Enjoy a free day of activities for the whole family and get a taste of all the fun we’ll be having at our upcoming summer camp! Camp Leader Adam will kick things off with an interactive “What is Archaeology?” presentation and Education Specialist Hayden will teach kids how to make clay pottery. Kids can explore the museum on an Archaeology Quest, and families are invited to bring picnics to enjoy in the museum’s native plant garden along with lemonade and cookies. Please note: Activities will start promptly at 10 AM and 12 PM.

Sage smudging has become a viral trend. What's the truth behind the smoke? Documentary film screening followed by Q&A with Heidi Harper Lucero. Screenings at 5:30 and 7:30 PM on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at Blue Fire Brewing. Try Blue Fire's "White Sage" brew to support ASM Public Archaeology workshops! This event is hosted by ASM Affilates, the California Native Plant Society, and Blue Fire Brewing. Contact msherman@asmaffiliates.com for more information.

Free admission for kids on select Saturdays! Join us for family-friendly activities in our classroom, where you can create your own art with an archaeologist, become a junior archaeologist with our miniature excavation units, and curl up with a book on our cozy reading rug. Families can also explore the museum on an Archaeology Quest and check out our Excavation Station and Field Lab. Kids 12 & under: Free; Adults: $5 (includes museum admission)

Join us every 2nd Saturday of the month for two screenings of our Living Room Lectures by archaeologists, experts, and authors. Lecture screenings start at 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM and are included with museum admission. No reservations needed. Seating is first come, first served. 10:30 AM – More Than Just Food. More Than Just Faunal Remains. Ethnozoology of the Kumeyaay People by Richard Carrico For the Kumeyaay people of San Diego County, animals, birds, insects, and other creatures hold a special place in the cosmos and played a variety of important roles. Their embodiment is not always easily visualized because some creatures, large and small, exist in worlds not always seen by most humans, and rarely acknowledged by archaeologists. For many of the native people, there was a time when animals were actually human. In the mythic, ancient time what we now know as humans, or more correctly as mortals, did not exist. The world was inhabited by animals and by animals who were humans but not mortals—these were the Early People and some creatures could embody traits of what came to be known as the mortal humans and animals. Only later in time did the separation grow between animals and humans, and at that time the humans became mortal. This presentation will provide an analysis and discussion of the role and place of non-human creatures within the world and cosmos of the Kumeyaay people of San Diego County. 12:30 PM – Communing with Earth and Ancestors: Ancient Maya Cave Rituals by Jon Spenard The ancient Maya are perhaps best known for their jungle-covered cities with large plazas and grand temples standing taller than the forests encasing them. These built places are often depicted as the settings of elaborate state rituals where elites would perform their ceremonial duties in front of the masses. Yet important rituals were not performed only in cities. Archaeological research over the last few decades has come to reveal that caves and cave-like spaces were among the most potent and important places for ritual performances by the ancient Maya. They were the places where the ancestors originally emerged from and where they returned to after their passing. They were also portals to where powerful Earth forces, particularly the rain deity, could be ritually accessed and negotiated with. In this talk, Dr. Jon Spenard will discuss his ongoing cave ritual research in Belize with a particular focus on understanding the relationship between cave rituals and the ancient Maya collapse.

Join the Save Our Heritage Organization to learn about the unique character of San Diego's historic neighborhoods through the eyes of impassioned writers and historians. Brought to life by esteemed local authors, Penning the Past promises to be an enriching exploration of San Diego's architectural legacy and historical tapestry.  The series is free for SOHO members, $10 per lecture for non-members. Your participation supports SOHO’s mission of education and advocacy to preserve the historic architecture, sites, and cultural landscapes that surround us and add meaning to our daily lives. Point Loma by Eric DuVall and Kitty McDaniel From the arrival of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542 to the current world-class yachtsmen and women, San Diego's beautiful natural harbor hugs the peninsula of Point Loma and boasts a significant past. The strategic location of Point Loma has been home to both military defense and business genius. The fishing fleets of the Chinese and Portuguese communities earned the Roseville area of Point Loma the nickname "Tunaville." Today, Point Loma is one of San Diego's most historic neighborhoods; a destination for culture, fine dining, and sportfishing; and host to important military bases. Visitors from around the world enjoy spectacular vistas and waterfront views of the Pacific Ocean, harbor, city, and islands and mountains of Mexico from atop the peninsula at Cabrillo National Monument and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Author bio Eric DuVall is a freelance writer, photographer, and graphic designer. He has worked in the hospitality industry, the grocery business, radio, television, print media, and had his own graphics and printing business. A graduate of Point Loma High and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he was once a grad student at SDSU. Eric is the founder of the University Heights Community Development Corporation, co-founder of the University Heights Community Association, and is currently the president of the Ocean Beach Historical Society. He has twice been recognized by the California State Assembly for his work in the community. Eric has one cat, two adult daughters, and three grandchildren, who are, of course, his favorites. Kitty McDaniel is a native San Diegan who grew up in Pacific Beach during the 1960s and 1970s. She attended San Diego State University where she earned her BA and teaching credential. Her joy of teaching led to a successful career for 35 years, and she still enjoys tutoring children in elementary and middle school. She is president of La Playa Trail Association in Point Loma, and in her spare time she loves to run, surf, and research the history of her beloved hometown, San Diego. This event is hosted by the Save Our Heritage Organization. For more information, questions, and registration, please contact the event organizer.

