The day dawned bright and early for the volunteers at the ArchaeoBus at the Social Studies Conference in Athens. As the bus backed into the location at the Classic Center the New South Associates team sprang into action. I should have set my stopwatch because the set-up took less than ten minutes. The guys had it down to an art.
Teachers enjoyed the opportunity to explore the hands-on potential for their students. Many were thrilled with the colorful informational packet that provided photographs of students experiencing the ArchaeoBus. It was a great marketing tool that answered the question of, “How do I get this bus to my school?” Educators were also provided the Archaeology: What is It educational CD, featuring images from Frontiers in the Soil and the Fort Daniel site, as well as other related educational resources.\
Despite the rain showers, the event was a success thanks to the participation of the anthropology students of Dr. Jennifer Birch at the University of Georgia. These students were great at providing visitors with the information needed to explore the hands-on activities. These activities included pottery, a phytolith and seed matching game, and mending ceramics. One UGA student commented on this unique opportunity to put what he had learned in class into good use by sharing it with others.
This educational outreach would not have been possible without the support of Nick Joseph, Scott Norris, and Alex Smyk, the students in Dr. Birch’s class, and SGA President Tammy Herron. Thank you for supporting the Society for Georgia Archaeology at the annual Social Studies Conference!
This is just one example of how you can volunteer with the Society for Georgia Archaeology. It is a great way to build your confidence in public speaking, develop friendships, and meet other professionals and avocational archaeologists across the entire state of Georgia. There are opportunities for writing articles for the website (interesting topics from class, a field school, your club’s activities) and consider publishing your work in the professional journal of Early Georgia. SGA is just the place to explore your potential!
Posted online on Wednesday, October 30th, 2013