Archaeological Fun Boxes
A$1,870
of $12,000 targetyrs ago
Closed on 13th Jan 2014 at 12:00PM.
As far back as the early 1990's I realized that our kids were being taught that heritage and archaeology is something which happens elsewhere. This is not the fault of the teachers but a lack of resources for them to use to teach our local heritage stories, particularly colonial Western Australian archaeological stories.
Historical archaeology in WA: Excavations at Cossack, Pilbara
Ever since I have been trying to alter that elsewhere perception by raising awareness of historical archaeology with the WA public. As part of that struggle I have ended up as WA's only public archaeologist. A public archaeologist is one who intentionally involves the public in archaeology in various ways, hence the large section of my web site devoted to public archaeology.
It was therefore only natural that when I was asked to permanently look after the Perth Oval Tearooms artifact collection I asked if I could use it for public education. I used a small faction of the artifacts to create a series of archaeological activities appealing to children and families. The activities went into a box which I called my Archaeological Fun Day Box. I have been using the box to engage children and adults with archaeology since 2003.
Kids using some of the fun day activities
However WA is a large state and I am only one person with one box. In the ten years I have been running archaeological fun days I have engaged hundreds of children and their families but have only scratched the surface of WA. It costs money to take the box out of Perth so regional kids are missing out big time. In ten years it has only gone to regional areas twice.
The Perth Oval artifact collection is large: the material is there to make a number of archaeological fun boxes. The dream therefore has been to make a series of boxes which would be lodged in a number of places around the state so that schools, heritage places, libraries etc could loan the materials to put on their own fun days or teach classes.
I have been trying to fund this dream for several years using traditional grant funding processes to no avail. So I turn to you: The people of WA. The people whose children and communities would benefit, not just from a great day out but from a grounding experience which connects them with the historical heritage of WA.
Historical archaeology in WA: Excavations at Cossack, Pilbara
Ever since I have been trying to alter that elsewhere perception by raising awareness of historical archaeology with the WA public. As part of that struggle I have ended up as WA's only public archaeologist. A public archaeologist is one who intentionally involves the public in archaeology in various ways, hence the large section of my web site devoted to public archaeology.
It was therefore only natural that when I was asked to permanently look after the Perth Oval Tearooms artifact collection I asked if I could use it for public education. I used a small faction of the artifacts to create a series of archaeological activities appealing to children and families. The activities went into a box which I called my Archaeological Fun Day Box. I have been using the box to engage children and adults with archaeology since 2003.
Kids using some of the fun day activities
However WA is a large state and I am only one person with one box. In the ten years I have been running archaeological fun days I have engaged hundreds of children and their families but have only scratched the surface of WA. It costs money to take the box out of Perth so regional kids are missing out big time. In ten years it has only gone to regional areas twice.
The Perth Oval artifact collection is large: the material is there to make a number of archaeological fun boxes. The dream therefore has been to make a series of boxes which would be lodged in a number of places around the state so that schools, heritage places, libraries etc could loan the materials to put on their own fun days or teach classes.
I have been trying to fund this dream for several years using traditional grant funding processes to no avail. So I turn to you: The people of WA. The people whose children and communities would benefit, not just from a great day out but from a grounding experience which connects them with the historical heritage of WA.
How The Funds Will Be Used
The funds will be used to create ten colorful Fun Day Boxes with activities, tools, instructions, learning outcomes and of course a mix of modern and real historic artifacts to handle.
Because I have tried previously to secure grant funding for this project the project costs are well understood. It will cost $1,200 to create each box with its accompanying materials. However if the project goes over its target I have sufficient archaeological resources to create more boxes. My original dream was 25 boxes across the state. However this is my first attempt at crowd funding and if the project target is not reached then nothing happens. Crowd funding is a all or nothing proposition. So I thought ten boxes: Could we together reach the target of $12,000 for ten boxes?
