A camper shares a sherd of Chinese porcelain that she found at the borrow pit excavations.

Are you ready to dig deeper into Jamestown’s history? Join us for a week of archaeology and fun as you learn to uncover pieces of the past!

2024 camp sessions

Session 1: July 15-July 19, 2024
Session 2: July 29-August 2, 2024

Who: Archaeology Camp is open to children 9 to 12 years old.
Time: All junior archaeologists will work from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Calling all junior archaeologists! Jamestown Rediscovery at Historic Jamestowne is hosting a Kids Camp for the summer of 2024. Campers will be able to work on a real archaeological dig alongside the field team. The week-long camp will also be full of hands-on, STEM-based activities with archaeology and artifacts. Space is limited and is reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a short waitlist available, also first-come, first-serve.

Senior Staff Archaeologist Sean Romo teaches campers how to use the ground-penetrating radar machine.
Senior Staff Archaeologist Sean Romo teaches campers how to use the ground-penetrating radar machine.

While there are two sessions available, a child can only be signed up for one session. Any duplicate registrations will be deleted. Only one child may be registered at a time. Children who attended camp the previous year (2023) are NOT eligible for the current year. Children may not attend the camp two years in a row. Special consideration will be given to sibling pairs if one child’s registration is waitlisted. Full refunds can be offered up to four weeks before camp start date. After these dates no refunds are available. All campers will be required to sign a photo and video release form.

Campers need to be prepared to be outside all day. Dress code is T-shirts, shorts/pants, and athletic shoes. Hats and other forms of sun protection are strongly recommended. Lunch is not provided and must be brought each day. Schedule is provided below.

To be added to the information list, please email edshed@preservationvirginia.org.

Fees and Registration

Tuition for the Kid’s Camp is $300.00 per child, per session. Registration opens March 21, 2024 at 9 a.m. EDT.

Session 1: July 15-July 19, 2024
Unfortunately this session is full, but you can join the wait list.
Join the Wait List
Session 2: July 29-August 2, 2024
Unfortunately this session is full, but you can join the wait list.
Join the Wait List
Two campers excavate at the clay borrow pit

schedule

The schedule is subject to change. All outdoor activity is weather-permitting.

monday

Morning: Introduction to staff, site tour, Archaeology 101 presentation
Afternoon: Explanation of archaeological tools, digging and screening practice

tuesday

Morning: Excavating, screening, stratigraphy presentation
Afternoon: Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) activity

Campers learn about artifacts in the Vault.

wednesday

Morning: Excavating, screening, telling time with artifacts presentation
Afternoon: Museum tour

thursday

Morning: Excavating, screening, telling location with artifacts presentation
Afternoon: Artifact sorting activity, Ask-A-Curator

friday

Morning: Excavating, screening, experimental archaeology presentation
Afternoon: (parents invited after 12:30 pm): Camper presentations, museum tour, meet the blacksmiths & Daniel Firehawk Abbott