Join the Young Historian Camp for an immersive exploration of history!
July 28–31, 2025
Engage in archaeological digs, view exclusive artifacts, and learn from top history professors. This camp nurtures critical thinking and respect for diverse perspectives, making learning history a lively and exciting experience.
Come for the adventure and leave with a newfound love for the past!
Four Main Goals of the Camp
Spark Inquisitive Minds: Campers will explore their questions about history, inspired by professors and guided by advanced undergraduate students. Using primary source evidence to investigate historical questions, campers will develop a love for exploration, learning, curiosity, and leadership.
Master Evidence-Based Research: Campers will develop strategies to evaluate primary sources, historical evidence, and artifacts. They will transfer these strategies to online reading and responsible social media use, preparing them for informed civic engagement.
Embrace Diverse Perspectives: Campers will embrace the historian’s strategy of perspective seeking, a skill vital in building accurate and defensible historical understandings. They will enrich their knowledge of history on a wide array of topics of their choosing.
Connect History to Today: Campers will learn how past events influence contemporary society, including their personal and family history. By connecting historical occurrences with current issues, they will recognize the importance of history in their daily lives and feel empowered to make informed contributions to the future.
Combined “Fun” Activity Descriptions with Camp Goals
Hands-On Excavation Experience:
Campers will dig alongside professional archaeologists as they participate in real excavation projects at a pre-Columbian Fremont site. This hands-on experience allows them to discover artifacts and develop research skills, bringing history to life as they gain a deeper appreciation of our past.
Exclusive Artifact and Memorabilia Viewings:
Participants will enjoy special, private tours showcasing artifacts and primary sources from various historical eras. Additionally, they will view an array of popular culture memorabilia—from movies to TV shows—that combines historical narratives with contemporary storytelling, making learning enjoyable and relevant.
Networking with Leading Historians:
Campers will interact directly with respected history professors and advanced undergraduate students from BYU’s History Department. This mentorship will allow them to gain valuable insights into academic research, explore potential career paths, and establish lasting connections within the field.
Encouragement of Research and Open Inquiry:
In a supportive and structured environment, campers will ask questions, assess historical evidence, explore diverse perspectives, and construct interpretations of historical events. They will develop a deep understanding of history and establish values that align with the mission of BYU and the BYU History Department.
Benefits
Educational Adventure: This camp provides opportunities for firsthand excavation at a pre-Columbian Fremont homesite, making learning informative, exhilarating, and memorable.
Inspiring Mentorship: Participants benefit from the expertise of experienced mentors and scholars, providing crucial academic support and inspiration throughout the camp.
Safe & Supportive Environment: With a commitment to impartial exploration and inclusive activities, the camp fosters a secure environment where campers can freely ask questions, explore answers, and develop their interests.
Lifetime Connections: Campers will build networks with peers, mentors, and scholars that will shape their future academic and career paths.
Adventure: This unique camp experience is not only an educational retreat but an adventure that builds confidence, fosters curiosity, and creates memories of bridging the gap between history and the modern world.
Daily Schedule
| 8:00–9:00 a.m. | Check-In |
| 9:00–9:30 a.m. | Meet Your Team and Counselor |
| 9:45–10:15 a.m. | Orientation |
| 10:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | Campus Scavenger Hunt |
| 12:20–1:10 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:10–2:00 p.m. | Think Like a Historian Activity |
| 2:10–3:10 p.m. | Lecture |
| 3:20–3:50 p.m. | Group Activity |
| 4:00–4:50 p.m. | Guest Speaker |
| 8:05–8:55 a.m. | Morning Meeting |
| 9:00–10:00 a.m. | Lecture |
| 10:15–11:00 a.m. | Visit Special Collections |
| 11:00 a.m.–noon | Lunch |
| Noon–12:30 p.m. | Team Building Activity |
| 12:45–1:45 p.m. | Lecture |
| 2:00–3:30 p.m. | Museum of Peoples and Culture |
| 3:30–4:00 p.m. | Walk Back to Campus |
| 4:05–4:40 p.m. | Group Research Time |
| 4:40–4:55 p.m. | Camp Meeting |
| 8:05–8:55 a.m. | Morning Meeting |
| 9:00 a.m.–noon | Field Trip to Archeological Dig |
| Noon–1:00 p.m. | Lunch at Dig Site |
| 1:00–3:00 p.m. | Camp Activity |
| 3:10–4:00 p.m. | Group Research Time |
| 4:00–4:30 p.m. | Do History! Lecture |
| 4:40–4:55 p.m. | History Game Time |
| 8:05–8:55 a.m. | Morning Meeting |
| 9:00–9:45 a.m. | Special Collections Visit |
| 10:00–10:45 a.m. | Group Research Time |
| 11:00 a.m.–noon | Camp Activity |
| Noon–1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00–2:00 p.m. | Trip to a Family History Research Lab |
| 2:10–3:10 p.m. | Lecture |
| 3:15–3:45 p.m. | Group Research Time |
| 3:50–4:30 p.m. | Research Presentations |
| 4:30–5:00 p.m. | Closing Reception |