Waynesburg University’s director of Eberly Library Rea Redd is knowledgeable when it comes to the Civil War. In fact, there aren’t many Civil War battle fields Redd hasn’t been to.
He has experienced reenactments. He has visited museums.
But for Redd, the Spring Break service trip to that Eberly Library is offering to Antietam National Park in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, will be his first to this battlefield.
Eberly Library is offering this trip to all interested students. The trip will take place during Spring Break 2018.
Students who participate will performing service activities throughout the trip, such as clearing trails and taking care of properties owned by the park.
Redd said he expects this trip to be similar to the trip to Gettysburg National Military Park
that took place over Fall Break. However, he believes the trip to Antietam will be even more beneficial to students.
“This trip benefits them in several ways, such as introducing them to history up close and personal,” said Redd. “They get an in-depth [look into the] history of the military and issues that generated Civil War.”
In addition to Antietam National Park, students will visit Harpers Ferry National Park and the Civil War Medicine Museum. All of these locations are rich in history, according to Redd, an example being that Harpers Ferry is home to the first college for African Americans.
“Students should [participate in] the trip because the students get to see and do things they have never done before and meet people with a range of information you don’t receive in class,” said Redd. “It is different in several ways. In history, the focus is primary documents. On trips like these, the battlefield and the buildings are also the primary documents. This trip is similar to a highly illustrated set of lectures. While the battlefield guides are telling the story, the battlefield is the illustration and the battlefield is the map.”
Garret Guthrie, a junior mathematics major and financial mathematics minor, said this service and learning trip will be experience that he will never forget, because of his interest in the Civil War and all that history behind that time period.
“I feel that going on this trip is not only a good learning opportunity for [me] but for all the people that are attending,” said Guthrie, who is also a library assistant. “I think that visual learning is just as beneficial as in class discussion.”
Kelly Hardie, assistant dean of Student Services, said the trip to Antietam Park displays Waynesburg University’s mission.
“The Antietam Spring Break Service Trip is an excellent example of incorporating the Waynesburg University Mission of faith, learning and service,” Hardie said.
Guthrie said Redd’s insight is beneficial to helping students who want to learn about the Civil War.
“Rea Redd, being a Civil War buff and having an extensive knowledge of the Civil War, makes participating in the trip beneficial for both parties,” said Guthrie. “The Civil War was a momentous time for this country and having greater knowledge about it will help me understand the history of the United States better.”
According to Tiffany Santone, a freshman criminal justice major, outside of the classroom learning is much more practical way of gaining knowledge and allows students to absorb information better than in a classroom.
“While being on the battlefields paints a better picture in your mind, instead of just hearing and seeing photos of the battle and the history, you are actually standing [there] and seeing [it] in person and living through the history,” Santone said.