When it comes to choosing the right field school for you, you have to consider what your interests are and what expectations you have for the experience. There are a wide variety of different field schools all over the world, all with different focuses and goals. When researching schools, you should ask yourself what you are interested in. Something that could help you figure this out is thinking about what you have enjoyed studying in school. Do you favor the biological side of things and enjoy learning about animal and human remains? Or do you prefer looking at things like pottery and architectural fragments? Is there a certain period of history that really interests you? These are all good questions to ask yourself when trying to decide where to go to field school because the answers to these questions will help you figure out what programs are going to serve you best.

When looking at different programs, be sure to read their project goals and descriptions. Some field schools focus solely on digging while others try to teach a wider array of tasks in addition to excavation such as surveying, photogrammetry, and community outreach. With that being said, you should also consider how long the program is. The lengths of programs can range from 2-6 weeks. The longer the program, the more time you are going to have to learn new skills and make meaningful connections. Speaking as someone who has done field school, I thought that 4 weeks was perfect for me because it gave me time to really get into the work I was doing and become better at it. However, everyone is different. It all comes down to what YOU want to get out of the experience.

It is really important to look at the geographical location when deciding which field school you want to go to. You should research what the terrain is going to look like and how the weather is going to be during the time that you are there. Depending on where you go, you could be signing up to deal with some extreme weather conditions such as scorching heat or heavy rainfall. Don’t do well in the heat? Maybe you should consider attending a field school that is in a more temperate area. Excavation itself is already hard work, so you want to make sure that your body has the capabilities to endure the labor on top of possible extreme climate circumstances. Additionally, you should also assess what the accommodations look like. Are you staying in a house or a tent? If you’re like me and not someone who’s up for camping with limited shower use for 4 weeks, I would try and find a program that offers different accommodation options that are less rugged.

All questions considered, you should choose the field school program that is going to serve you best. It might be difficult to find a program that hits all of your criteria perfectly, but that’s okay! Life is all about give and take, and a part of the journey is to challenge yourself in new ways.