CASSP is the California Archaeological Site Stewardship Program, where trained volunteers work with professional archaeologists to protect archaeological and historical resources by regularly visiting sites and recording changes. CASSP is a program of the Society for California Archaeology (SCA).
In order to become a CASSP volunteer, you must attend a two-day, training workshop (see how to join). Pre-registration must be made by e-mail, mail, or phone no later than the Monday before the workshop. The volunteer training workshop fee is $25 per person. Attendance usually is limited to 25.
(updated 5/18/2012) Volunteer Hours. Most of the funding for CASSP is provided by the OHMVR Division of California State Parks, through a grant administered by Region 5 of the US Forest Service. Most of the support for CASSP is provided by volunteers. Starting this year, we need to support the grant funding with more detail about volunteer hours. A volunteer's time will not count towards the grant match without information on the date, the volunteer's name, the site or area visited, and the hours spent. Please send this information to hours@cassp.org after each visit. Your e-mail message will be gratefully acknowledged.
(updated 5/18/2012) The following dates and locations of workshops have been confirmed:
June 2-3, advanced workshop on historic buildings and site records, at the Hume Lake Ranger District, Sequoia National Forest.
August 11 - 12, at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
September 15 - 16, at the Six Rivers National Forest.
(updated 5/18/2012) Announcements: Ongoing. Help locate emigrant trails near Truckee with the California-Nevada Chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association, http://www.canvocta.org. Passport in Time (PIT) is a volunteer archaeology and historic preservation program; the web site is http://www.passportintime.com.
(updated 4/4/2012) The Archaeological Institute of America web site presents an article about CASSP. Read it (and download the PDF) at http://www.archaeological.org/news/hca/7783.
(updated 4/4/2012) The annual report of CASSP activities in 2011 was presented on March 30 at the SCA meetings (see annual report).
A chert flake was encountered during the field trip portion of the April 2012 workshop at the Mendocino National Forest.
Participants of the March 2012 advanced workshop on site sketch mapping at the San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor's Office.
Field trip orientation at the BLM Palm Springs workship in December 2011.
Field trip for the December 2011 workshop at BLM Ridgecrest Field Office. Photo taken by Tim Waag.