WHAT: The South Dakota State Historical Society, Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and the US Army Corps of Engineers is sponsoring a three-day Archaeology Camp this summer! This camp is an active, outdoor experience on a real archaeological site. Students should be prepared to hike, work in the dirt, listen carefully, and follow directions from camp leaders and professional archaeologists. It will be a fun, hands-on, and immersive learning experience!

Students will learn an introduction to the field of archaeology, why we conduct archaeological digs, what stories artifacts can tell us about the past, history of fur trading posts, how to map a site, and how to use team-building skills. In addition to excavation at the site, other fun activities may include processing artifacts, learning how to do a pedestrian survey, and practicing with atlatls (ancient weapons which preceded the bow and arrow). There will also be tours to the Oahe Chapel, the Oahe Dam Visitor Center, and the Turtle Effigy! Actual activities are subject to change depending on weather.

WHO: Students going into grades 4-6 (no exceptions) for the 2025-2026 school year.

WHEN: TBD, 2025; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT
The program is structured for students to attend all 3 days. Students should not expect to be released mid-day unless there is an emergency. Please do not schedule appointments for them during this timeframe. If a camper can not attend all three days, they should not register.

WHERE:
All drop off and pick-ups will be at the Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501. Staff will transport the students to and from the archaeology site which is near the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area.

COST: $__ per camper

REGISTRATION: Registration will begin at 8:00 am CDT on Thursday May 1st, 2025 and will close at 5 pm on May 3rd, 2025 or when the camp is full, whichever comes first. Registration is limited to the first __ applicants who have not yet attended in the past. Prior participants may apply, but their names will be added to a waitlist and only considered if there are less than 20 new campers. No walk-in campers will be accepted on camp days. The registration system will log applications in the order in which they are received. Please note that in previous years registration was full and closed within 20 minutes of opening!

To complete the registration form and submit payment, please click here. Registrations will be accepted online only. Please be sure to include an e-mail address in the space provided on the form. All applicants will be notified via e-mail whether or not they have been accepted!

A few weeks prior to camp beginning, parents or guardians of students accepted will be mailed a letter detailing what campers need to bring and other specifics. This mailing will also contain two release forms which must be signed and returned no later than 5 pm on May 16th, 2025. If these forms are not received by the deadline, the camper will be turned down and replaced with someone on the waiting list.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact SHPO@sd.us or (605)773-3458.