The intent of this summer program is to engage high school age students from the local community in the documentation of Natchitoches history primarily in the African American neighborhoods of Jackson Square and the Hill. This will open them up to the importance of historic preservation and documenting history and to teach them valuable technology transfer skills. This two weeklong field school will be a partnership between the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT), Northwestern State University (NSU), Cane River National Heritage Area (CRNHA), and the Ben Johnson Foundation (BJF). 3D Digital Summer Field School.

This summer field school will take place the first weeks of June (June 2-6 and 9-13, 2025) after Natchitoches Parish schools close out the school year. Participants must be able to attend both weeks to be eligible.

The students will get paid for their involvement in the field school, each will receive $250 a week for the five days eight hours a day session. There will be ten paid spaces available for students. The small class size will enable the student to learn the skills needed to take the project from start to finish on their own. The intent is not to introduce them to this technology but to empower them with the holistic knowledge to complete the work.

The goal of the field school is to document four historic buildings a year. The buildings will be documented using a variety of methods. The tangible aspect of the structure will be documented first with the use of drones and photogrammetry. This will capture a 3D model of the building’s exterior and place it in GIS to map the location. The next method is to capture the building’s interior with photogrammetry using the Matterport platform. Finally, to capture the intangible history of the site; oral histories will be conducted on the structure’s history, use, and place in the community. The small goal of four buildings will allow the students to take the project from beginning to end on their own.

Applications for the 2025 3D Digital Summer Field School will open February 10, 2025, and close March 17, 2025, those applications will be posted on this page at that time. The interested students will need to fill out the essay application survey and have a letter of reference from a teacher (past or current). Positions in the Field School will be open to Natchitoches Parish residents; incoming freshman to out-going seniors. Preference will be given to students who have a connection to the Jackson Square, or the Hill neighborhoods.

If you have any questions about the program, feel free to contact: Jason Church, NCPTT/Chief of Technical Services at churchj@nsula.edu.

If you are interested in helping to sponsor the Field School, feel free to contact: Wanda Wynder, CRNHA/Administrative Assistant at admin@canerivernha.org.