what are some opportunities for participation in archaeologist events/programs?

This is a great question! There are lots of ways to get your feet wet.

First, a lot of local archaeological groups and organizations have meetings where their members present on projects they have been working on. You can usually find the dates, times, and venues on their websites, through local collages, and even library bulletin boards. Going to these meetings will help you learn about local archaeology, and meet new people with similar interests.

Next, take some classes! Colleges offer classes in anthropology, archaeology, and they cover a wide arrange of subjects and issues. If you can't take the class, you can always look up what the class is reading if you are interested in the subject. Professors are usually pretty good resources as well for advice as well. You can email them or meet with them during posted office hours.

If you still want experience, you can go on a field school. You will get college credits for these, get to travel, and get hands on experience in archaeology. One school I have gone to for several seasons if Castles in Communities in Ireland. You can find field schools through colleges, or shovelbums.org.

Lastly, you can apply to do CRM (cultural resource management) as a field tech. Usually these are jobs can be entry level, and you can gain experience and contacts as well.

Hope this helps!