Please be advised that the application period for the March 2026 Externship Experience has now closed.
In-person experience with homestay, host-preferred dates: March 15–22, 2026.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Anchorage Field Office manages over 20 million acres of public lands in western Alaska, and I ensure we are complying with cultural resource and other environmental laws, and that we are managing the cultural and paleontological resources (archaeological sites, historic buildings, traditional cultural landscapes, fossil sites) in a sustainable way. The student will learn about work at the DOI/BLM, and all the resource management we do, and what the day to day work of a public sector archaeologist is. In addition, my husband is a private sector archaeologist, so the student would also get to see what that career in archaeology is like. Mostly, neither undergraduate nor graduate schools in the U.S. prepare students for the reality of careers in archaeology, so I hope students can gain a better understanding of what being an archaeologist actually entails. We will meet other resource specialists, archaeologists who work for other agencies and companies, and experience Anchorage.
You will meet a lot of my land management coworkers—other “ologists”—but also managers, lands and realty specialists, etc. There is one other local Grinnell alum archaeologist, and you will also meet a lot of archaeologists generally, including potentially curators, NGO archaeologists, private sector/cultural resource managers, and tribal representatives.
Returning host Jenny Blanchard (she/her) is a 2002 Grinnell Anthropology major. She holds a master’s in anthropology, specializing in historical archaeology. Jenny has worked as an archaeologist in Anchorage since 2011. She loves taking care of the cultural resources on our public lands, and making sure it is all done well and according to the process. Jenny loves her workplace because everyone cares very strongly about being good stewards of our public lands and is passionate about their resource. They work great together as a team. Jenny volunteers some in her free time: for political groups or local candidates, the library, the Friends of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, and for her kid’s school. In addition, she has held a volunteer position for three years on the Anchorage Historic Preservation Commission, a city advisory board. Jenny loves to read and that’s usually what she does in her free time. She runs a book club and loves talking about books! Jenny mostly reads mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and queer books of all genres.
What to expect: Student will have a mattress or air bed in the guest room in our house and share the bathroom with our child. I live with my husband Morgan, and we have a 11 year old son Roscoe (interests: Minecraft, Hollowknight, mythology, fantasy books, art), and one medium sized dog who would like all of your attention at all times, and belly rubs. Apologies that our son is also currently learning the trombone. We eat meat, gluten, dairy, etc in our house, but we can accommodate vegetarian and vegan externs. The meals and commute will be covered by the hosts. Students should budget around $100 for souvenirs and miscellaneous expenses.
Students may contact host ahead of applying via email.
Spring Break Externship
Application window: January 2–12, 2026, for March 2026
To apply for this externship, submit your application materials including the It’s a Match form, one-page résumé, and cover letter as specified in the resource: Externship Experience Information for Students.
We recommend you make an appointment to review your application materials with a CLS adviser before submitting. Questions? Email: externships@grinnell.edu.