Project Archaeology Workshop

Bureau of Reclamation joined the Girl Scouts of America and its partners to host Utah’s FIRST EVER Project Archaeology Workshop. Photo by Reclamation’s Upper Colorado PAO. Last month, the Bureau of Reclamation joined the Girl Scouts of America and its partners to host Utah’s FIRST EVER Project Archaeology Workshop. Over 80 Girl Scouts attended the event, where they participated in instructor-guided lessons and activities that instilled a sense of value and respect for Utah’s rich cultural heritage and science based careers.

Utah’s Project Archaeologist, Sam Kirkley, organized the event and provided training for partners, including diversity and cultural resource program leads. Professional archaeologists and teachers introduced scientific concepts and information customized to resonate with the different age groups in attendance. Presentations were followed by activities where excited scouts scrambled to apply their new knowledge. They mapped and recorded mock sites, identified and described an assemblage of artifact replicas, and built wickiups. Attendees also engaged with agency representatives during the women-in science career panel.

Lindsey Sheppard, a file clerk representing Reclamation’s Upper Colorado Region Office encouraged the scouts to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Sheppard also shared her enthusiasm for career opportunities within the agency, saying, “at the Girls' Scout workshop I was asked to cover having a government job as a woman. At first, I was unsure of the topic, but then I understood that this was an opportunity to show how much working women can do! I felt so honored to be with these girls that will grow up to be leaders.” Sheppard then stated, “I told them that every job has its importance and that every employer hires someone for a specific reason, and that they had potential to be the ones to climb the corporate ladder. I told the girls that although they might not have a career picked out yet or even know what they want to be when they get out of high school, Reclamation is a place where dreams start and success follows. Each person (girl) has a reason to wake up each morning to say ‘Today I’m going to move mountains.’ Whatever that reason is, the possibilities of being prosperous are endless. I explained to them that having self-confidence and self-worth are top priorities to living a life of achievement. I believe that the way to having power is to be empowered by what we feel, think, and love about ourselves. I want to thank Reclamation so much for this opportunity! It was a learning experience for me as much as a teaching experience.”

After touring the local museum, the rigorous weekend of fun and learning concluded with each of the scouts receiving patches to commemorate their achievements. For more information about Project Archaeology and scout programs, please contact Jeanne Moe at jmoe@montana.edu or visit http://projectarchaeology.org/. Thanks to the Bureau of Land Management, Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation - CTGR, and of course, the Girl Scouts of Utah. Girls Rock!

Bureau of Reclamation joined the Girl Scouts of America and its partners to host Utah’s FIRST EVER Project Archaeology Workshop. Photo by Reclamation’s Upper Colorado PAO.

Bureau of Reclamation joined the Girl Scouts of America and its partners to host Utah’s FIRST EVER Project Archaeology Workshop. Photo by Reclamation’s Upper Colorado PAO.

Published on May 15, 2015