About the Program
Five days. One landmark site.
A semester's worth of new teaching material.
Building on the success of our inaugural 2025 institute, PATH returns in 2026. This year, teachers will delve into the history of Fort Hill National Landmark and through this site, into the American Revolution and the complex origins of the nation as we celebrate its 250th anniversary.
PATH participants will work alongside our resident scholar, engage with Clemson University's archives and special collections, provide feedback on exhibit spaces at Fort Hill, and leave with a complete set of pre-, during-, and post-field trip lesson plans ready to use with their students. Housing and all meals are provided on site.
Applications are open
16 spots are available for South Carolina public school teachers. Up to 8 returning participants from 2025 may be admitted — ensuring we reach as many new educators as possible.
Program Highlights
What you'll do and take away
Site-Based Learning at Fort Hill
Spend the week learning about Fort Hill National Landmark, exploring its layered history as a homeland for the Cherokee, Calhoun's, and Clemson families, as well as its history of being a plantation and the birthplace of Clemson University.
The American Revolution at 250
Explore the connections between Fort Hill and the American Revolution as we approach the nation's 250th anniversary, placing South Carolina's Upcountry at the center of the American founding.
Ready-to-Use Lesson Plans
Develop a complete set of pre-, during-, and post-field trip lesson plans grounded in primary sources and site-based experience, aligned with state and national standards and ready for your classroom.
Shape Fort Hill's Future
Give real feedback on exhibit spaces at Fort Hill and help craft proposals for two new interactive education carts to be deployed at the site. Your expertise as an educator matters to how we interpret history.
Program Details
Everything you need to know
| Dates | June 8 – 12, 2026 (Monday through Friday) |
| Location | Clemson University, Clemson, SC — with full immersion at Fort Hill National Landmark |
| Housing | Provided on site for all participants for the duration of the institute |
| Meals | All meals provided throughout the institute |
| Cost to Participants | Free of charge |
| Eligibility | Open to South Carolina public school teachers from all disciplines and grade levels |
| Slots Available | 16 total · Up to 8 returning 2025 participants; priority given to new applicants |
| Application Window | March 9 – April 5, 2026 |
| Professional Credit | Certificate of completion provided for 6 hours of professional development credit |
| Stipend | No stipend is offered for PATH 2026 |
| Special Tours & Programs | PATH 2026 will include special tours and field trips to local historic sites as part of the institute experience, including an invitation to attend our Brick by Brick Summer Lecture Series. Participants will hear from historian John Garrison Marks about his new book Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory. Details to follow. |
How to Apply
Apply for PATH 2026
Applications are accepted online. In addition to the application form, applicants should be prepared to submit a brief statement of interest (500 words or fewer) explaining why they want to participate in PATH and how the experience will benefit their teaching.
- Complete the online application. The application will be available beginning March 9, 2026.
- Submit your statement of interest. In 500 words or fewer, describe why you want to participate in PATH and how you will use the experience in your classroom.
- Submit before April 5, 2026. Applications received after the deadline cannot be considered.
Questions?
Get in touch
For questions about the PATH Institute, eligibility, or the application process, please reach out to our education team directly.
Email: ngeraki@clemson.edu
Phone: 864-656-7920
About PATH
A program built to last
PATH is a signature program of Clemson University's Department of Historic Properties, designed to use our historic sites as living classrooms for the educators who will bring South Carolina's history to the next generation of students. Now in its second year, the institute deepens its commitment to place-based learning, collaborative learning, and the kind of professional development that actually changes what happens in a classroom.
Cornerstone Support
The PATH Institute was made possible in its inaugural year by a cornerstone grant from the South Carolina Humanities Council. Their investment in 2025 created the foundation that allows this program to continue and grow. We are grateful for their partnership in bringing history to South Carolina's educators.
