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Volunteer program at Camp Security draws hundreds and thousands of man-hours
Summary
The community archaeology program has involved more than 215 volunteers and over 13,000 man-hours since 2014, supporting excavations, outreach, grant-writing and artifact curation in partnership with professional archaeologists.
John described the program as community-driven: Friends of Camp Security set goals, handle logistics and fundraising while professional archaeologists direct research design and technical work. Since 2014, the project has engaged roughly 215 volunteers who have donated over 13,000 man-hours, including teachers, veterans, reenactors, students and descendants of camp guards.
The program’s model emphasizes volunteer participation in field and lab work, outreach events such as public 'talk to an archaeologist' days, and partnerships with universities and preservation organizations. John said that community involvement has broadened public awareness and sustained long-term stewardship: "Generally speaking, the community steers the ship and the archaeologists help power the engine," he said.
