Educational Programs
What are we doing?
Beginning with an initial field trip and extending to the use of a Teacher’s Guide in the classroom months later, the East Broad Top’s education programs transform a single train ride into a sustained engagement with American industrial history. Financial contributions support all aspects of these initiatives, including field trips, scout service projects that occur each spring, internships that provide students with access to original archival documents, and curriculum materials that reinforce learning beyond the visit.
Related Projects
- Curriculum-Based Field Trip Programs
- Scouts of America/Girl Scouts Outings & Service Projects
- Arts and Culture Partnership and Encouragement
- Higher-Education Partnerships & Internships
Field Trips & Curriculum
A Living Classroom
East Broad Top’s education programs turn a single train ride into an ongoing journey of discovery, beginning with an initial field trip and continuing through classroom learning with the Teacher’s Guide.
Each packet centers on a Teacher’s Guide and a set of student activities, all designed to meet Pennsylvania’s standards for local history and industrial heritage. Students engage directly with primary sources from our digitized archives, gaining access to materials rarely found in textbooks.
Teachers use these packets to prepare students before the visit, guide their experience during the field trip, and continue the learning in the classroom afterward. This approach transforms a single train ride into the foundation for a multi-week exploration, ensuring lasting impact beyond a one-day outing.
Internships & High Education Partnerships
The East Broad Top Railroad offers internships through its Archives and Special Collections program in partnership with Juniata College. These internships give students the chance to work directly with historic documents, photographs, and artifacts, providing hands-on experience in archival research, preservation, and interpretation. In addition, the EBT builds educational partnerships with local high schools, giving students opportunities to explore careers in history, preservation, and tourism while engaging with the region’s industrial heritage.
Archives & Special Collections Program
The East Broad Top’s vast archival collection contains an estimated 5,000 linear feet of material from the railroad’s history, including maps, drawings, operational records, photographs, and other important artifacts. In partnership with the FEBT, our specialized team is tasked with preserving, protecting, and providing access to this remarkable collection.