The 2026 Public Archaeology Institute (PAI) – Summer Archaeology Camp for Teens at Colonial Williamsburg – deadline for application March 31, 2026
The 2026 Public Archaeology Institute (PAI) – Summer Archaeology Camp for Teens at Colonial Williamsburg
Do you have a budding archaeologist in the family? This summer, the Public Archaeology Institute invites rising 9th through 12th graders to work alongside archaeologists. The department also collaborates with Williamsburg & Mary to offer field schools. This is a FREE summer program but applications should be submitted by March 31, 2026.
This program is offered free of charge to accepted students.
Session 1 (Students entering grades 9 and 10)
June 22-26, 2026
Apply Now
Session 2 (Students entering grades 11 and 12)
July 13-17, 2026
Apply Now
To learn more about the Public Archeology Institute, contact Crystal Castleberry, Public Archaeologist, at ccastleber@cwf.org.
The 2026 Public Archaeology Institute (PAI) is a unique program that invites students, entering grades 9-12, to work alongside archaeologists in the field and explore the connections between documentary and archeological evidence, and how they work together to convey a unified interpretation in a public history setting.
Participants of the PAI will receive approximately eight hours of “class time,” where they will tour active archaeological sites and learn about artifact types, including ceramics, architectural materials, faunal remains, and small finds. Students will spend the remainder of the week practicing archaeological field methods, site recording, and interpretation of findings through hands-on fieldwork and speaking with visitors. The week will conclude with a site tour showcase, in which each student will guide one archaeological site tour. Each tour will be 15-30 minutes in length and share the site’s history, project objectives, and observations made in the field with visitors, family members, and friends. Visit here form more information
To learn more about the 2026 Public Archeology Institute, contact Crystal Castleberry, Public Archaeologist, at ccastleber@cwf.org
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