Because I have tried previously to secure grant funding for this project the project costs are well understood. It will cost $1,200 to create each box with its accompanying materials. However if the project goes over its target I have sufficient archaeological resources to create more boxes. My original dream was 25 boxes across the state. However this is my first attempt at crowd funding and if the project target is not reached then nothing happens. Crowd funding is a all or nothing proposition. So I thought ten boxes: Could we together reach the target of $12,000 for ten boxes?
The Challenges
The main obstacle to this project is not reaching the funding target.
If we do reach the target the boxes will be created.
I will then work with local governments and heritage organisations around WA to find suitable holding places for the boxes. A central place in a region where the box can be accessed for loan by local schools, heritage organisations and libraries etc or where the local population can come to experience the fun days.
Large sponsors will be able to nominate a region they would like a box to go to and I will do my best to find a suitable holding place in the region. However I cannot promise that I will be successful in finding a holding place and an organisation willing to look after the box and loan it out for every nominated region.
If we do reach the target the boxes will be created.
I will then work with local governments and heritage organisations around WA to find suitable holding places for the boxes. A central place in a region where the box can be accessed for loan by local schools, heritage organisations and libraries etc or where the local population can come to experience the fun days.
Large sponsors will be able to nominate a region they would like a box to go to and I will do my best to find a suitable holding place in the region. However I cannot promise that I will be successful in finding a holding place and an organisation willing to look after the box and loan it out for every nominated region.
Supporter You have my thank you for helping to make this project a reality.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Nov 13
Donor You have my thanks for donating to this project. Also I will post out a Fun Day Project magnetic to you.
1 chosen / 499 available
Est. delivery is Jan 14
Seed Buddy You have my thank you for being a buddy and supporting this project with seed money. I will also send you a specially designed calendar of historical archaeology in WA
0 chosen / 500 available
Est. delivery is Jan 14
Start-up Buddy Thank you for supporting this project with start up money. You will be named as a start-up buddy on the project page of my web site. Also I will post out to you a gift pack of Fun Day Project magnet and a specially designed calendar of historic archaeology in WA
3 chosen / 297 available
Est. delivery is Jan 14
Archaeological Fun Day Buddy Thank you for making such a contribution to this project. You will be named as a Archaeological Fun Day Buddy on the project page of my web site. Also I will post you out a Gift pack of a Fun Day Project magnet and a specially designed calendar of historic archaeology in WA.
0 chosen / 200 available
Est. delivery is Jan 14
Classroom Buddy A special category for classroom based fund raising. Kids get together and make your class a Classroom Buddy and have your class and school name listed as a classroom buddy on the project page of my web site. Also I will come to your school if it is within the Perth area and do a show and tell specially for your class during 2014. If your school is outside Perth talk to your teacher and perhaps we can arrange for me to do the show and tell over the internet for you.
0 chosen / 35 available
Est. delivery is May 14
Archaeological Buddy Thank you. You/ your organisation will be listed as a major sponsor. For an individual I will have a coffee and a chat with you in Perth about WA archaeology and post out a gift pack. For a Perth based group or organisation I can come out an do a show and tell for your members or local school. For regional organisations perhaps we can arrange the same when I am doing a project in your area.
0 chosen / 35 available
Est. delivery is May 14
School or Corporate Buddy Wow Thanks. You will be listed as a major sponsor on the project page of my web site. Your logo will also be added to a fun day box and you can nominate a region in which you would like a box to be lodged. I will do my best to secure a holding place in that region. I will also run a 2 hr fun day during 2014 at a school of your choice in Perth. For a regional school travel expenses will need to be met or perhaps we can arrange on-line interaction
1 chosen / 19 available
Est. delivery is May 14
Box Sponsor Wow: This will pay for an entire box with your name and logo on the box and incorporated on teaching materials within the box. Of course your name and logo will also be listed as a major sponsor on the project page and you can nominate a region where you would like the box to go and I will try hard to arrange a holding place. I will run a 2 hr fun day at a Perth school of your choice or regionally with travel expenses paid. Or the school and I can arrange some on-line interaction.
1 chosen / 14 available
Est. delivery is May 14