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Digging for Dinosaurs: The Jurassic Experience

Program Number: 15388RJ
Start and End Dates:
6/9/2013 - 6/14/2013; 6/23/2013 - 6/28/2013; 8/4/2013 - 8/9/2013; 8/18/2013 - 8/23/2013;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Thermopolis, Wyoming
Price starting at: $735.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Service Learning Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 15; 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners    

In the Late Jurassic Period, dinosaurs fed on the lush flora that covered Wyoming. Discover the remains of that ancient ecosystem in the Jurassic Age rocks of Warm Springs Ranch. Learn the story of the quarries and the importance of excavation. From the simple to the complex, paleontologists give hands-on instruction in the tools of their trade. Cull bone from stone and identify specimens. During excavation, a constant dialogue with your instructors keeps the quarry buzzing with learning and discovery.




Highlights

• Get firsthand experience at removing surrounding rock from an assigned dinosaur bone and learn how to repair, reassemble and seal bones for preservation.
• Join a WDC staff member for an exploration of the center and its dig sites.
• Embark on an expert-led journey through Wind River Canyon and Hot Springs and learn about the region’s fascinating geology.
• Earn a Basic Field Techniques Certification, a status offering evidence of field competence for museum work.



Activity Particulars

Short walks, 1-2 miles, over flat terrain on field trip. Elevations of 4,300 feet.



Participants will receive the Basic Field Techniques Certificate, enabling them to volunteer for the foundation any time, and offer evidence of field competence at other museums.




Date Specific Information

6-9-2013, 6-23-2013, 8-4-2013, 8-18-2013

Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



Coordinated by Big Horn Basin Foundation.




Thermopolis

Sitting at the foothills of the Owl Creek Mountains and the mouth of Wind River Canyon in north-central Wyoming, Thermopolis is known for the soothing waters of the world’s largest mineral hot springs. It is surrounded by the Jurassic Morrison Formation — the West’s most famous dinosaur bearing stratum — with rocks 2.8 billion years old.
Accommodations
Comfortable motel with indoor pool and outdoor hot spring pool.
Meals and Lodgings
   Days Inn
  Thermopolis, WY 5 nights
 Days Inn
Type: Hotel
  Description: Located in Hot Springs State Park, home of the "world's largest hot mineral spring".
  Contact info: 115 E Park Street
Thermopolis, WY 82443 USA
phone: 307-864-3131
  Room amenities: Cable/Satellite TV, coffee maker, free morning paper, hairdryer, high-speed internet access, air conditioning, iron/board.
  Facility amenities: Outdoor hot mineral jacuzzi, seasonal fresh water pool, massages, mineral steam room and soaking tubs, racquetball court, 2 exercise rooms, on-site restaurant and lounge, gift shop, laundry room.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: Contact hotel Contact hotel for details.
  Check in time: 3:00 PM
  Additional nights after: Contact hotel Contact hotel for details.
  Check out time: 12:00 PM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Check in at 3 PM. You will be staying at Days Inn that night.
  End of Program:
Program ends at Noon. You will be staying at Days Inn the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. Waiver-Release Form, a Image Release Form, and a Travel Arrival Arrangements Form. Upon arrival you are also required to fill out a Wyoming Department of Health Form.
  Parking availability:
Free parking at the hotel as well as at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center if needed.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Thermopolis, WY
  Nearest city or town:  Billings, MT
  Nearest highway: Hwy 120
  Nearest airport:  Worland Municipal Airport
  From End of Program
  Location: Thermopolis, WY
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Worland

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
WDC
phone: 307-864-2997
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$15.00
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

.5 hours 
 

Distance:

 

about 30 miles
   

A form will be sent out to you a month before the program that asks you how you plan on arriving in Thermopolis. If you are in need of transportation to and from the airport then you make note of that on the form and someone from the Wyoming Dinosaur Center will be there to pick you up. The number listed above is the number for the Wyoming Dinosaur Center.
 

Cody

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
WDC
phone: 307-864-2997
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$30
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

1.5-2 hours 
 

Distance:

 

74 miles
 
Driving Directions
  East From RAPID CITY to Gillette to Buffalo to Worland to Thermopolis. From GILLETTE to Buffalo to Worland to Thermopolis.
  North From BILLINGS to Laurel then Bridger to Lovely to Greybull to Worland to Thermopolis. From CODY to Thermopolis. From BUFFALO to Worland to Thermopolis. From RAPID CITY to Gillette to Buffalo to Thermopolis.
  South From Cheyenne to Casper to Shoshoni to Thermopolis. From Casper to Shoshoni to Thermopolis. From Salt Lake to Rock Springs to Lander to Riverton to Shoshoni to Thermopolis. From Laramie to Rawlins to Riverton to Shoshoni to Thermopolis.
  West From YELLOWSTONE to Cody to Thermopolis. From JACKSON to Dubois to Riverton to Shoshoni to Thermopolis.
Elevation Note: 4,500 feet

Equipment Requirements: Water Bottle, Sunscreen, Brimmed Hat, and Closed Toed Shoes. Clothes that you are willing to get dirty in.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Orientation
(Sunday, August 4)

Note: At 6:30 pm, we will meet for dinner and orientation. Our paleontologist on staff will give a presentation about local geology and we will all get a chance to meet one another.
   
