The PAST Foundation will host its Middle Island Life Saving Station Field School from Monday, July 11, through Friday, July 22, 2005. This is a terrestrial archaeology project. Students (young and old alike!) should plan to arrive no later than July 10. For those traveling by air, plan to arrive at the Detroit airport by no later than 3:00 pm on July 10 to meet a group van that will transport you to Alpena. The field school will be based at Alpena, Michigan, and travel to the archaeological site on nearby Middle Island daily. The cost of the field school is US$800.00 per participant. Participants will be responsible for all travel costs to and from the school. The field school will provide lodging, meals and transportation for field school activities.

The field school will be under the direction of Wayne Lusardi, Maritime Archaeologist at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, and Andrew Weir of Commonwealth Cultural Resources Group. The field school will teach basic terrestrial site documentation techniques and explore how archaeological information is used to understand the physical evolution of the site during its history, the activities undertaken by station crew members, and how the site has changed since its abandonment in the 1950s.

The Middle Island Life Saving Station was built in the early 1880s following the establishment of the U.S. Life Saving Service in 1871. Various improvements and additions were constructed on site throughout its lifetime, until the station was decommissioned and abandoned in the middle 20th century. The Middle Island station worked in conjunction with a series of other life saving stations along the Lake Huron shore, the closest being at Thunder Bay Island 14 miles to the south, and Presque Isle 14 miles to the north.

Enrolled participants will receive a packet of information regarding pre-field school reading and necessary equipment. For further information, contact annalies@pastfoundation.org. Applicants should complete this application and fax or mail it, along with a clear photocopy of their ID and medical insurance card. Payment in full for participation is due no later than July 1, 2005 to hold a spot in the field school.