"We would wish for our children that their decisions be informed not by the wisdom of the moment, but by the wisdom of the ages; and that is what we give them when we give them knowledge of culture. The story of past lives and triumphs and failures, the great texts with their enduring themes-- these do not necessarily provide 'the' answers, but they are a rich context out of which our children's answers can come."

-Lynne V. Cheney
Former Chair, National Endowment for the Humanities

Ascanius is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to advancing the knowledge of the ancient Greco-Roman world on the elementary and middle-school levels. Latin, more than ever before, is a living language of universal and perennial relevance that is enjoying a revival in schools across the country. The study of Latin, as well as the study of Classics in general, helps students understand humanity and appreciate the influence that the classical world has had on virtually every aspect of our lives, including our literature, art and architecture, political ideals, values, and sense of history. It gives students a means of understanding the connection between ancient and modern, not only factually, but with the critical judgment to put that knowledge to use.

To accomplish its goals, Ascanius maintains a number of programs. The centerpiece of the Institute is its student program, known as LatinSummer. LatinSummer, a summer enrichment program for students in grades one through seven, is a joint project of Ascanius and local schools and organizations. LatinSummer is generally held every other year, sometimes in more than one location during the summer. At each location, 50-100 students take part in two weeks of exciting, hands-on classes covering topics such as Mythology, Roman Culture, Classical Latin, Conversational Latin, and Ancient Greek. The students also participate in special activity periods, which allow them to delve deeper into Classics through hands-on and critical thinking activities.

For three days during LatinSummer, the Institute coordinates a national Workshop for Teachers (especially those at the elementary school level). Teacher participants attend presentations on such topics as gifted education, the benefits of Latin, and strategies for incorporating Classics into the elementary school curriculum. Additionally, teacher participants are given the opportunity to observe several classes and activity periods, so that they might see Classics teaching in action, and be exposed to the many possibilities for Classics instruction in the elementary school classroom. The information that the participants learn helps them to better prepare their students for state and local assessments. For example, previous Workshops held in Virginia have been tailored to that state's Standard of Learning assessments, particularly the third grade ancient history component.

The Institute also produces several publications that are made available to the educational community for purchase. The publications include: reports on LatinSummer; substantial curriculum guides which contain lessons and activities implemented in LatinSummer programs; and student-friendly workbooks.

A key goal of the Institute is to spread knowledge of the program throughout the United States so that similar programs might be started in other areas. The Institute directors truly believe in its value and worth, and hope that students from across the nation can experience the joys and benefits of Classical Studies. To this end, the Institute often invites those interested in modeling its student program to attend that year's LatinSummer. The Institute directors and faculty also endeavor to visit many meetings, workshops, conferences, institutes, and events in order to not only promote Ascanius, but also to educate students and teachers.