Summer Teacher Institute 2025
This year’s free Summer Teacher Institute workshop, “Frontier to Frontlines: North Dakota's Military Legacy,” will take place in Cooperstown July 21-24. Cooperstown, home to the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site, played a significant role in the Cold War. The workshop, a collaboration of the State Historical Society of North Dakota, Griggs County Historical Society, and Griggs County Central Schools, aims to highlight North Dakota’s contributions to preserving the nation’s freedom. Educators will explore North Dakota’s contributions to the U.S. military and national defense from the 1870s to the 1990s. While the focus is on North Dakota Studies standards, all teachers are welcome to apply.
Graduate credits are available for a fee through the University of North Dakota, Minot State University, and North Dakota State University.
For more information, contact Laura Forde, education and engagement manager, ljforde@nd.gov.
Capacity is limited. Register through July 14, 2025 at nd-military-legacy.eventbrite.com.
OBJECTIVES
- Teachers will understand the important role North Dakotans have played in U.S. military history since the establishment of Dakota Territory.
- Teachers will understand the important role the state of North Dakota has played in the defense of the nation.
- Teachers will come away with knowledge and activities to bring to their classrooms.
INSTITUTE DIRECTORS
- Laura Forde, education and engagement manager, State Historical Society of North Dakota
- Madison Milbrath, education outreach supervisor, State Historical Society of North Dakota
INVITED SPEAKERS
- Rob Branting, site supervisor, Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site, State Historical Society
- Shirley J. Olgeirson, North Dakota National Guard Historian
- Daniel Sauerwein, North Dakota State Archives, State Historical Society
RECOMMENDED/REQUIRED MATERIALS
- Bring your own device (tablet or laptop).
COST
- Workshop attendance is free.
- Application deadline is July 14, 2025.
- Two credits are available for a $100 fee through the University of North Dakota, Minot State University, and North Dakota State University.
WHERE TO STAY
- West Side Motel
- Coachman Inn
- Park Avenue Bed and Breakfast
- There are also several Airbnb rentals in and around Cooperstown.
TENTATIVE AGENDA
Monday, July 21
| Time | Topic: How They Served | Location | Leader/Staff/Expert |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. | Introduction to the workshop | Griggs County Central High School (GCCHS) | Laura Forde, State Historical Society |
| 10 a.m. | Timeline and eras of history outline Today’s theme |
GCCHS | Rob Branting, State Historical Society |
| Noon | Lunch | ||
| 1 p.m. | Recruitment to Military During the Frontier Era Activity: Do drill /demo |
GCCHS | Daniel Sauerwein, State Historical Society |
| 3 p.m. | Recruitment: WWI & WWII posters activity | GCCHS | Madison Milbrath, State Historical Society |
| 5 p.m. | Dismiss |
Tuesday, July 22
| Time | Topic: Citizens at War | Location | Leader/Staff/Expert |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | Opening; housekeeping | Griggs County Museum | Laura Forde, State Historical Society |
| 8:30 a.m. | Civil Defense | Griggs County Museum | Rob Branting, State Historical Society |
| 10:30 a.m. | Civil Air Patrol | GCCHS | Daniel Sauerwein, State Historical Society |
| 11:30 a.m. | Frontier: Laundresses | GCCHS | |
| 12:30 p.m. | Lunch | ||
| 1:30 p.m. | National Guard: Home Guard and State Guard | GCCHS | Shirley J. Olgeirson, North Dakota National Guard |
| 2:30 p.m. | Innovation in Weaponry Activity: The weaponry of the eras |
GCCHS | Rob Branting, State Historical Society |
| 3:30 p.m. | 164th Regiment at Guadalcanal | GCCHS | Shirley J. Olgeirson, ND National Guard |
| 4:30 p.m. | Medal of Honor recipient Woodrow Wilson Keeble (Korean War) | GCCHS | Shirley J. Olgeirson, ND National Guard |
| 5 p.m. | Dismiss |
Wednesday, July 23
| Time | Topic: Boredom to Terror | Location | Leader/Staff/Expert |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | Opening; housekeeping | GCCHS | Laura Forde, State Historical Society |
| 8:30 a.m. | Life in the trenches review | GCCHS | Madison Milbrath, State Historical Society |
| 9:30 a.m. | Analyzing Letters Home | GCCHS | Madison Milbrath, State Historical Society |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch | GCCHS | |
| 12:30 p.m. | Intro to Minuteman Missile Sites and Life | GCCHS | Rob Branting, State Historical Society |
| 1:30 p.m. | Missileer Life Tours: Oscar-Zero and November-33 | Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site | Rob Branting, State Historical Society |
| 3 p.m. | Teach It Tomorrow lessons | GCCHS | Madison Milbrath, State Historical Society |
| 4 p.m. | Break/Dinner | ||
| 6 p.m. | Missileer talk | Griggs County Museum | TBD |
| 7:30 p.m. | Dismiss |
Thursday, July 24
| Time | Topic: Technological Advances | Location | Leader/Staff/Expert |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | Opening; housekeeping | Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site | Laura Forde, State Historical Society |
| 8:30 a.m. | Notable North Dakotan: Mary Sherman Morgan | Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site | Laura Forde, State Historical Society |
| 9 a.m. | Rocketry activity | Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site | Rob Branting, State Historical Society |
| 10 a.m. | Medical Innovation | GCCHS | Madison Milbrath, State Historical Society |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch | ||
| 12:30 p.m. | Escape Room: Introduction of key concepts needed to solve | GCCHS | Madison Milbrath, State Historical Society |
| 1 p.m. | Escape Room: Communications activity and debrief | GCCHS | Madison Milbrath, State Historical Society |
| 2 p.m. | State Historical Society resources and where to find them | GCCHS | Madison Milbrath, State Historical Society |
| 3 p.m. | Dismiss |