Colonial Williamsburg Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute

Upcoming Events:

Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute Online Programs

Share your Certificates of Completion with kay.hedrick@uswep.org AND larry.scarberry@uswep.org for Credit on your Invoice under Optional Activities.

The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg is excited to offer online workshops for teachers that cover a wide range of historical topics. Teachers who attend these online programs gain access to Colonial Williamsburg collections, curricula, and staff, all from the comfort of their home! Many of these programs include an interactive element and provide the opportunity to discuss resources and activities with educators from across the nation.

Investigation Declaration: Teaching Declarations of Independence from Around the World

September 16, 2025 | 7:00PM ET

In anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, join the Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute and iCivics for an engaging online program centered on Investigation Declaration. This new resource invites students to explore the Enlightenment ideas that inspired the Declaration and trace their ideological connections across time and geography. Students will investigate key concepts such as natural rights, the Social Contract, and state sovereignty, while learning how these ideas spread through trade, written communications, migration, and print. During this program, teachers will discover how to incorporate this game into their classrooms and cultivate students' understanding of the Declaration's historical context. Participants will receive 1 professional development hour for attending this session.

Contact and Conflict: The English and Powhatan

October 2, 2025 | 7:00PM ET

What was the nature of the relationship between the Powhatan and the English at Jamestown? How did these early interactions shape the future of the colony and its inhabitants? Join the Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute team and our guest speaker from Preservation Virginia, Mark Summers, to answer these questions and explore the complexities of English-Powhatan relations during the early years of Jamestown. Mark’s presentation will be followed by a primary source activity that will help you bring this history to life in your classrooms. Participants will receive 1 professional development hour for attending this session.

Historians at Work: The 250th Anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation October 21, 2025 | 7:00PM ET

Why were freedom and slavery integral to the American Revolution? How could colonists fight against slavery while enslaving others? What was the role of Dunmore’s Proclamation in the American Revolution? Join the Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute for an online historian talk marking the 250th anniversary of Dunmore’s Proclamation to answer all three of these questions. Dr. Derek Litvak, a historian with Colonial Williamsburg, will provide an in-depth presentation on the significance of Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation and the bigger story of freedom and slavery in the American Revolution. Dr. Litvak’s presentation will be followed by the opportunity for teachers to ask questions. Participants will receive 1 professional development hour for attending this session.

Historians at Work: The 250th Anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation

November 4, 2025 | 7:00PM ET

If you could meet George Wythe, what would you ask him about his role in shaping American government? How did Enlightenment ideals influence his ideas on government and governance? Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Robert Weathers who researches and portrays George Wythe as a Nation Builder with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Learn about Wythe’s views on government, his influence on founding fathers like Thomas Jefferson, and his contributions to early American thought. Participants will receive 1 professional development hour for attending this session.

2026 Onsite Residential Summer Teacher Institute

Individual scholarships are available each year for ten EXCEL teachers who work at the elementary or secondary school level in any public school in the United States. These scholarships reflect our deep commitment to and respect for teachers, and their understanding of the teacher’s role in educating the citizens and leaders of tomorrow.

Information on the 2026 program will be shared as it becomes available.

Teachers who wish to pay their own tuition, or whose school districts wish to pay for them, to attend the summer 2026 program should contact teacherdevelopment@cwf.org.

Onsite Residential Programs: $2,400
Includes: A double-occupancy room [for an additional charge ($450 for all programs), private rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis], most meals, admission to all Historic Area sites and program activities, and access to the Educator Resource Library. (Does not include airfare.)

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