Georgetown Jr.-Sr. High School Seventh Graders visited two study sites, hosted by the Learn and Serve Achievers on November 4. The seventh graders visited Caesar’s Creek Reservoir and then traveled to Fort Ancient. These study sites are within 15 minutes of one another, with Fort Ancient just south of the reservoir dam on Caesar Creek.

At the Caesar Creek’s Reservoir, The seventh graders had the opportunity to view the dam and better understand the structure of the reservoir. Following the lunch break, everyone went fossil hunting. The Learn and Serve Achievers assisted them with the search for trilobites and other fossils. Caesar Creek's is one of the few areas in the Midwest where visitors are permitted to collect the unique fossils formed during the Ordovician age. The trilobite is the official fossil of the State of Ohio. COL(Ret) Willis presented a mini-lesson on fossils found in the local area, including a fossil identification handout for the students’ search at the Caesar Creek spillway.

The seventh graders then traveled the ten minute ride to Fort Ancient. Katie Rippl, the Educational Specialist at Fort Ancient, presented the program highlighting the prehistoric Native American cultures. Fort Ancient features 18,000 feet of earthen walls built 2,000 years ago by Native American who used the shoulder blades of deer, split elk antler, clam shell hoes and digging sticks to dig the dirt. They then carried the soil in baskets holding 35 to 40 pounds. Portions of these walls were used in conjunction with the sun and moon to provide a calendar system for these peoples. Next, the students rotated through two learning stations and conducted “hands-on activities with the assistance of the Learn and Serve “Achievers.” The seventh graders ended with a visit of the museum. It is relatively new, opened in 1998, and contains 9000 sq. ft. of new exhibits. These new exhibits, containing many interactive units, focus on 15,000 years of Native American history in the Ohio Valley. The Museum also contains a classroom, a research area, and a sales shop with many fine Native American items. The Learn and Serve class provided the Fort Ancient booklets for Mr. Caldwell’s history class. Mr. Caldwell had incorporated this field trip into his classes on early American history.