How do I get involved?
Volunteer
If archaeology is something that interests you, I would encourage you to volunteer to work at an archaeological excavation near you. Although only qualified archaeologists are given permission to begin excavating a site, often times these archaeologists are in need of help with field work. This would be a great opportunity to learn, first hand, how arhcaeologists carry out their research.
Field Schools
If you're looking for first hand experience in the field of archaeology, you can enroll in a field school. These programs are desgined to teach aspiring archaeologists the basic skills necessary to conduct archaeological research. These field schools would be a great opportunity to see for yourself what it takes to be an archaeologist. The American Anthropological Association's website (aaanet.org) is a great place to start looking for a field school near your location.
Join a club/organization
There are tons of clubs and organizations designed to create a community in which people with an interest in archaeology can connect and share knowledge. Most universities have clubs for students to join, and get involved with archaeology in their local area. At my school (Michigan State University), there are archaeology clubs for students as well as a campus archaeology program. This campus archaeology program (campusarch.msu.edu) gives students the opportunity to participate in internships, research programs, and field schools right on MSU's campus, in order to gain valuable experience. If you are interested in getting involved with archaeology, I would suggest looking to your respective school/university for clubs and programs.
