Since 2001 the historic preservation program at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) has offered a summer graduate course on Field Methods in Preservation Technology.

This year ten graduates and advanced undergraduates took the course between May 19 and June 6. Jo Leimenstoll, of UNCG's Interior Architecture Department, directed our class, with help from John Larson, Vice-President of Restoration at Old Salem, Mitch Wilds, restoration branch supervisor at the SHPO, and Dean Ruedrich, PNC Regional Director. Two weeks at Old Salem and one week at Körner's Folly gave us students a chance to learn about wood, masonry, plaster, metals, finishes and building chronologies.

The most beneficial aspect of field school was the time we spent practicing techniques learned in the classroom. Most mornings were filled with classroom lectures, but the afternoons gave us opportunity to test our skills with hands-on activities—from dating hardware to plastering to hewing logs.

The majority of my fellow students and I found the week we worked with Dean Ruedrich on the continued restoration of the two-room brick privy at Körner's Folly to be the most enjoyable and satisfactory. My personal favorites from the week were repointing brick and reglazing windows.

Every previous field school has spent time working on the privy's restoration, taking ownership in their participation. This year's class was no different. As Katie Nash, graduate preservation student commented, "The privy gave us a particular project in which to apply our new knowledge and skills. Everyone's hard work and care can be easily seen throughout the privy's restoration process."

In response to her experience at field school, graduate preservation student Joy Williams said, "My favorite part about field school was gaining hands-on experience with different historic building materials and technologies. By actually trying out some dated technologies, it became much easier to spot the evidence of these different trends in individual buildings. The hands-on learning experience allowed us to get up close and personal with unfamiliar elements and to explore the unique qualities that make them so significant. I feel that this was a very valuable asset to my education as a student in historic preservation."

In addition to our daily hands-on exercises and classroom lectures, we were assigned specific historic buildings in Old Salem to investigate through group case study projects. The three structures were the Blum House, the Sussdorff House and the Salt-Lick House. We prepared digital presentations that consisted of a detailed architectural description of the property and site, a chronology of the building alterations over time, a thorough assessment of the current building conditions, and prioritized recommendations for short- and long-term treatment of the building.

This being the seventh UNCG field school, it seemed like a good excuse to have a reunion. So on Friday, May 30, around fifty people, including students from every class and some from out-of-state, descended on Körner's Folly, lured by barbecue, beer and a chance to catch up with old friends. The relaxing afternoon gave former students the opportunity to reminisce and observe the progress made on the privy, while current students met and conversed with those working in the field. The gathering was also a great opportunity for networking among alumni and students alike.

UNCG's preservation field school is an excellent opportunity for students interested in gaining introductory hands-on architectural conservation experience. It is a favorite among many in our graduate school and often draws prospective students to UNCG's historic preservation program.

Kate Zylstra is a second-year graduate student at UNCG's Department of Interior Architecture. She is also a graduate assistant working with Preservation NC.