The 2026 free Summer Teacher Institute workshop, “Courts, Civics, & Citizens: North Dakota's Governance and Growth,” will take place in Jamestown, July 20-23. Jamestown, home to the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse State Historic Site played a significant role in the establishment of our state. The workshop aims to highlight North Dakota’s development as a state and the historical and contemporary functions of government related to civics. While the focus is on North Dakota Studies standards, all teachers are welcome to apply.
Date: July 20-23, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: St. Johns’s Academy, 215 Fifth St. SE, Jamestown
Credits: Two graduate credits are available for $100 through North Dakota State University.
Capacity is limited. Applications are due by July 13.
For more information, contact Education Outreach Supervisor Madison Milbrath, mrmilbrath@nd.gov.
Objectives
- Learn how to locate and integrate diverse primary sources from digital archives, local collections, and community resources.
- Develop an understanding of the evolution of government policy in North Dakota.
- Practice classroom lesson plans demonstrating civic responsibility.
Institute Director
- Madison Milbrath, education outreach supervisor, State Historical Society of North Dakota
Invited Speakers
- Stephen Zacharias, outreach coordinator, 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse State Historic Site, State Historical Society
- Paul Finkelmann, legal historian and law expert, University of Toledo College of Law
- Bryan Pechtl, education and communication specialist, North Dakota State Courts
Recommended/Required Materials
Bring your tablet or laptop.
Cost
- Workshop attendance is free.
- Application deadline is July 13.
- Two credits are available for a $100 fee through North Dakota State University.
Where to Stay
A block of rooms will be reserved until June 18 at the Comfort Inn hotel, 811 20th St. SW, Jamestown. Call 701.252.7125 to book a room under the block rate.