One of the regional archeologists started a mentorship program for high school students that allows them to work on a dig in one of the parks for 10 days and be paid. She couldn't go out in the field with them this summer, so she contacted me to be their mentor. The archeologists on site taught them the archeology. I just had to travel with them and make sure they got up for work (which was more difficult than you might think).
There were 4 boys & 1 girl. Most were from local villages with 1 from Anchorage, but his grandparents live in Kotzebue.
As you might infer, it was buggy at times! We had a good mix of weather, though, and the kids all had a good time.
We all met in Nome then flew to Shishmaref, an endangered village on a sand spit on the Bering Sea. From there the arch site was a 3 hr boat ride up the coast to the north point of the Seward Peninsula.
This whale skull has marked the point for as long as anyone alive can remember.
Once we arrived, we all added our tents to the small village already formed by the archeologists.
An amazing cook, Rae, provided food for everyone in camp, which ranged between 20 - 30 people.
Everyone else, including the students, took turns helping out.
The rest of the day we all spent our time digging
and screening
and measuring
and uncovering artifacts
and cleaning and sorting in the lab tent.
The kids worked hard but ate well.
The biggest challenge of our time out there may have actually been these little guys! The ground squirrels ruled that turf and even chewed through a few tents to prove it.
The kids had fun, but I think we were all ready to go home. They were eager to get ahold of some sodas, and everyone wanted a shower!
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