A Message from Crew Chief Kaely

Kaely (center) teaching field school students
Cambria (left) and Kristin (right)

I was a student of the Cabrillo College Field school in 2008, and was invited (…err…maybe elbowed my way in) to be a TA for the following three field seasons. Now that I am a few weeks removed from the island time I have been asked left and right, “How was the field school?!” One word comes to mind – open. Open landscapes, open minds, open hearts. It never ceases to amaze me how curious and intelligent the students are. Their questions in the field to their lectures every night reiterated their passion for archaeology. They were constantly open to learn new concepts and theories as well as adapting to new environments and survey tactics. And it wasn’t easy. Nothing about the field school was “unrealistic” to real CRM work…well, maybe except for some of the jaw-dropping archaeology at every corner. Many times during survey I would forget that this was a crew of students, and not my work colleagues. They rose to the expectation that they were on a real archaeological survey, because they were. They never turned it off. They would stay up late with us and listen to shared field stories or talk politics of the current state of CRM. That doesn’t go away. I think the students learned rather quickly how a hard, hot, steep work day paired with a dip in the ocean and a family dinner can become addicting. That is something the hearts of all archaeologists share, and when you catch the fever- you’re in. I was able to meet up with the students again while passing through Nipomo. These were definitely not students any more- these were dirty, tired, smelly, happy archaeologists. Their maturity for the nature of the job had grown along with their vocabulary for excavation procedures- profiles, column samples, deposits, artifacts, ecofacts. I am excited to work with each and every one of them in the future, so we can tell our old stories as well. These students remind me what it is to follow something you love and that we are all in a constant state of learning. Thank you Cabrillo College Field School 2014.

Working hard!