Martha reflects on 15 years of volunteering with YAC
August 2026
In our latest blog we hear from Martha who leads the Peak District YAC branch, based at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery. After 15 years of volunteering with YAC, Martha reflects on her experiences and shares her highlights from being involved with the club, from historic graffiti to reconstructed coprolites!
What activity lets you climb hills, cook strange historical recipes, explore ancient crafts and uncover stories from the past? Where do young people grow from curious eight-year-olds into adventurous teenagers? Young Archaeologists’ Club, of course!
I became involved with Peak District YAC over 15 years ago when I was feeling that I wanted more archaeology in my life. I had studied archaeology at university and was working at Buxton Museum but the very varied duties I had meant I didn’t get much of a chance to indulge in archaeology.
The club at the time was based at the National Trust’s Ilam Park, near Ashbourne. We now often meet in Matlock but also visit different venues around the Peak District depending on what activity we are doing. Being a Branch Assistant and then, since 2022, the Branch Leader has given me so many interesting and unexpected experiences. Let me tell you about some of my favourite moments.
Peak District YAC often makes visits to the many historical sites in Derbyshire and the surrounding areas. Ecton Copper Mine in Staffordshire and Temple Mine in Matlock Bath were fascinating. I was slightly nervous at how a child attending their first session would react when the tour guide at Temple Mine turned out the lights and left us in pitch black! I have enjoyed reliving the lives of mill workers in Cromford Mill and exploring the caves at Creswell Crags. I pick up so much knowledge just by being there. But my favourite trip of all was to Lyme Park where I pretended to be a Georgian lady!
Another memorable visit was to St Peter’s Church in Alstonefield, near Ashbourne, just before the Covid lockdown began in March 2020, where we explored historical graffiti at a seemingly ordinary parish church. And now I spot symbols and markings wherever I go!
Perhaps the most traumatising session was when we explored diet in the past by examining fake coprolites (i.e. fossilised poo). My nose knew the brown substance was just dough with food colouring but my eyes kept tricking me. I promise you no faeces were involved in the photos below!
One of the aspects of YAC that I love is seeing the members grow up from small children, often quiet and nervous, to teenagers with their own opinions and making plans for adult life. Some leave around 13 or 14 as other interests take over, some stay all the way until their 17th birthday. There is also a Young Leaders’ scheme to bridge the gap between YAC membership and becoming an adult volunteer, for those who can’t bear to let YAC go.
The range of ages might seem like a challenge – how do you plan activities that work for both an eight-year-old and a fifteen-year-old? Well, that is again one of the lovely parts of the club – the way the older members help the younger ones, and the new children learn from the established group. Friendships form across year groups and geography, united by an interest in the past, and a desire to spend Saturday mornings, once a month, doing something fun.
And for the leaders, as this isn’t school and there are no badges to earn, we have free rein to do whatever activities we like, funds and risk assessments permitting. Every session is planned but there are no required learning outcomes. Children who find reading or writing or group work hard don’t have to do that if they don’t want to. Young people who know lots about the topic and want to go beyond the basic activity I have planned can do that.
Each December, we have a Christmas parties with optional historical fancy dress, often home made. Last Christmas, Henry VIII, three of his wives, his son, an executioner and a Tudor banquet table made an appearance.
As my work and family life get busier, I sometimes think about giving up my YAC volunteering, but the problem is, I love it too much. I get to explore an aspect of history or archaeology, share my joy of it with others and spend time with an amazing bunch of young people who make me laugh every session. I have learned so much from them over the years too.