In Spring 2025, the Tarragindi Archaeological Dig team and 45 students started excavating an old farm in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The farm was first established in 1836 by one of Berrien County's earliest settler families. The dig uncovered a slew of items from the farm's almost 200-year history, including over 500 antique and vintage bottles and the estimated 1780 Maria Theresa Thaler coin (pictured)... and we are nowhere near done excavating this two-acre site. See the Tarragindi Archaeological Dig Facebook page for photos of our finds!
Our students had so much fun that we partnered with the Berrien County History Center and Berrien Township to add more fun programming and projects including our brand new Old Jailhouse Archaeology Dig in both Spring 2026 and Summer 2026. All programs are directed by archaeologist Dr Jan Sigvartsen PhD, who exceeds the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeology as stipulated in the Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61, lives in Berrien County, and is an active member and mentor in our community.
The goals of our programming and its parent not-for-profit, the Tarragindi Initiative, are to provide unique and remarkable childhood programs for young people - right here in Berrien County. We want them to be proud of being from Southwest Michigan by knowing this region's important indigenous and settler histories. We believe this bond with Berrien County and its past, coupled with these unique childhood experiences, will result in:
building friendships with other young people and teachers who want to see them thrive,
becoming more engaged and invested in their communities,
a desire to maintain and look after our region's homes, businesses, and public spaces, both historic and non-historic,
improved mental health, self-respect, and a desire to succeed,
and encourage economic growth in the future as these young people build businesses and raise families in this area.
Dig at the Tarragindi Archaeology dig and help excavate a part of farm that once belonged to one of Berrien County's earliest settler families. We have already found some amazing things, including the 1780 thaler coin, and over 750 intact bottles from 1900-1971! We complete our training in January, take a break during February and March, and then start digging in mid-April when the weather is warmer. This program is for ages 5-19.
Help find the lost 1830s Berrien County jailhouse behind Michigan's oldest courthouse! This is one of Berrien County's earliest municipal buildings. Help us discover how big it was, did the inmates leave anything behind in the ground, and... could it be escaped from? Learn to dig like a pro and uncover some secrets buried for up to 200 years! For ages 10-19. We do our training in January, take a break during February and March, and then start digging in mid-April when the weather is warmer.
Learn specialist skills in a real community restoration project of the historic Long Lake Cemetery in Berrien Springs - one of Berrien County's oldest cemeteries. Learn about Berrien County's fascinating earliest settlers, many of whom are buried in the Long Lake cemetery, and what life was like in the Long Lake community in the 1830s. Also, learn about symbology on old memorials and what it can tell us about the life of the person it honors. This is a half-semester program for 8 - 19-year-olds.
Build small empires in this board gaming class that teaches you critical thinking, analysis, and strategy using civilization-building board games from Germany and Europe. You will also learn how to be a good sport, master screen-free in-person social gaming, and develop strong friendships with your fellow gamers. This is a half-semester program held in the Old Courthouse in Berrien Springs for 10 - 19-year-olds.
Bring your acting skills and reenact some historic trials and learn about social justice in the 1800s. The History Center has generously allowed us to use the historic 1839 Courthouse in Berrien Springs for this class - Michigan's oldest surviving courthouse! This is a half-semester program for 10 - 19-year-olds.
Each week, we will visit a different historic site in Berrien Springs. We will learn how to take amazing photos, especially for historic posterity. Students can also submit their photos to a special youth photo archive to be kept at the History Center for future generations to enjoy. This is a half-semester program for 10 - 19-year-olds.
Our teachers, Dr Jan and Ms Leanne, have been thoroughly background-checked (including fingerprinting) by Berrien RESA as a condition of their association with the Berrien Springs and Niles parent partnership programs. They work together, so there is both a male and a female teacher with your children in all of their classes. All classes take place in appropriate professional spaces - none take place in their home. Parents are more than welcome to accompany their children to their classes, which are all group classes. Ms Leanne was also a sexual abuse counselor earlier in her career, and both she and Dr Jan remain very committed to ensuring your children are in a safe, abuse-free, and bullying-free environment where they can learn, have fun, and grow into thriving adults.
Jan Sigvartsen PhD, has taught Archaeology and Ancient Religion classes at Andrews University, Michigan, and the Theologische Hochschule Friedensau, Germany, where he was also their PhD Programs Coordinator and Associate Director of their Institute of Biblical Studies and Archaeology. He has participated in archaeological digs in the USA and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He has traveled extensively to historic sites globally and has lived in Israel, Norway, England, Germany, Australia, and the United States. Dr Sigvartsen exceeds the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation and Professional Qualifications Standards as stipulated in the Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61.
Leanne Sigvartsen originally trained as a psychologist in Australia and spent many years as a counselor and academic advisor for teens and young adults. She then transitioned to research project management, working on a number of projects, most recently as the Research and Special Projects Director at the Chicago-based Center for Collaborative Study of Trauma, Health Equity, and Neurobiology. She is a triple citizen of the United States, Australia, and Malta, and has lived in the United States, Australia, and Germany. She wants to see young people succeed, be happy, and grow into thriving adults - especially those who have experienced trauma and adverse childhood experiences.
Check out our new Resources Page and discover the history of Berrien County and Michigan.