Ready to get your hands dirty?
Enroll today in our summer science camps!
Archaeology Explorers Summer Camps (Rising 4th-8th Graders)
Archaeology Explorers campers work with professional archaeologists to uncover the buried remains of a 16th-century Spanish colony that mysteriously disappeared more than 400 years ago. You’ll explore the ancient history of North Carolina’s native cultures through hands-on activities, excavation, artifact analysis, ancient technology demonstrations, experiments, and more. There will also be plenty of time for fun and friends!
Campers stay in the Exploring Joara Foundation’s air-conditioned field house with bunk beds and bathrooms. Most meals are prepared on the premises; dietary restrictions can typically be accommodated. For a suggested packing list, see our Archaeology Explorers Packing List.
Three-Day Camp (rising 4th-7th graders)
Dates: July 1-3 (overnight campers check in the evening of June 30)
Camp Fees: $340 for overnight campers; $250 for day campers
Five-Day Camps (rising 6th-8th graders)
Session 1: July 8-12 (overnight campers check in the evening of July 7)
Session 2: July 15-19 (overnight campers check in the evening of July 14)
Camp Fees: $575 for overnight campers; $400 for day campers
Archaeology Adventurers Summer Camps (Rising 9th-12th Graders)
Archaeology Adventurers campers work alongside professional archaeologists in the field and lab to unlock the mysteries of the Berry site and the ill-fated Spanish colony that persisted there for 18 months. Noted Mississippian archaeologist Dr. Tony Boudreaux will join us for a one-day excursion to Town Creek Indian Mound and the ancient rhyolite quarry at Morrow Mountain. Evening lectures expose campers to some of the specialized subdisciplines within archaeology.
Campers stay in the Exploring Joara Foundation’s air-conditioned field house with bunk beds and bathrooms. Most meals are prepared on the premises; dietary restrictions can typically be accommodated. For a suggested packing list, see our Archaeology Adventurers Packing List.
Five-Day Camp
Dates: July 22-26 (overnight campers check in the evening of July 21)
Camp Fees: $650 for overnight campers; $425 for day campers
Enrollment Information
To enroll in Archaeology Explorers or Archaeology Adventurers camps, download the appropriate camp application and emergency contact form below.
2013 Middle School Application
Applications and forms should be sent to:
Dr. Theresa Shebalin
P.O. Box 676
Mebane, NC 27302
Questions? Please contact tmshebalin@gmail.com.
Camp Staff
Dr. Theresa McReynolds Shebalin directs the Archaeology Explorers and Archaeology Adventurers camps. She is a middle school science teacher in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Shebalin has a PhD in anthropology from the University of North Carolina.
John Krebs is the Staff Archaeologist for the Exploring Joara Foundation. He is currently completing his M.A. in Anthropology, focusing on Historical Archaeology through the University of West Florida where he received his B.A. in Anthropology.
Additional camp staff includes archaeologists affiliated with the Exploring Joara Foundation. The camper to staff ratio is approximately 5:1.
Archaeology is often confused with fields such as paleontology. Some of last year’s campers wrote a song to explain the difference:
