A summer college experience that changes your life and expands humanity’s understanding of our collective past, present, and future? We do it at the museum.
Students gain practical experience doing archaeological field work, but it is not inexpensive. Field school fees range from $1,500 to $4,500, and programs usually include camping or traveling to remote areas for weeks on end, which makes working even a part-time job impossible during the field experience.
Help the museum earn make this opportunity more accessible.
Did you know that there are not enough certified archaeologists in the West to conduct the baseline of work required for the next generation? The Museum of Natural and Cultural History prepares students for careers in archaeology and cultural resource management.
MNCH field schools teach students how to conduct archaeological investigations, process artifacts in a laboratory, and work in diverse cultural environments—all while adding to our understanding of undocumented histories.
- Museum field schools in southeastern Oregon have uncovered some of the oldest artifacts in the Americas and have charted a new understanding of cultures nearly 15,000 years ago.
- The museum’s Indigenous Archaeology Field Methods field school is the only program in the Pacific Northwest where students learn directly from Tribal experts from the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. Students are immersed in a collaborative research environment spanning state and federal agencies, nonprofits, and descendant communities.
- A new program launching this summer will take students to a pioneer cabin built in the 1850s, where they will gain practical experience using robotic total stations to map artifacts, describing sediment to understand site formation, and processing artifacts in the lab.
These hands-on experiences are transformative for students and result in positive social impact that expands our understanding of our collective past, present, and future. Join us to help students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to gain experience that will launch careers in archaeology.
Learn more:
- A summary of last year's Indigenous Archaeology Field Methods field school on the museum's blog
- Hands on Ancient History: field school provides intriguing clues about life in Oregon more than 10,000 years ago
- Ducks Can Dig It: how field school helps students prepare for careers in archaeology
Photos by Sal Estrada and Adrian Moreno, Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, and Andy Nelson.
| Rank | State | Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OR | 65 |
| 2 | CA | 5 |
| 3 | AL | 1 |
