Summer Education Program for High School Teachers and Underserved Youth

Thanks to a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) invites high schools and other organizations that work with high school-age students to apply for a ten-day summer education program in Greece. This summer experience, developed for underserved youth and their teachers, will introduce students to the archaeology of Ancient Greece and the culture of the modern country while providing their teachers with guidance in designing lesson plans relating archaeology to curriculum objectives in various subject areas.
 
This unique opportunity will open students’ horizons to new ideas and experiences. For teachers interested in teaching history, literature, philosophy and other humanistic subjects with a hands-on, experiential model, this opportunity will help create new curricula and lessons to engage students. This program aims to give students with few study-abroad opportunities expanded insight into cultural diversity, global and historical awareness, and the humanities.

Term: Ten days, inclusive, during summer 2024. Specific dates to be determined.
 
Eligibility and Qualifications: High schools, school districts, foster youth organizations or other similar organizations serving high school students in the United States are eligible to apply. Applicant organizations must demonstrate a clear focus on serving underrepresented or underserved high school students. The person who submits the application should be the point of contact with the ASCSA, if awarded the grant.
 
Description: The student experience will focus on the archaeological expertise of the ASCSA, with guidance in Athens from the Director of the Athenian Agora Excavations, Dr. John Papadopoulos (UCLA), and in Corinth and the surrounding area from excavation directors in that region. The students and teachers will visit archaeological sites and museums, and engage with expert guest speakers to deepen their understanding of Greece’s landscape, history, literature, and material culture. The program offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the ancient sites, monuments, and culture of Greece first-hand with exclusive access to archaeological sites and storerooms with excavated artifacts. Committed to presenting a comprehensive view of Greece's rich history and archaeology, this program involves long days and extensive walking, often over uneven terrain, in the hot Mediterranean summer, where many days over 85ºF can be expected.
 
The school, school district, or other organization awarded this program will select the 5 students and 4 teachers who will participate. Once in Athens, Dr. Dawndria Cox will be the group leader for summer 2024. She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management in 2013 from Alliant International University, and currently teaches at Lynwood Middle School (Lynwood, California). She is a board member of the Los Angeles County Society of the Archaeological Institute of America and a former fellow of the ASCSA.
 
Dr. Cox will work with the awardees and the ASCSA staff to develop the specific itinerary for the summer program. Attached to this call for applications is last year’s program itinerary as an example of what can be accomplished during the program. Participants will be transported to various historical sites and museums by van with a professional driver. Hotel accommodations are planned with two to three students sharing a room and likewise double occupancy for teachers.

Outcome: The program aims to provide teachers with material to enhance their curriculum, to provide students with hands-on, on-site learning experiences. Teachers will come away with many ideas for a teaching unit about ancient Greece and the ancient Mediterranean. Students will be assigned a short homework assignment before the trip, and during the trip will use the knowledge from their assignment on-site. Schools can also add their own homework assignments to the program, if they wish. The students and teachers will gain experiences with new cultures, new ideas, and first-hand interactions with history.
 
Stipend, Budget, and Logistics: The ASCSA provides the awardee with up to $27,500 USD in support of the program. The funds are dispensed as reimbursement upon submission of receipts (lump-sum invoices from travel agencies may be payable directly by the ASCSA). Funds may be used to cover travel, room and board costs for student and adult participants, for example: $15,500 airline/roundtrip expenses, $4,500 bus rental/in-country travel costs, $5,000 hotel rooms, $2,500 board/food expenses. The awardee is responsible for booking travel arrangements (such as flights, bus rentals, hotel accommodations, etc.) but is urged to consult with ASCSA staff before finalizing any arrangements. The ASCSA will coordinate some in-Greece logistics, and will also connect the awardee with a Greek travel company for in-Greece travel coordination. Please be aware that the awardee is responsible for any surplus of costs associated with the program, as the ASCSA can only reimburse up to $27,500 USD in total. The ASCSA is neither responsible for nor will be held liable for any overspending associated with the program. Thus, the applying school or school district must be prepared to take on any extra costs that may be incurred during the planning and execution of the program. Likewise the ASCSA provides logistical advice and support as well as scholarly expertise, but the awardee bears full responsibility for the health, safety and security of all participants.
 
Application Process: Submit an application statement (max. 1300 words) addressing your school’s/school district’s or other organization’s interest in the program, foreseeable benefits to your participation, eligibility for the program (addressing the population the school/organization serves), as well as any previous experience in planning travel programs (locally, nationally, or internationally) by October 31, 2023.
Link to the online application form: https://ascsa.submittable.com/submit/a5a75173-3802-4d98-8aa8-6d6bbc39f9b7/summer-education-program
 
Questions? Contact Alicia Dissinger, the Programs Administrator, at adissinger@ascsa.org.
 
The ASCSA is an EO/AA employer.  The American School of Classical Studies at Athens does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national or ethnic origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation when considering admission to any form of membership or application for employment.

Example Itinerary from the Summer 2023 Program

Example Itinerary
From Summer 2023 Program
June 28 – July 6, 2023
 

June 28, Athens
5pm, evening walk to the Acropolis with Dr. John Papadopoulos. Students will be given the tour of the site (ASCSA faculty). 

June 29, Athens
8am arrival at the Agora for a tour of the Agora with Dr. Papadopoulos. Pottery discussion/lesson in the Agora storerooms by Dr. Kathleen Lynch and Dr. Susan Rotroff. Three presentations at the Agora. 
Evening free. 

June 30, Athens
9:30am departure to arrive at the National Archaeological Museum. Dr. Irene Dimitriadou will give full tour of the museum. 

July 1, Athens to Nafplion
9:30am departure to Corinth. Early lunch at the Corinth Canal. One student presentation. 
Morning at the ancient site of Isthmia. One student presentation. 
Afternoon/evening free. 

July 2, Nafplion 
8:15am departure for Mycenae. Group will get a tour of Mycenae and Tiryns by Dr. Paul Scotton. 
Afternoon/evening free. 

July 3, Nafplion
9:00am meet with Dr. Paul Scotton to learn about the city of Lechaion. Students will participate and learn strategies necessary to archaeology and excavating.
Afternoon/evening free. 

July 4, Nafplion
9am depart for the ancient site of Nemea. Tour of the site with Dr. Kim Shelton. 
Afternoon/evening free. 

July 5, Nafplion
9am depart for the site of Ancient Corinth. Tour of the ancient site and museum with Dr. Ioulia Tzonou and Dr. Chris Pfaff. One student presentation. Hands-on session with anatomical votives from the Asklepieion. 
1-3pm, Lunch in the village of Ancient Corinth
3-4pm, visit of restoration project of Roman wall paintings.  Observe 10 Italian conservators in their work on restoring the walls with wall paintings from Roman houses.
4pm, drive to Akrocorinth to enjoy the view from the castle

July 6, Nafplion
11am tour the site of Kenchreai with Dr. Joseph Rife
Afternoon/evening free, and preparation to return to Athens for departure home. 

July 7, Athens; Departure for the US