GDG- bringing students to GB

[John Wood (faculty)]

I'm planning a Civil War tour for 12-14 year olds (no more than 12
students) and part of it will include camping at or near both Antietam and
Gettysburg. For the GB portion of the trip, I wanted to ask the list for
some advice on the 3 days at GB. This is about a year away, so I have lots
of planning time. The goal is to create a series of visits and camping
over two weeks that includes some class time and aims to give the students
some in-depth instruction, but also allow for fun. For example, a rafting
trip worked into the stay at antietam. And simply being away from home
camping out should be fun. 
Basically, week one will by 1862 and week two will be 1863, with visits to
Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Harpers Ferry, South
Mountain, and Gettysburg over the two weeks. I can't fit the peninsula or
shendendoah battles in, though I'm open to suggestions on seldom visited
sites. If it goes well, I'm thinking of adding 1864 and maybe estending a
southern leg of the tour the next year for Shiloh, Stones River,
Chickamauga, and Chatanooga, etc. 

First, how close to the battlefield can I get for the camping? Has anyone
ever heard of the people who live on the battlefield allowing small groups
to camp on their property? There are obvious reasons why this sort of
thing would be discouraged or even forbidden, but I'd like to get as close
as possible without upsetting anybody. 

Second, I wanted to take a day for each day of the battle and mix in other
activities in the area. Any advice on a three day study? I was thinking of
a LBG, but also getting some reenactors to talk with the students about
various things, even how to prepare a dinner (though I can't imagine that
would be very tasty) maybe people who are experts on other specifics.
Something as mundane as the kind of card games soldiers played would be
interesting, civil war medicine, etc. I know that for the annual muster
people get permission to walk over grounds that are usually off-limits.
Would I be able to hire the same people to get that permission for my
group? etc. etc. 

Thanks. 

John Wood
jwood at mcdonogh.org