“Two Delaware Nation tribal members are invited to join us at the Texas Archeological Society (TAS) Field School along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County on June 12-19, 2021. This scholarship program for Native Americans is sponsored by TAS members, the Council of Texas Archeologists, archeological contractors, regional archeological societies, foundations, and others. Since 2003, more than 100 members from 18 Tribal Nations have participated in the TAS Native American Field School Scholarship Program. Photographs and information about this year’s field school are posted on the TAS website at: https://www.txarch.org/2021-field-school
 
The 2021 TAS Field School will include the excavation of a prehistoric archeological site on a terrace of the Guadalupe River and the excavation and mapping of an historic community dancehall and one-room schoolhouse. Eric Oksanen, a staff archeologist at the Texas Department of Transportation, will be the supervising archeologist for the 2021 Kerrville field school. The Youth Group will have an exciting excavation area as well at the main prehistoric site. As always participants can choose to spend the week conducting historic excavation, prehistoric excavation, survey, or lab. The Field School in Kerrville will also offer a unique opportunity to participate in a cemetery workshop hosted by the Texas Historical Commission’s Cemetery Preservation Program.
 
TAS will support almost all field school costs for Native American scholarship recipients. You will be registered as a TAS member for 2021, and Field School registration and meal fees will be waived. If you had to travel a long distance to get to Field School, partial travel reimbursement of up to $100 will be provided by check when you arrive at camp. You also will receive a kit containing the tools needed for excavation or survey. Later, you will be mailed the 2021 Bulletin of the Texas Archeological Society and Texas Archeology newsletters.
 
Breakfast and dinner will be served from the TAS camp kitchen at no charge to you and TAS will furnish ice for your cooler. Scholarship recipients must provide their own lunches, tent, and camping gear. There will be nearby grocery stores where lunch food and other supplies can be purchased. A list of recommended equipment will be mailed to you, along with directions to the campground.
 
The TAS Field School campground will be located within two adjacent parks: River Star Park and Flat Rock Park. Registration, Meals, and Evening Programs will be held at the Pavilion in River Star Park. These parks do not offer formal campsites with water and electricity. There will be electricity available in the park for battery charging and other necessities, but these will be shared between campers. Water will be available at the main pavilion as well as a few other locations in the park. There are numerous shade trees in both parks but as always, we encourage attendees to bring a shade shelter for use in camp or in the field. Portable toilets will be scattered throughout the campground and adjacent to the excavation areas.
 
Please see the General Info and Camp page https://www.txarch.org/camp-information  for what to expect in camp, camp rules, suggested camp equipment and a general daily schedule. The camp boss or designee will remain in camp during the day to provide security.
 
To accept this scholarship for the 2021 TAS Field School, you need to fill out the attached registration form and sign the attendance agreement. Please note whether you want to work primarily on archeological excavation, survey, or laboratory processing; you will have a chance to view all three activities. You also need to note the size of the Field School T-shirt that you will receive. 
 
Email or Mail your Field School Registration Form and Attendance Agreement to gunngal42@gmail.com Sylvia Gunn Orton, 9803 Hwy. 242 #273, Conroe, Texas 77385. 
 
You also must complete the TAS membership application and Mail it to the TAS office in San Marcos. Please note your tribal affiliation on the registration form and membership application. TAS will cover all application fees.
 
If you have questions or want to learn more about the scholarship program, please contact me at 512/563-7999 (cell), or email GalindoENV@gmail.com. We look forward to sharing the TAS Field School experience with you in June 2021!”
 
Sincerely,
 
Mary Jo Galindo
Native American Field School Scholarship Subcommittee Chair
 
Tony Lyle
Multicultural Committee Chair
Texas Archeological Society

Download Application by clicking here

Featured image from https://www.txarch.org/.