Public Outreach and Community Engagement

Public Outreach and Community Engagement

Archaeologist Eric Drake's flintknapping demonstration to local children in the US.

I am a strong advocate of public outreach and social archaeology projects. I published a chapter in the book Arqueologia do Sul do Brasil (Archaeology of Southern Brazil), where I discussed some examples of social projects I worked on and how archaeologists can maintain a more engaging relationship with the public.

As a member of the Grand Island Archaeological Program in Michigan, I have been engaged with public outreach through: the Youth Archaeology Workshop, a free activity where teens join our excavations for two days each season as members of the crew; daily public tours; and community meetings and presentations.

Members of the Northern Center for Life-long Learning, affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network and the Northern Michigan University, visiting our excavation in 2007 for an entire afternoon.
Eric Drake’s flintknapping workshop to local children and visitors.
Alger County Historical Society lectures presented to the community by the Grand Island Archaeological Program at the Heritage Center & Museum in Munising, Michigan, United States.
Daily public tours to the excavation sites.
The Youth Archaeology Workshop brings junior high students to the island for two days of intensive archaeology instruction. The students participate in the excavation and work alongside the college students.
Daily tours for local school children to our excavation site in Harmonia in southern Brazil.