Summer Archaeology Camp at NU
PASTS (Promoting Archaeological Sciences to Students),
a Summer Archaeology Camp at NU
The pilot program of PASTS, an English-language Archaeology Camp at NU, took place at the Anthropology Laboratory between July 31 to August 11, 2023 and was lead by Professor Katherine M. Erdman and laboratory assistant Madina Makulbekova. 12 children of NU employees between the ages of 9 and 13 participated in the first week, and 15 children living in Astana between the ages of 10 and 12 participated in the second week.
This hands-on program connected children with professional archaeologists and undergraduate students of archaeology to provide a truly memorable learning experience. Children focused on different aspects of archaeology, such as what archaeologists study and how they do it. Each day began with a guided activity introducing a new topic and vocabulary. They then spent time excavating at the Outdoor Archaeology Lab under the supervision of the directors and 3 student supervisors with a background in archaeology from NU and experience working with children. A follow-up activity at the end of the day revisited and reinforced the theme of the day. Hands-on learning through engaging activities and actual excavation helped children connect with concepts and ideas in deeper, more meaningful ways. After completing the program, students developed an introductory understanding of what archaeology is, learned to identify the things and places archaeologists study, and gained a basic understanding of why archaeology is a unique and important discipline. At the end children were given a certificate of completion, an at-home activity kit, and worksheets to continue learning about archaeology.
Overall PASTS provided young generation with a broad set of skills that are increasingly important in today’s globalized world. Children were involved in the fieldwork and community engagement, which can help them develop practical skills such as teamwork, leadership, and project management, including critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and cultural awareness. Also receiving a huge positive feedback from parents builds so much faith in developing such projects for younger generation across Nazarbayev University.
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