- This event has passed.
NEAC 2024
June 10 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
We invite all archaeology educators to attend this gathering such as classroom teachers, archaeologists, museum educators; college faculty, staff, and students; descendant community members, and anyone else who is interested in archaeology education!
The National Archaeology Educators Conference is professional development for Project Archaeology’s National Network of state coordinators, master teachers, facilitators, and others who are interested in connecting people to the past to protect and honor our shared cultural heritage. Project Archaeology can help you achieve excellence in archaeology education wherever you teach: K-12 classrooms, museums, youth and adult programs, and university education. We train you to deliver high-quality archaeology education to your community through curricula, workshops, and lesson presentations.
The conference provides professional development through sessions, workshops, field trips, and indigenous speakers. There are many opportunities for networking and mentorships. Plus, we connect you with award-winning educational materials!
Networking with peers and mentors makes this conference valuable now and in the future. This year we will focus on how Project Archaeology can help you achieve excellence in archaeology education through visiting rock art sites, listening to cultural perspectives, and experiencing hands-on lessons in the classroom and at archaeological sites.
CONFERENCE COORDINATORS
| Samantha Kirkley (sponsorships, logistics, and registration) Operations and Professional Development Director, Project Archaeology Southern Utah University samanthakirkley@suu.edu |
Jeanne Moe (sessions, goals, and outcomes) Curriculum Director, Project Archaeology Institute for Heritage Education jmoe@heritageeducation.org |
Sarah Bennett (networking opportunities) Coordinator, Project Archaeology sarah.bennett@projectarchaeology.org |
Goals
- Prepare and empower educators to teach difficult history
- Connect and collaborate with archaeology educators and indigenous educators
- Create state plans to develop rock art investigations
- Inspire and equip our network to teach Project Archaeology: Investigating Rock Art to their community
Outcomes
- Record rock art at Black Point archaeological site
- Use observation, inference, and critical thinking skills to determine an artist's message
- Create rock art with two different hands-on techniques
- Visit Parowan Gap and other rock art sites in St. George, UT
- Hear indigenous and archaeologist perspectives on rock art (rock writing)
- Address topics about effectively teaching difficult history and multiple perspectives
- Explore the history that descendant communities care about and how to teach it effectively
- Showcase rock art sites from around the world to include in our investigating rock art database
ABOUT PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGY
Saving archaeological sites begins in the classroom. Project Archaeology is a national archaeology education program that promotes the understanding, appreciation, and preservation of our shared cultural heritage through education. More than 19,000 educators have participated in Project Archaeology professional development. These educators have used Project Archaeology materials to instruct an estimated 380,000 students annually.
Conference Demographics
- Hundreds of archaeology educators from across the nation, including:
- State and national leaders in archaeology education
- Archaeologists
- K-12 classroom teachers
- College and University faculty, staff, and students
- Museum educators
- Informal educators
- Indigenous educators
- Descendant community members
Benefits of Partnering
- Build brand awareness of your products/services among leaders in archaeology education.
- Reach new audiences and increase credibility within a niche community of people who have the attention of teachers, indigenous educators, museum educators, and archaeologists across the nation.
- Place your organization’s name, logo, and/or ad on our conference website and printed program.
- Show your commitment to protecting cultural heritage and archaeological sites through education of our nation’s youth.
- Become a supporting partner in newly published curriculum materials.
Sponsorship Levels
The National Archaeology Educators Conference Sponsorships provide you with the opportunity to share your commitment to protecting archaeological sites and educating youth about our shared cultural heritage with your target audience. In return, we provide customized marketing solutions to help you extend your reach!
CEDAR CITY, UTAH
A remarkable experience awaits you on the Southern Utah University campus. Escape into the scenic backdrop of iconic red rock while attending an unforgettable conference. Location is everything and SUU’s is hard to beat. The 130-acre campus is in the heart of Cedar City, which sits about halfway between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas on I-15 and is within a 5-hour drive of over 20 national parks and monuments in Utah, Arizona, and Nevada.
The closest airports are in Cedar City, St. George, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas. Shuttles are available from the Salt Lake and Las Vegas airports (St. George Shuttle and Salt Lake Express) to Cedar City; however, only the St. George Shuttle picks up and drops off the SUU America First Event Center. Flixbus may also be an option from Las Vegas. Taxi services and rental car companies are a good option for ground transportation, especially if you plan to add extra days and excursions to your trip. We will offer transport to and from the Cedar City airport and any of the shuttle/bus drop off locations in Cedar City.
Flying
There are daily flights between Cedar City Regional (CDC) and Salt Lake City International (SLC) airports. Many people also choose to fly into McCarran International (LAS) and make the 3-hour drive from Las Vegas to Cedar City in a rental car. (Keep in mind there is a one hour time zone difference). St. George Regional (SGU) is another local airport located about 40 miles south of Cedar City that often offers better rates and more flights than CDC. There are lots of options, and you just have to shop around for the one that best fits you.
Driving & Parking
Being right off the interstate makes getting to SUU easy. Campus is a 3-hour drive north from Las Vegas or a 4-hour drive south from Salt Lake City. If you’re coming from the east, the campus is just 75 miles south of the I-15 / I-70 junction.
Cedar City does not have metered parking or parking garages. You simply park wherever you find a spot. Campus and Parking Map
The Ramada Inn is the official conference hotel.
- Free hot/cold breakfast buffet
- Free WIFI & free parking (huge parking lot)
- Outdoor heated seasonal pool, sauna & indoor hot tub
- Fitness and business centers
- Onsite bar and restaurant - Puerto Vallarta Restaurant
- Designated pet friendly rooms
- Wyndham Rewards Program
- Amenities in the room include microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker, and flat screen TV
Lunch and coffee/snack breaks will be provided daily at the conference venue.
Dinners are on your own and you will find several options that meet your various dietary needs and expectations. These are some of our top recommendations:
Chef Alfredo's https://chefalfredos.com/cedar-city/ Puerto Vallarta Jaliscohttp://www.orderpuertovallartajalisco.com/  Erawan Thaihttp://www.erawancedarcity.com/  Cedar City Pizza Carthttps://cedarcitypizzacart.com/  Mandarin - at Best Western Plus Cedar City |
Las Flores Family Mexican http://lasfloresfamilymexicanrestaurant.com/  Bunnisa Thaihttps://www.facebook.com/Bunnisas/  Centro Woodfired Pizzeria https://www.centropizzeria.com/  The French Spot |
You may also be interested in the IG Winery or Warehouse Bar and Kitchen for an evening refreshment.
The conference will offer a workshop track enabling educators to receive 15 contact hours and 1 graduate credit ($23) from SUU. Please allow at least THREE weeks before the start of the conference to apply to SUU, activate your portal, and register for the class. You will not be able to register once the conference commences.
Scholarships We have a few scholarships available through sponsorships and donations. Please contact Samantha Kirkley to apply for a scholarship to cover the cost of registration and/or a travel stipend to attend the conference. Find a Sponsor for Your Registration Consider asking your school, company, or organization to sponsor the National Archaeology Educators Conference. Every $500+ level sponsorship includes one registration for a participant. Go to our sponsorship page to learn more (link)
