Maya Research Program’s Archaeological Field School 2025 (Student Discount and Scholarships Available)

Location: Blue Creek, BZ

Season: June 2, 2025 to July 13, 2025

Session Dates: 2025 Field Season Dates: Enrollment is open for our 2025 field season and all sessions are available Session 1: June 2rd - June 15th, 2025 Session 2: June 16th - June 29th, 2025 Session 3: June 30th - July 13th, 2025

Application Deadline: May 3, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://www.mayaresearchprogram.org

Program Type:
Field School, Volunteer

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
University of Texas at Tyler

Project Director:
Dr. Thomas H. Guderjan, University of Texas at Tyler

Project Description:

 

The Maya Research Program (MRP) is a non-profit organization (501 C3) that sponsors archaeological and ethnographic research in Middle America. Each summer since 1992, MRP has supported archaeological research in northwestern Belize. The Blue Creek Archaeological Project includes research at the sites of Blue Creek, Grey Fox, Nojol Nah, Tulix Mul, Tz’unun, and Xnoha, (You can read many MRP publications here.)

MRP has been instrumental in documenting and protecting numerous Maya sites in northwestern Belize. Over 3000 students and volunteers have participated in the project in the past 29 years. The current Blue Creek project team includes faculty members and graduate students from over a dozen universities worldwide and is affiliated with the University of Texas at Tyler.

The summer of 2025 marks MRP’s Blue Creek Archaeological Project’s 30th archaeological field season in northwestern Belize.  MRP is proud to support a vast range of talented researchers from across the globe under this project’s umbrella. Our research associates include not only archaeologists, but also soil scientists, geoarchaeologists, geographers, conservationists, cultural anthropologists, bioarchaeologists, and botanists. We invite you to join either our general archaeological field school or one of our specialized sessions.

From June to July, MRP hosts multiple two-week sessions for students and volunteers at Blue Creek. The MRP general field school provides participants with hands-on training in the fundamentals of archaeological field techniques. Participants will gain training and experience in archaeological excavation methods, manual and digital recording techniques, artifact recovery, processing and analysis.

For more information on what to expect at MRP’s archaeological field school – such as daily activities, housing, what to pack, etc – please review MRP’s participant guide at the bottom of this webpage. (You can download the guide here.)

Scholarships and fellowships are available. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for MRP’s scholarships to offset their costs. The submission deadline is March 15, 2025.

2025 Field Season Dates: Enrollment is open for our 2025 field season and all sessions are available.

• • Session 1: June 2rd – June 15th, 2025

  
  

  • Session 2: June 16th – June 29th, 2025

  
  

  • Session 3: June 30th – July 13th, 2025

Enrollment Process:

The maximum number of participants for each 2-week session ranges from 15 to 20 students and volunteers. To enroll, the applicant should forward an enrollment form and deposit to the Maya Research Program.

You can email these forms to Dr. Thomas Guderjan at mrpinquiries@gmail.com or via postal mail to 1910 East Southeast Loop 323 #296, Tyler, Texas, 75701.

Cost:

A special first-session rate of $1750 is available to students currently enrolled in an accredited University or College. Students are encouraged to apply for a MRP scholarship to reduce their costs.

The donation for a single two-week session for non-students is $1850 USD.

If more than one session is desired, the donation is $1450 for each additional session (for both students and non-students).

A non-refundable deposit of $250 per session is required to hold your spot. Participants are responsible for their travel costs to Belize.

If a student wishes to receive academic credit, tuition costs (via the University of Texas at Tyler or their home institution) will apply in addition to the required donation to the Maya Research Program

For more information on what to expect at the MRP field school – such as daily activities, housing, what to pack, etc – please review MRP’s participant guide below or you can download the guide here.

 

Period(s) of Occupation: Maya / Classic Period

Notes:
Excavate Maya archaeological sites with our professional team and learn analysis techniques such as geoarchaeology, bioarchaeology, osteology, artifact analysis, GIS, 3D modeling and photogrametry. Academic credit and scholarships available. Volunteers are also welcome. Archaeology, Geoarchaeology, Osteology, Field School

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 2 weeks (one session)

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: No previous experience required

Room and Board Arrangements:
Our base station has a large central 2 story house (including a public lounge, library and kitchen)  a laboratory building, a large shower/restroom building, a dining hall, and a large central palapa. Participants stay in residential cabanas (maximum of 2 per cabana) All meals are provided within the overall cost. All field equipment, supplies, and in country transportation are also provided. Cost: A special first-session rate of $1750 is available to students currently enrolled in an accredited University or College. Students are encouraged to apply for a MRP scholarship to reduce their costs. The donation for a single two-week session for non-students is $1850 USD. If more than one session is desired, the donation is $1450 for each additional session (for both students and non-students). A non-refundable deposit of $250 per session is required to hold your spot. Participants are responsible for their travel costs to Belize. If a student wishes to receive academic credit, tuition costs (via the University of Texas at Tyler or their home institution) will apply in addition to the required donation to the Maya Research Program For more information on what to expect at the MRP field school - such as daily activities, housing, what to pack, etc - please review MRP's participant guide below or you can download the guide here.

Academic Credit:
3 hours of credit per 2 week session credits offered by University of Texas at Tyler. Tuition is variable.