It's 9:00 am, the sun is getting higher in the sky, and 30 kids are rarin' to go to the field and dig dinosaurs; often for the first time in their lives. They will take part in uncovering history and be the first people to ever see these 150 million year old bones.

The crew loads up into the vehicles and heads up the hill to our qaurry sites and to the front side of the ranch where rocks of the ancient Sundance Sea outcrop. 15 of the group will go to the qaurry first. They are gathered around and discuss the history of the site, the type of animal(s) in the quarry, and proper techniques for digging: "The three most important tools are your brain, your eyes and your breath; blowing freshly removed bits of rock is the most controlable tool you will have, and staying calm and thinking will prevent unessesary damage to the bone." For an hour and a half, these kids will enjoy dialog and digging. What a fantastic way to learn more about dinosaurs!

MEANWHILE, on the other side of the hill the other half of the group is starting their morning prospecting for belemnites and ammonites. On rare occasions someone will discover a vertebra or fingerbone of one of the several swimming marine reptiles (icthyosaurs and plesiosaurs) of the Jurassic. Keen eye's begin to survey the rocks in search of the treasures they get to keep (three belemnites, clams, and oysters). All vertebrate material discovered during the survey will be curated in the foundations collection for research and future education programs.