diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index ff24de57dccf2937fc013d0ba6192ba36ddab693..a216141ac1e40ed5cfde48136aa8cccc165e4589 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ You also agree to abide by our
     *   `CONTRIBUTING.md`: these contribution guidelines.
     *   `LICENSE.md`: license.
     *   `Makefile`: all the commands needed for development.
-    *   `_config.yml`: general configuration settings (used on GitHub).
+    *   `_config_template.yml`: template for general configuration settings.
     *   `_config_dev.yml`: configuration overrides for local development.
     *   `_episodes`: source files for teaching episodes (discussed below).
     *   `_includes`: page fragments used in layout.
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ You also agree to abide by our
     `_episodes/01-xyz.md` generates `/01-xyz/index.html`,
     which can be linked to using `/01-xyz/`.
 
+5.  Copy `_config_template.yml` to create `_config.yml`
+    and then edit the settings in the top half.
+
 ## Other Resources
 
 1.  This lesson is based on the template found at
diff --git a/_config_template.yml b/_config_template.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e8a0070f83fa1c31f96d7e4cefd0370c8cae4f91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_config_template.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#------------------------------------------------------------
+# Values for this site.
+#------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Domain for searches.
+domain: "https://USERNAME.github.io/LESSON-NAME"
+
+# URL for repository.
+repo: "https://github.com/USERNAME/LESSON-NAME"
+
+# Root URL for lesson below domain.
+root: "/LESSON-NAME"
+
+# Overall lesson title.
+title: "Instructor Training"
+
+# Contact email address.
+email: USERNAME@SOME.WHERE
+
+#------------------------------------------------------------
+# Generic settings (should not need to change).
+#------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Sites.
+amy_site:   "https://amy.software-carpentry.org/workshops"
+dc_site:    "https://datacarpentry.org"
+swc_github: "https://github.com/swcarpentry"
+swc_site:   "https://software-carpentry.org"
+
+# Start time in minutes (540 is 09:00 am)
+start_time: 540
+
+# Specify that things in the episodes collection should be output.
+collections:
+  episodes:
+    output: true
+    permalink: /:path/
+
+# Set the default layout for things in the episodes collection.
+defaults:
+  - scope:
+      path: ""
+      type: episodes
+    values:
+      layout: episode
+
+# Files and directories that are not to be copied.
+exclude:
+  - Makefile
+
+# Turn off built-in syntax highlighting.
+highlighter: false