Please note that the Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation and the Kingston Archaeology Centre have closed. This site is still available for historical and informational reasons, but none of the services or products described here are available anymore.

Education

Students learning
Students transcribing historic documents.

The mandate of the Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation focuses on education and research, and we have a strong commitment to providing educational programs for all ages and skill levels.

The Foundation's Mandate, derived from its constitution, is to create, foster, and maintain interest in the recognition, investigation, and preservation of Ontario's pre-history and historical archaeological resources. The Foundation's staff strives to meet these goals through the Foundation's educational programming and activities.

Co-ordinated through the Kingston Archaeological Centre the Foundation provides a variety of educational opportunities to participants of all ages. The Foundation runs a series of workshops for children and adults that includes the very popular summer archaeology program "Can You Dig It?"© as well as tours of the Centre, talks and lectures, and 70 minute, half-day, and full-day school programs. These educational activities are enhanced by the Interpretive Centre presented in the Kingston Archaeological Centre and by the use of artifacts held in the Foundation's collection.

In addition to its workshops the Foundation also accepts co-operative student placements from local highschools, Queen's University, St.Lawrence College, and the museum and conservation programs at Fleming College in Peterborough and Algonquin College in Ottawa. During the summer months the Foundation hires students studying in archaeology, history, anthropology, or a related field at assist with the "Can You Dig It?"© program and in the Archaeological Centre.

Students are welcomed and encouraged to use the research facilities at the Kingston Archaeological Centre for primary and secondary sources for projects from the elementary to university level.

The Foundation is a proud supporter of the Kingston Regional Heritage Fair. The fair celebrates our Canadian culture and heritage and is attended by over 300 students each year. 'Best Archaeological Project' winners from the 2011 fair are "Dig up the Past" and "HMS Prince Regent".