The Excavation Experience...
The SECAR. idea was initially conceived to provide people interested in archaeology with an opportunity to participate in a real archaeological excavation. Excavation Experience Team members are not required to have been on a dig previously. In fact, the program is geared toward those who have had no archaeological experience. However, this does not mean that people with a few archaeological excavations under their belt are not welcome. A diverse field crew only enhances the learning process. Those joining an Excavation Experience team will discover archaeology through a combination of lectures and hands-on learning.
Food
Volunteers pay for their food separately from tuition and accommodation. At the SECAR building there are kitchen facilites
Certain meals will be available at a number of restaurants in Oranjestad at a set price that has been agreed for the archaeology volunteers a few nights per week.
Evidence suggests that eating and drinking together promotes team bonding therefore we suggest purchasing food communally and eating out together.
What to bring...
As it is hot and sometimes humid on Statia it is wise to bring trousers and a couple of long-sleaved shirts for excavating as you will be out in the sun for a while. Also bring a hat, good shoes for digging in, sunscreen, a backpack, insect repellent, and any medications.
You do not need any injections to visit Statia, but you should have an up-to-date TETANUS injection for excavation (proof of this should be emailed to us prior to arrival). You can also bring your own trowel, although we do have spares.
Living on St. Eustatius is like visiting the Caribbean in the 1960's, it is calm and quiet. Therefore there is no big nightlife. However, there are a number of restaurants providing local cuisine, as well as Chinese, American and European food. There are also a few bars where you can relax to the sound of local Caribbean music, play pool, dance and drink rum that costs less than water! (seriously)
SECAR Costs are as follows:
Week # |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
Tuition |
$350 |
$300 |
$200 |
$150 |
$125 |
$125 |
$100 |
$100 |
Housing |
$140 |
$120 |
$105 |
$70 |
$70 |
$70 |
$70 |
$70 |
Week total |
$490 |
$420 |
$305 |
$220 |
$195 |
$195 |
$170 |
$170 |
Long-stay total |
$490 |
$910.00 |
$1215.00 |
$1435.00 |
$1630.00 |
$1825.00 |
$1995.00 |
$2165.00 |
Tuition includes: Staff salaries, Equipment Costs and Maintenance, Building Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, and Insurance (for SECAR). Housing includes: Dorm style accomodation w/weekly maid, fully-equipt kitchen. Food usually costs about $50/week. Long-stay total is the total if one stays for a given number of weeks.
Excavation Experience...
The SECAR idea was initially conceived to provide people interested in archaeology with an opportunity to participate in a real archaeological excavation. Excavation Experience team members are not required to have been on a dig previously. In fact, the program is geared toward those who have had no archaeological experience.
However, this does not mean that people with a few archaeological excavations under their belt are not welcome. A diverse field crew only enhances the learning process.
Housing Options
Budget accommodation is provided at the SECAR headquarters building, which is located in Oranjestad. Each room has a maximum of four people sharing one bathroom.Alternatively there are a number of hotels on the island that might be more luxurious, these can be found at www.statiatourism.com
The SECAR Headquarters is surrounded by a wide variety of tropical fruit trees including papaya, mango, sweet-sop, sour-sop, coconuts, and guavas.