PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota State Historical Society’s State Historic Preservation Office, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will be hosting their annual Archaeology Camp in Pierre June 10-12 for students going into grades 4-6.
At Archaeology Camp, campers will be introduced to the field of archaeology. They will learn the purpose of archaeological digs and the stories that artifacts can tell people about the past. In addition to excavation at the site, campers may enjoy other fun activities such as processing artifacts, practicing with atlatls, and visiting historic sites around town including the Oahe Chapel. This camp is an active, outdoor experience on a real archaeological site. Campers should be prepared to hike, work in dirt, listen carefully, and follow directions from camp leaders and professional archaeologists.
The camp will run June 10-12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program requires students to attend all three days and is for students going into grades 4-6 for the 2025-26 school year (no exceptions). Registration is limited to the first 20 applicants who have not previously attended. Prior participants may apply, but their names will be added to a lottery and only considered if there are fewer than 20 new campers. Prior registration is required.
Registration will begin Thursday, May 1, at 8 a.m. CT and will close when the camp is full or on Saturday, May 3, whichever comes first. Registrations are automatically logged in the order in which they are received. In previous years, registration was full and closed within 20 minutes of opening. The registration fee is $50 per camper. Once available, registration will be linked at the top of the page here: https://history.sd.gov/preservation/ArchaeologyCamp.aspx
For more information on the camp, please visit https://history.sd.gov/preservation/ArchaeologyCamp.aspx or contact Katie Wasley at (605) 773-8370 or .
