BERT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

This special two-day course has been created to allow our younger archaeologists to get a feel for the SHARP experience, in a safe and supervised environment. Working with skilled leaders from the Young Archaeologist Club, we have developed a structured 'mini version' of our Basic Excavation and Recording Techniques (BERT) course, which will take 8-16 year olds though the process of digging and recording a site, on real archaeology, with real tools, on a real excavation!

 

The course takes place on Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th July 2026 (you must book both days) and will be for just 12 participants this season, so please book early to avoid disappointment. We also suggest that families attend the SHARP Archaeology Festival on Sunday 26th July if they can.

 

Each young participant will receive their own trowel, a mini site kit including a handbook, and a certificate of participation suitable for Records of Achievement and future school and college applications.

 

The age range of this course is the same as for YAC; 8-16 years, however we do recommend that you think about your child's maturity, level of interest in archaeology, and experience of taking part in structured group activities. Our team are highly experienced and will provide appropriate pastoral support, but the full two days will be quite an intense experience working with new people in a strange environment! If you have any concerns, please do contact us for a chat first.

 

The two days will run from 9.30am-4.00pm, and you will need to drop off and collect from site promptly at those times. During the day snacks and lunches will be provided, but your child will need a water bottle for drinks. There is an option for you to provide your own packed lunches if your child has dietary requirements - although the catering at SHARP is excellent! A full kit list of everything to bring will be sent to you on confirmation of your booking.

 

NB: This is NOT a residential course. SHARP's camping facilities are not suitable for unaccompanied minors. Your child will only be able to sleep on site if you are also booked on a course or as a volunteer that week.

 

We recommend that if you are not locally based, you look into holiday accommodation nearby as a family, Sedgeford is in a popular tourist area, and if the rest of the family are not digging you will find plenty of things to see and do locally. We also recommend that you consider attending the Festival of Archaeology together on the Sunday before the course, so that everyone is familiar with the site and has met the team.

Monday 27th July - Tuesday 28th July 2026 (inclusive).

2 days.

Course rate for 2 days of learning & excavation with lunch and use of site facilities included - £100

For more information including what will be covered, a timetable, and an equipment list, an information pack will be provided on booking. Or can be downloaded from the bottom of our Season Bookings page.

At SHARP we have always tried to cater for as many dietary needs as possible. However the limitations of cooking in a container cabin in a field, and the increasing numbers and types of allergies, means that while we do try, we can't always cater for all needs. Particularly for those people with severe and/or life-threatening allergies.

 

We currently cater for Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free and Dairy Free diets for those having lunch with us or camping on site.

 

For allergies other than these please contact SHARP in advance of making your booking to find out whether we can cater for your situation.

We are happy to support students with SEND to the level our training and experience allows. When you book, you will be asked to provide information on your child's specific needs, including any medical issues, medications, disabilities, learning needs or individual support they may require. We will try to accommodate as many people as we are able, but the nature of the site means that we might struggle with some physical disabilities, or with more complex needs requiring 1:1 support.

 

If you think this may be an issue for your child please do get in touch as soon as possible via our bookings email, so that we can see what accommodations might be possible and complete a Personal Support Plan.

 

There will be a parents Zoom call a couple of weeks before the course takes place so that you can meet the team.

All the leaders on this course have long term experience with the Young Archaeologists Club, run by the Council for British Archaeology - and as such are DBS checked at the higher level for the child workforce, and trained in child protection awareness. We all have experience of supporting young people with SEND, and there will be a first aider with the group at all times.

 

There will be a parents Zoom call a couple of weeks before the course takes place so that you can meet the team.

 

Sophie Cabot

I am an archaeologist, and a teacher of archaeology, and I currently work for Norfolk Museum Service. I have been Leader of Norwich YAC for over 20 years, and involved in SHARP since the very beginning. I'm also a Woodcraft Folk Leader, so I have organised many camps and residentials for children. In the early 2000's I led a series of residential archaeology holidays for YAC which included visits to SHARP, and I have developed this course based on that experience.

 

Joe Ogden

I am an archaeologist specialising in digital recording. I’ve been working at SHARP for the past 8 years, and currently work as a Research Assistant at the University of Bradford. I also volunteer at my local YAC branch in North Yorkshire, where I help especially with all things technology! I also have a lot of recent experience working with SEND children though work and YAC.

 

Charlie Mijatovic

I am a Raising Achievement Mentor for science. I completed my SHARP BERT in 2011 and hold a degree in biological sciences from the University of East Anglia where I completed a module in science communication. I have worked with children in a variety of roles, though my current position focusses on SEND and EAL students in a secondary school setting.