Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
Archaeology Dig Fall 2025
All students must complete a project for these classes.
*Find this class listed under the Humanities or Vocational category during registration.
Instructors: Jan Sigvartsen PhD, Leanne Sigvartsen
Email: lsigvart@gmail.com
Phone: 269-363-3968
Ages: 8 and up
Location: Orientation and first class at Berrien Springs History Center, 313 N Cass Street, Berrien Springs, then weekly classes held at Dig Site - 6161 Pheasant Court, Berrien Springs.
Required Orientation: August 26th or 28th, 6pm-8pm
Day & Time: Select which timeslot (one only) that you would like to attend class each week.
- Tuesdays 4pm-6:30pm or,
- Wednesday 10am-12:30pm or,
- Thursdays 4pm-6:30pm or,
- Fridays 10am-12:30pm
Course Overview: In this program, you will dig at a real archaeological dig site. You will learn how to dig for artifacts, how archaeologists conduct a dig, identify and date artifacts, and catalog and record their findings. You are going to dig like the pros, and you may uncover some amazing history from our local area. We will be digging on a piece of land in Berrien Springs that was originally settled in 1836. From then until 1971, the inhabitants created a “Farmer’s Dump” - an archaeologist’s treasure trove of local artifacts from the past. The 2025 Spring Dig uncovered some amazing finds, including over 500 antique and vintage bottles. We are hoping to make new discoveries in the 2025 Fall Dig.
*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class.
Teacher of Record: Tom Hurst
