Sessions | Tuition & Credits | Financial Assistance | Accommodations | Travel | Partners | How to Apply | Contact Us
The 2025 Pacific Northwest Preservation Field School will be held at Heyburn State Park, Idaho.
The Pacific Northwest Preservation Field School will be held at Heyburn State Park, Idaho. Situated within the narrow canyon of Plummer Creek, the park extends across 8,076 acres of land and water characterized by ponderosa, tamarack, and white pine forests; flower-filled meadows; and serene waters of Chatcolet, Benewah, and Hidden Lakes. Established in 1908, Heyburn State Park is the oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest and is within the ancestral lands of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.
This year’s program will focus on the Rocky Point Lodge (photographed above). The 1936 stone and log building was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps with the intention of harmonizing with the surrounding natural beauty. Potential projects include log work; window maintenance, repair, and reconstruction; stone cutting, dressing, and wall assembly; and the stabilization of a nearby abandoned pumphouse. Additional topics and workshops may include cultural landscapes, wood pathology, condition assessment, and documentation.
Field School is an inclusive learning opportunity open to all. You do not need to be a student, have preservation experience, or be affiliated with the University of Oregon to apply. Past participants include students (from the University of Oregon as well as outside universities, colleges, institutions, etc.), practicing professionals, facility personnel, and enthusiasts. All ages, skill levels, and backgrounds contribute to each session’s unique program.
If you would like to be notified when more information becomes available or when the application period opens email us at pnwfs@uoregon.edu.
Join us at Heyburn State Park for an exciting week of preservation training and education!
Sessions
Each session will have a unique curriculum and theme, to be finalized. Weekly schedules center around hands-on work and include a mid-week tour of local historical interests. Each evening, the Field School invites preservation professionals to present on a variety of topics. Participants, instructors, lecturers, staff, and guests all work, dine, and lodge together for the duration of each session.
Session 1
August 31- September 5
Session 2
September 7 – 12
Session 3
September 14 – 19
Session tuition includes lodging and meals. Campsites and a few shared rooms will be available for your stay. Limited camping equipment and bedding can be supplied upon request. All meals will be provided during the program.
Tuition and Credits
Tuition includes all training sessions, evening presentations, field trips, meals, and lodging. For an additional fee, Field School participants can earn two graduate or undergraduate-level credits from the University of Oregon Continuing and Professional Education for each repeatable one-week session. Grading is on a pass/no pass basis. AIA continuing education credits available upon request.
Sessions
- Tuition (no credits): $900
- Tuition and Two (2) Undergraduate Credits: $1,150
- Tuition and Two (2) Graduate Credits: $1,250
Financial Assistance
The John Platz Scholarship covers the tuition for one field school session and a $100 travel allowance. This scholarship is awarded to an individual pursuing professional training in historic preservation. It is open to all field school participants. To be considered for the award, applicants are asked to submit a brief essay accompanying their application and submit their application by July 31, 2024.
One of the co-founders of the Pacific Northwest Preservation Field School when it was started in 1995, John Platz had been the leader of the U.S. Forest Service preservation team at Mt. Hood with work that included log construction and Timberline Lodge. He brought his remarkable skill in wood construction and preservation of all historic materials to the Pacific Northwest Field Schools for the following 20 years. He was greatly admired by the students for his knowledge as well as his patient teaching of craft. He passed away in 2021. This award was established and is generously supported by Field School founding faculty member Don Peting.
Accommodations
Field School will provide housing, meals, and transportation. Campsites and a few shared rooms will be available. Limited camping equipment and bedding can be supplied upon request. Breakfast and dinner will be hosted at housing locations. Participants will be responsible for packing a bag lunch each day to bring to the site. Transportation will be provided between lodging and work locations.
Bring your bike! A portion of the Trail of Coeur d’Alenes lies within the park and offers 72 miles of paved trail. Heyburn is also a great place to bring kayaks, canoes, and other small water vessels to enjoy free time.
Please email pnwfs@uoregon.edu with questions.
Travel
Directions and travel details will be provided soon.
Partners
The Pacific Northwest Preservation Field School has been a partnership among multiple agencies for more than 25 years. Current partners include:
- University of Oregon
- National Park Service
- Idaho State Historical Society
- Idaho State Parks & Recreation
- Oregon Parks & Recreation Department
- Oregon State Historic Preservation Office
- Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation
- Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission (2024 Host Organization)
How to Apply
Curriculum and details are still being finalized for the 2025 Field School at Heyburn State Park. Please email pnwfs@uoregon.edu if you would like to be notified when additional information is available or when the application period opens.
Applications are now open. Follow the link below to our online application. Upon acceptance of your application, you will receive a link to register and submit payment. Priority will be given to applications received by May 31. The Field School is an inclusive learning opportunity open to all, whether you have previous preservation experience or not, whatever your age. You do not need to be a student or affiliated with the University of Oregon.
Contact Us
Email us with any questions or concerns: pnwfs@uoregon.edu
This program receives federal funds for the identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Chief, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, MS-2740, Washington, D.C. 20240.
This publication has been funded in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior.