Amache Community Archaeology Field School

The Amache Community Archaeology Field School is an opportunity for people of all ages to get involved and learn. The field school runs for four weeks every other year. You can visit one of our open house days or join the project as a volunteer, intern or field school student.

Our Field School is returning to Amache June 15 – July 11, 2026 for a ninth field season where participants will learn about historical archaeology and museum studies. Archaeological work this summer is planned for Blocks 6E, 8E, 10E, 11E, 12E, and 12H.

We encourage participation in four different ways: Attend an event, Community Volunteering, College Credit-Earning Field School, and Community Student Internships.

Attend an Event

As part of the field school, the Amache Archaeology Projects hosts two public events.

  • The community open house is designed for individuals with a personal or family connection to Amache or the Japanese American internment experience. The Amache Community Open House begins Thursday July 2 with an evening event. The following day, July 3, will include tours of the archaeological site, individualized visits to barracks or other important locations in the camp, time to explore the museum, and a group dinner.

    If you are interested in attending this event please RSVP by May 31 either by filling out this short form or by calling (303) 871-2875.

  • The Public Open House is designed for anyone to attend and learn about the history of Amache and how archaeologists study it. The Public Open House includes tours of the archaeological site in the morning and activities at the Amache Museum in Granada in the afternoon. This year the event will take place Saturday, July 4, 2026 , onsite at Amache from 8-noon and at the Amache museum from 1 to 4 pm.

    If you plan to attend, please let us know by filling out this short form. This event is free and open to the public.

Community Volunteering

Volunteers with a personal or family tie to Amache are a critical part of the field school. We ask volunteers to commit to one week including a pre-work training session.

There are several different ways to volunteer depending on your interest and abilities. Participants can choose to focus on contributing to field archaeological research or work in the Amache museum.

  • Field volunteers go out to Amache each morning and work on site from 6:00 am until noon. These volunteers participate in archaeological survey and excavation. This is physical work in a hot and dry environment. After lunch field volunteers will have the opportunity to help in the archaeological field lab or the Amache Museum from 1:30-4:00.

    We welcome you to contact us if you are interested in volunteering or need more information. Space is limited so please apply early if you are interested. Contact Dr. Bonnie Clark at bonnie.clark@du.edu or call 303-871-2875.

  • Museum volunteers meet at the Amache Museum at 7:00 am and work until noon helping to conduct research, document collections, or develop interpretation. This work is inside with air conditioning and can be completed mostly seated. Volunteer projects vary depending on the museum’s needs. There can also be opportunities for individual research in the afternoon when the students and field crew are working in the museum.

    We welcome you to contact us if you are interested in volunteering or need more information. Space is limited so please apply early if you are interested. Contact Dr. Bonnie Clark at bonnie.clark@du.edu or call 303-871-2875.

College Credit-Earning Field School

This unique field school combines archaeology, museum studies, and community engagement, giving students the chance to investigate daily life at Amache while contributing to its preservation.

  • During this four-week program, you’ll survey the site, carry out targeted excavations of gardens and landscape features built by incarcerees, and work directly with artifacts and archives in the Amache Museum.

    Just as importantly, you’ll collaborate closely with survivors and descendants of Amache, learning how to navigate sensitive issues around a difficult heritage while building skills that translate to careers in archaeology, museums, and heritage management.

    For more information and to apply for the class click here.

Community Student Internships

To encourage community participation in the field school, internships are available for high school or college students whose family experienced internment, with priority given for those with a family connection to Amache.

There are also internships available to members of the 14 tribal partners of the site. Stipend or tuition waiver available to the students chosen for this competitive internship.

  • Highlights of the internship:

    • Opportunity to work on-site at Amache and Amache museum

    • Training in archaeology field methods and museum practices

    • Hands-on work with historic objects and archival materials associated with Amache

    • Work with other students, former incarcerees, and site visitors

  • Priority given to applications received by February 15, but they will be accepted until the internships are filled. To apply contact Dr. Bonnie Clark at bonnie.clark@du.edu or call 303-871-2875.