The Lightning Valley Archaeology Field School is a cooperative project between Fishers’ Peak State Park, ERO Resources Corporation, and Tribal partners aiming to prepare tribal members for careers as Traditional Cultural Specialists (TCSs), archaeologists, and related career fields, and provide foundational teachings to support existing Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs). The program is funded by the Colorado State Historical Fund and applications will open in fall 2026.
Contact: LightningValley@EROResources.com
Note: The Lightning Valley Field School is awaiting contracting and no applications or inquiries can be answered at this time. Please refer back in late August 2026.
The Lightning Valley Archaeological Field School introduces participants to the principles, methods, and professional standards of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) archaeology. The course combines self-paced online learning, online group discussion sessions, and two in‑person field components to prepare students for real-world CRM projects. Because the goal of this field school is training Tribal members in these processes with the aim of increasing the Tribal archaeology workforce, the coursework is designed to meet participants at a range of archaeological skill and familiarity levels. A standard week of coursework (as outlined below) represents approximately 8 hours of asynchronous work plus 1–2 hours of synchronous instruction delivered in two time‑slot options to accommodate students with varied schedules. Activities include readings, guided discussions, applied exercises, and skill‑building assignments related to CRM. Assignments will center around discussion and reflection