# CAA High School Field School

Four-week archaeological field school in Kampsville, Illinois for students 13-17: real excavation at a Late Woodland habitation site, lab analysis, and evening lectures. Enroll for one to four weeks.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Center for American Archeology |
| Category | other |
| Cost | $950 |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 8–12 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Kampsville, IL |
| Apply | https://www.caa-archeology.org/programs/high-school-field-school/ |

## About this program

# CAA High School Field School

The Center for American Archeology has run archaeology education in the lower Illinois River valley for more than seventy years. Its High School Field School puts teenagers on an active research excavation alongside professional archaeologists, working the German site, a Late Woodland / Jersey Bluff Phase habitation site on a colluvial slope in the Crawford Creek valley. Students live in Kampsville, a village that functions as a working archaeological campus, and rotate between the field, the lab, and evening programs.

## What You'll Do

- Excavate at an active research site, learning shoveling, troweling, mapping, measuring, soil description, and flotation sampling
- Process finds in the lab: artifact washing, sorting, identification, and flotation
- Attend evening lectures given by staff archaeologists on regional prehistory and current research
- Try hands-on prehistoric technology sessions such as flintknapping and atlatl throwing
- Enroll for one, two, three, or four weeks depending on how deep you want to go

## Who Should Apply

Students ages 13 to 17 (rising high school students through graduating seniors). No prior experience is necessary - the program is built for beginners. Students 18 and over enroll in the CAA's Adult Field School instead.

## Outcomes

Participants finish with genuine excavation and laboratory experience on a research project, a working vocabulary of archaeological method, and a realistic sense of what anthropological fieldwork involves before choosing a college major. High school or college credit options have been offered in past seasons.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does CAA High School Field School cost?

CAA High School Field School costs $950. Many paid programs offer need-based financial aid or fee waivers — check the official site before ruling it out.

### Who is eligible for CAA High School Field School?

CAA High School Field School is open to students in grades 8–12 (middle and high school). Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is CAA High School Field School online or in person?

CAA High School Field School is an in-person program based in Kampsville, IL.

### How do I apply to CAA High School Field School?

Apply directly through Center for American Archeology's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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