NEW Learn how the intrepid Maryland 400, “Washington’s Immortals,” saved the nascent nation from destruction less than two months after the Second Continental Congress declared independence. Follow this unit and other patriotic Continental Army units as they battle through the next few months of the “Times that try men’s souls.” Analyze how they endured the discouragement of the New York Campaign and the retreat across New Jersey while securing the survival of the U.S. See our 2 day bus trip, 10/8 and 10/9,on page 69.

NEW The U.S. had two beginnings: in Jamestown and in Philadelphia. Epidemics and disease struck both places, threatening to destabilize government and the economy. Examine what archaeological work and historical records tell us about the management of public health.

Embark on a 2-mile historic journey within McKaig Nature Center. Discover Colonial and Revolutionary American history rooted in this very land, from the symbolism of the Tree of Liberty and the Pine Tree Riot to a 1731 Swedish Settlers Farm House. The hike culminates in tracing the route of the Continental Army's march to Valley Forge after the battle of Germantown in 1777. Expect some moderate elevation changes and uneven terrain along serene trails.

NEW Using their combined backgrounds in folklore, folk art, and the fine arts, the Blyn sisters will re-examine the work of Henri Rousseau for those who may have missed the phenomenal exhibit at Philadelphia's Barnes Foundation. Is this art "true naïve," "faux-naïve" or "academic?" For those who did attend, we can share our recollections.

NEW Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 aimed to stop Ukraine from joining the European Union and NATO. After four years of fighting, despite the US withdrawing military assistance, the balance of the conflict now is tipping in Ukraine’s favor. Ukrainian drones are decimating the Russian army’s front lines and destroying fuel and equipment in its rear. How will Russia respond? Is peace around the corner? A new Cold War? The beginnings of WWIII? 

NEW Explore three of Shakespeare’s greatest and most influential tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Examine how Shakespeare dramatizes ambition and revenge, madness and moral collapse, family conflict and political struggle. Pay close attention to the language of these plays as well as their historical context and the circumstances of their publication. Also consider their continued impact on theater and popular culture more than four centuries after Shakespeare’s death.

NEW Under William Penn’s "Holy Experiment," Philadelphia became a sanctuary where diverse faiths didn't just coexist - they shaped the moral and intellectual landscape of a new nation. These walking tours take you through the cobblestone streets where the fight for spiritual and civil liberty intertwined. Discover how the nation's founding documents were influenced by our city's religious and cultural diversity: believers, dissenters, and reformers who demanded a society built on conscience. Entrance to venues subject to availability. (3 Feet: Extensive Walking and Lengthy Periods of Standing.)

North of Market: Arch Street Friends Meetinghouse, Christ Church, Congrgation Mikveh Israel, the President's House and more.

NEW Motion pictures have included gay and lesbian characters from the very beginning. Their depiction has closely followed cultural attitudes toward gay people; censoring groups often required that they could only be portrayed in certain approved ways. As social attitudes changed, so did the portrayals. Through film, explore changing mindsets and how they reflect the lived experience of those people portrayed in the times in which they lived.