ILLINOIS

Illinois Archaeology Awareness Month takes place in September. For more information, visit: www.illinoisarchaeology.org

The Burpee Museum of Natural History is a hands-on, interactive museum that focuses mainly on paleontology, geology, biology, and Native American life. For more information, call: (815) 965-3433, or visit: http://www.burpee.org/index.htm

Just down the road from the Burpee Museum is the Discovery Center Museum. Featuring more than 250 hands-on exhibits and the host of a variety of special events and programs each year, this museum works to broaden the minds of people of all ages. For more information, call: (815) 963-6769, or visit: http://www.discoverycentermuseum.org/about/

General John A. Logan Museum
The General John A. Logan Museum in Murphysboro offers educational programs and events, including Logan Days, Kids Dig It, and Summer History Camp. As part of the Kids Dig It program, sixth-grade students learn techniques of archaeology while working alongside professional archaeologists. After participating in a dig for three weeks, the children will learn how to clean and catalogue artifacts. For more information, call 618-684-3455, or visit the museum's Web site at: www.loganmuseum.org/

The Field Museum in Chicago
The Field Museum in Chicago is where Sue, the largest and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever unearthed, was put together by a team of museum scientists. Over half a million children have visited Sue at the museum. There are also many educational school programs that the museum hosts. For more information, call 312-922-9410, or visit its site at: www.fieldmuseum.org/

The Center for American Archaeology
The Center for American Archaeology in Kampsville has extensive programs for families to explore the excitement of archeology during the summer months. Adults and children learn basic archeological concepts and work with archeologists. Through hands-on activities, children understand native technologies and how archeologists reconstruct the past.

There is also a High School Field School from June 23-July 11, 2008, which provides the opportunity to play a role in archaeological research. For more information, call 618-653-4316, or visit its Web site at: www.caa-archeology.org/html/programs.htm.

The University Museum, Southern Illinois University
The University Museum at Southern Illinois University hosts a number of educational programs for schools and the public. This includes a series of fossil hunting programs. For more information, visit its Web site at: www.museum.siu.edu/

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