I was recently named to the board of The American Troubadour Project, Inc., a chartered 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation that offers artist-in-residency programs to schools as a way to cultivate a genuine interest and understanding  of American history through the exploration and use of American folklore and music. To put it simply, the project’s goal is to put a human face on the events that make up the rich history of the United States. There are other such projects across America. Many of the historical sites have started to host history and social studies teachers so they can see for themselves the places where important events took place. One of the most important events after the American Revolution is the Civil War. The Civil War Preservation Trust is one such group that takes teachers on tour so they can see how the battles were fought. Many of the teachers say touring the sites help them immensely in bringing to life the individual events that made up the war, such as Pickett’s Charge in which the terrain played a huge part in the horrific loss of life. My point in this blog is that travel for educational reasons is a vital part of educating the parent as well as the child. A good understanding of a democracy’s history is one of the best ways to ensure that the democracy will survive. So jump in the car, hop on a train or a flight and go visit America’s rich trove of historic sites. You can make it a one day trip or over a weekend. -Dick Evans, vice president