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The Search Party Course

Stop feeling scattered in your genealogy.

You love family history.
But if you’re like most genealogists, your research sometimes feels overwhelming, disorganized, scattered, and way harder than it should be

You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re just missing something most people never learn:

a simple method to follow.
 

 
On-demand access: Start learning as soon as you like!
 
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The Search Party Method

Climbing your family tree shouldn't be hard.

The Search Party Method is a 5-step process that keeps you:

  • organized
  • focused
  • confident
  • and moving forward

It's a repeatable system you can use for any ancestor, in any location.

Fun learning with serious impact

You’ll never have such a good time creating such a serious transformation! You will become a more focused, confident researcher who can make more meaningful, accurate discoveries. And those discoveries can fuel your family’s sense of legacy and identity for generations to come.

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What you get inside the course ($97)

  • 17 on-demand videos
  • Interactive digital workbook
  • Hands-on homework + answer videos
  • Bonus material on using the method with DNA
  • Extra module on building your family tree
  • Learn at your own pace

This course is for you if...

  • you want a clear plan  for your genealogy research
  • you keep getting stuck and don't know why
  • you want to stop guessing and start making progress
  • you want a method that makes genealogy feel simpler (and more fun)

Let the search begin

What students are saying

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Cindy A.

"This methodology is so helpful to have a framework for finding information. I wasn't organized enough before and felt like I was spinning my wheels."

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Sandy M.

"The 'method' you designed is perfect. It's understandable, broken down into digestible pieces and a very logical progression."

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Vanessa

"The Search Party Method has been a breakthrough for my genealogical skills...Watching the process with the three of you has been a quantum leap forward...This has been revelatory and I'm making such progress. This is an incredible opportunity to learn from three such skilled experts."

 

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Donna H.

"Learning and relearning new and old skills is so inspirational. I love the teaching...! The energy that you all bring to the table is amazing."

 

Created by your Party Planners

Crista Cawn, Janet Hovorka, and Diahan Southard

Three trusted educators who believe genealogy should feel doable, not defeating.
 

About Crista:

Crista Cowan has been a professional genealogist since 2002 and employed by Ancestry since 2004. As the Corporate Genealogist at Ancestry, she teaches at genealogy conferences and events around the world. She has produced and starred in more than 400 episodes of “The Barefoot Genealogist” since 2012 that can be found on the Ancestry YouTube channel. Her research specialties are solving unknown parentage using AncestryDNA and Jewish Immigration to the United States. But, her biggest passion is educating beginners so they can make the same exciting discoveries in family history that she has.

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About Janet:

Janet Hovorka has a MLIS in Library Science and is a research junkie. She was co-founder of Family ChartMasters, an award-winning genealogy chart printing service that is the official printing service for every major genealogy company and has shipped over 40,000 charts to 67 countries. Janet is the author of ten Zap the Grandma Gap books and workbooks and has widely written and lectured about family history. She is past president of the Utah Genealogical Association and past board member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has taught genealogy research for beginners and professionals at Salt Lake Community College for the past 12 years.

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About Diahan:

and a world-renowned genetic genealogy educator

I teach people how to use DNA testing to learn about their families. I believe that discovering your family story is so empowering! Learning it makes you stronger, more rooted, more connected, more confident. You can do it–and I can help you, just as I’ve helped thousands of people around the world. 

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Frequently asked questions

Is this course right for me?

This course is for genealogists at all levels. It’s for anyone who needs a clear step-by-step process to follow so you stop falling down rabbit holes and start making discoveries.

Is this effective for international research?

Yes. The Search Party Method teaches a research process that works anywhere.

How is the course delivered?

On-demand videos + digital workbook. Learn at your own pace.

What technical requirements are there?

This course takes place online in our Circle community. To access it, we'll send you an email with more information about joining the Your DNA Guide Circle community.

You'll also need a reliable internet connection for streaming the video learning sessions and for additional learning on your own time. 

Ready to send out a Search Party?

If you're tired of feeling scattered and want a simple method you can use again and again...

Join the Search Party Course for $97

Let the search begin