Great Plains Dinosaur Museum announces 2017 classes

Junior Paleontology Field Experience and Lab

Children ages 5 thru 13 are given hands on opportunity to learn more about dinosaurs, fossils and paleontology from two Junior Paleontology Programs offered at the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum in Malta, Montana.

The Junior Paleo Lab Experience is a 60 minute program that teaches basic geology and how a fossil is formed. Participants work in the laboratory on real fossils, learning the care of fossils and how to conduct research and create a museum display. This program is generally offered on the afternoons after the Junior Paleo Field Experience, but just the Lab only experience (for two or more participants) can be scheduled most anytime.

The Junior Paleo Field Experience is a 3-hour program that teaches basic fossil discovery and excavation techniques at a special dinosaur site approximately 30 miles from Malta. Participants must have an accompanying adult and provide their own transportation to the site.

The Museum requires a minimum of 4 children registered for each Field Experience and is currently working to schedule dates for the 2017 season. Please contact us if you are interested or have any questions about either Junior Paleontology Program; if your travels will bring you to Malta, let us know and we can add your date to this list and find some dig companions!

Dinosaur Paleontology 101

This course consists of a 5 day long college-style course that covers the technical aspects of dinosaur paleontology. Participants will learn in-depth knowledge on each of the 5 clades of Dinosauria along with the history of dinosaur paleontology, dinosaur anatomy, as well as some of the other scientific tools of paleontology such as systematics and taphonomy. The course will be taught by the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum's Director of Paleontology, Cary Woodruff. Woodruff has taught similar and other professional technical courses previously as an adjunct instructor at Montana State University - Bozeman.

Dinosaur Paleontology 101 will be offered twice during the 2017 summer season. Space is limited to 10 participants per week. Week 1 is from June 12 - June 16 and Week 2 is July 17 - July 21. Space is still available for both courses.

Dinosaur Paleontology 101 consists of up close and personal learning that will have you working directly with paleontologists and handling real fossil material in order for you to better understand these ancient creatures. The goal of this course is to provide more technical information to those with a deep interest in dinosaur paleontology and those who want to incorporate it into their own teaching. Unfortunately we are not able to offer Dinosaur Paleontology 101 as transferable college credit or continuing education credit at this time but we encourage those interested to see if independent study or continuing credits are available at your educational institution. Letters of support or completion can and will be provided if necessary.

Montana Dino Dig – Adult Field Program

Join paleontologists from the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Two Medicine Dinosaur Center for an authentic scientific experience as they continue to discover and uncover dinosaurs and other fossils in north central Montana.

2017 participants will continue to excavate and jacket bones, and learn basic local geology, surveying techniques, how to collect and record scientific data from a site, and how to safely collect and transport fossils. This is a 100% real, scientific dinosaur dig, and all specimens collected are donated to the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum in Malta, Montana for research and exhibits, so that these fossils are preserved locally for everyone to enjoy!

2017 brings three exclusive opportunities for the adult dig program; June 19 thru 23rd, July 24 thru 28th or August 14 thru 18th. It is recommended that diggers start on the first day of each session for the introductory tour and training, and stay for however many days you choose. Program details are available on the museum website at http://www.greatplainsdinosaurs.org.

Participants must be age 11 or older and able to walk short distances and sit on the ground. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. A 50% discount is offered to nonparticipating adults who accompany a participating minor.

Program details are available on the museum website at http://www.greatplainsdinosaurs.org. For additional information or to register, contact Cary Woodruff, Director of Paleontology at the Great at [email protected] or (406) 654-5300.