Summer camp offers archaeology dig at UTSA

UTSA holds 'Archaeology of Africa Summer Camp'

SAN ANTONIO – Beyond video games and swimming pools, what else does summer break have to offer for kids? UTSA has an option that requires a little digging.

"You get to dig in the dirt and get your hands dirty," said excited 10-year-old, Joaquin Hayes.

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Hayes and a group of close to two dozen 9-to-13-year-olds are enrolled in UTSA's "Archaeology of Africa Summer Camp." 

Participants learn about Ancient Egypt and the Roman Occupations in Africa, the Great Kingdom of Zimbabwe, the Kush and Ghana empires, Olduvai Gorge and many more. The pinnacle is an actual archaeological dig by the students.

"(They learn) what archeology is, how archaeologists work and the kinds of things that we find," said Nathan Heep, legacy assistant coordinator for the Center of Archaeology Research at UTSA.

The camp is designed to be a fun venture into the fascinating science led by UTSA's own team of archaeologists.

"It's a fun subject," said Heep. "Who doesn't like digging in the dirt, right?"

"I want to be an archaeologist when I grow up and this is great practice," said attendee Aiden Navarro.

The camp also serves as an alternative to sitting at home all day during the summer.

"I'd be watching TV and playing video games," said Navarro.

Monday marked the beginning of the camp, with more activities planned through the week. This is the second installment of the camp, which will hold two more sessions. The camp has become so popular that organizers said it is booked through the rest of the summer.


About the Author:

Justin Horne is a meteorologist and reporter for KSAT 12 News. When severe weather rolls through, Justin will hop in the KSAT 12 Storm Chaser to safely bring you the latest weather conditions from across South Texas. On top of delivering an accurate forecast, Justin often reports on one of his favorite topics: Texas history.