Seventh Grade Field Study: Crow Canyon Archaeological Center

Our seventh grade students participate in a seven day, six night field study program in Cortez, Colorado at award wining Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. Crow Canyon prides itself on being an innovative leader in advancing knowledge of the human past through research and education.

Crow Canyon was formed in 1983 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to archaeological research and education. Their efforts encourage educational programs that are active, utilizing cooperative learning within a multi-disciplinary environment. Students learn through experience-based activities that promote critical thinking and reflection. St. Mary's students gain a basic understanding of culture, archaeology, human interaction with the environment, the scientific process, the importance of site preservation, and the chronological sequence for Pueblo history. You can visit their informative web site at www.crowcanyon.org.

Students begin their journey from St. Mary's campus by bus to LAX where they board a plane for a short flight to Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are met by deluxe motor coaches for the trip up to Cortez, Colorado. Cortez is located about 40 miles northeast of the Four Corners Monument where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet and about 15 miles west of the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park. Students are assigned rooms in the Lodge along with chaperons.Students will participate in a variety of programs like Plants and People, Simulated Excavation and Simulated Lab, visit the replicated pithouse, craft pottery, experience a visit to an excavated site, travel to Mesa Verde National Park and the Anasazi Heritage Center to name but a few. Students will return back to campus from LAX where families can learn first hand about the wonderful learning experiences from this integrated field study which covers science, social science, environmental studies, math, physics, art and language arts. The motto of Crow Canyon is, "It's not what you find, it's what you find out." What our students return with helps them see the world in a vastly different perspective.