Walk under pines, oaks, and incense cedars, on this 6-mile hike that follows the Agua Dulce fire road with a return on the Gatos Spur. This is an intermediate 5-mile hike with an elevation change of 750 feet. The hike is scheduled from 9 AM–2 PM. (Mount Laguna) From I-8 E, exit on the Sunrise Highway (S-1). Turn left and go 8.1 miles. Turn left at the Wooded Hills Campground sign. Go 0.6 mile to the Agua Dulce Trailhead parking lot on the right. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park. See http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cleveland/passes-permits/recreation#adventure for more information. Facilities. (GPS N32.853845, W116.435488). This event is hosted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. Advance registration required. For more information, questions, and registration, please contact the event organizer.

Tour starts at the Marston House Museum Shop in the carriage house. What began as a ten-acre, barren enclave owned by George W. Marston is now the shady and secluded 3500 block of Seventh Avenue, a cul-de-sac that is perfect for a one-hour guided walking tour. This tour contains new content inspired by SOHO's celebration called Irving Gill: Progress & Poetry in Architecture. The Marston House Museum & Gardens is one of about ten homes on the street, built between 1905 and 1913. Many were designed by Gill, when he was a partner in Hebbard & Gill, and they illustrate his design progression from English Arts & Crafts to Prairie Style to his ultimate triumph, cubistic Early Modernism-all in the space of two years, 1905 and 1906. Marston was San Diego's most prominent leader of the Progressive Movement. He, Gill, and other Progressives championed civil rights for African and Mexican Americans, women's suffrage, child labor laws, food and drug safety measures, while they opposed corruption, alcohol and vice. Gill translated Progressive values of good health through fresh air and contact with nature, cleanliness and sanitation, and incorporated labor saving devices into his architecture, including the Marston House. This tour is ADA accessible. This event is hosted by the Save Our Heritage Organization. For more information, questions, and registration, please contact the event organizer.

Paula Knoll Memorial Hike. This loop trail begins and ends at Paso Picacho Campground. The walk is through meadows and dense forest, following a creek. Azaleas, columbines, and tiger lilies bloom along this shady, cool stream. To celebrate the end of the Canyoneer hiking season and honor long-time Canyoneer Paula Knoll, the Canyoneers invite participants to a picnic and potluck following this hike. We will be barbequing hamburgers and brats and also some other items for you to enjoy. Please feel free to bring your own drinks and anything else you would like to have or share. This is an intermediate 5-mile hike with an elevation change of 850 feet. The hike is scheduled from 8 AM–12:30 PM. (Descanso) From I-8, exit north on CA-79 and go 2.6 miles. Turn left to stay on CA-79 and go 9.3 miles to the entrance of the Paso Picacho Campground on the left. Meet the Canyoneer host in the parking lot. A Day Use Fee or California State Park Pass is required for each vehicle (1 day for $10). Day use passes can be purchased online using the Yodel app (follow instructions on the signs found at parking locations - $0.35 fee added), at a kiosk, or Iron Ranger, depending on the location. Note: Any Day Use pass is valid at all locations that require a pass within the park. See https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1049 for more information. Facilities. (GPS N32.960090, W116.580295) This event is hosted by the San Diego Natural History Museum. Advance registration required. For more information, questions, and registration, please contact the event organizer.

Join us for an unforgettable week at the San Diego Archaeological Center’s KIDS DIG Archaeology Summer Camp! Kids will embark on a journey through time as you explore the rich history and culture of our shared human past through a variety of hands-on activities, including basketry, local hiking, honing your archery and atlatl skills, crafting pottery, ancient games, and decoding Ice Age rock art from around the world. Whether your child or grandchild is a budding archaeologist or just eager to experience the past in a whole new way, our summer camp offers something for everyone. Get ready for a week filled with adventure, discovery, and endless fun! Space is limited to 25 campers per session. Ages: 6-12. Sign up now and let the adventure begin! Registration is closed for Session 1. View our Archaeology Summer Camp page for Session 2 registration and more details.