust’s field trip grant, we have been able to add additional experiences to our trip which will enhance the educational knowledge for every student, chaperone, and teacher on our fieldtrip.”

The American Battlefield Trust is the largest battlefield land preservation organization in the country, having saved more than 57,000 acres of hallowed ground across 25 states. Through visiting preserved battlefields and walking in the footsteps of the citizen soldiers who fought there, the Trust aims to provide a foundation of good citizenship for the leaders of tomorrow. The Trust strives to produce excellent educational resources in a variety of formats for both educators and the public alike, ensuring that Americans never forget how their country was forged.

Every year, the Trust receives applications from classrooms across the country to participate in the History Field Trip Grant Program, which offers funding and assistance to K-12 teachers planning field trips to Civil War, War of 1812, or Revolutionary War battlefields and related historic sites. During the 2018-2019 school year, more than 7,500 students from 24 states took part.

“These kids get a chance to go to where history was made, where our country was created and defined,” said Trust President David Duncan of the History Field Trip Grant Program recipients, “Battlefields are outdoor classrooms that will teach future Americans about our democratic republic.”

Mr. Bob Rinehart has enormous enthusiasm for teaching history and is excited to utilize Gettysburg National Military Park, The Seminary Ridge Museum, and the Adams County Historical Society as outdoor/indoor classrooms that will give his students a meaningful and memorable experience. The American Battlefield Trust is proud to support and empower such excellent educators as they inspire the next generation of proud Americans.

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 57,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.