 Afternoon: 1:30-6:00pm Check into hotel
 Dinner: Dinner from 6:30-7:00 at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center.
 Evening: Orientation from 7:00 to ? At this time we will hand out information about the week including the schedule.
   
Accommodations: Days Inn
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Tour Wyoming Dinosaur Center Museum and Dig sites. In the afternoon digging in one of our dinosaur quarries.
(Monday, August 5)

Note: In the morning, the director will lead a tour of the Museum and our dig sites. Pictures and questions are highly encouraged. After lunch, We'll go up to the quarry for the first time! Please remember to bring sunscreen/a hat, a water bottle (we provide Ice water), and close toed shoes.
   
 Breakfast: ?-8:15am Breakfast at hotel
 Morning: 8:30-11:45 Tour of the Wyoming Dinosaur Center and Dig Sites. We will have a coffee break in the middle of the tour to digest new information
 Lunch: 12:00-1:00pm Lunch at Senior Center
 Afternoon: 1:15-4:15pm Digging in dinosaur quarries.
 Dinner: 6:30-?pm Dinner at Las Fuentes.
 Evening: Free time.
   
Accommodations: Days Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Working in one of our dinosaur bone quarries. A presentation from one of our Paleontologists.
(Tuesday, August 6)

Note: We are scheduled to dig in both the morning and afternoon. Both Tuesday and Thursday have us digging all day. If enough people would like, we can use either of those days to collect marine fossils or petrified wood! Please remember to bring sunscreen/a hat, a water bottle (we provide Ice water), and close toed shoes.
   
 Breakfast: ?-8:15am Breakfast at hotel
 Morning: 8:45-11:45am Digging in dinosaur quarries.
 Lunch: 12:00-1:00pm Lunch at Senior Center
 Afternoon: 1:15-4:15pm Digging in dinosaur quarries.
 Dinner: Dinner included.
 Evening: 6:30-?pm Pizza night at the museum followed by a presentation/discussion.
   
Accommodations: Days Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Wind River Canyon and Thermopolis Hot Springs Tour and digging in the field.
(Wednesday, August 7)

Note: The Wind River Canyon is a beautiful cut into a sequence of rocks all the way from the Proterozoic (more than 542 Million years ago) to the Triassic (220 Million years ago). The tilt of the beds collects rainwater which becomes the hot springs.
   
 Breakfast: ?-8:15am Breakfast at hotel
 Morning: 8:45-11:45am Digging in dinosaur quarries.
 Lunch: 12:00-1:00pm Lunch at Senior Center
 Afternoon: 1:15-4:30pm Tour of the Wind River Canyon and Hot Springs geology.
 Dinner: 6:30-?pm Dinner at the Safari Club
 Evening: Free time.
   
Accommodations: Days Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Digging in the Dinosaur Quarries with optional fossil collecting field trips
(Thursday, August 8)

Note: If it is going to be very hot in the afternoon, we may work in the preparation lab where our bones are cleaned for display and research.
   
 Breakfast: ?-8:15am Breakfast at hotel
 Morning: 8:45-11:45am Digging in dinosaur quarries.
 Lunch: 12:00-1:00pm Lunch at Senior Center
 Afternoon: 1:15-4:15pm Digging in dinosaur quarries.
 Dinner: 6:30pm-8:00pm Dinner at The Front Porch
   
Accommodations: Days Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Certification Test and Wrap Up
(Friday, August 9)

Note: In the morning, we will conduct a field test as a group. If the group agrees, we can start this day later than 8:15 since it will only take us about an hour for everyone to do the test.
   
 Breakfast: ?-8:15am Breakfast at hotel
 Morning: Field Certification test. Tour of Molding and Casting and Welding. Finished by 10:30am
 Lunch: 12:00-1:00 An optional lunch will be provided by the Senior Center
   
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Thermopolis, WY Thermopolis Chamber of Commerce
Located at 119 South 6th Street. Phone: 307-864-3192. For additional information, visit www.thermopolis.com
  Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center
Founded to preserve the history of the region's settlers, the Museum has gathered a large collection of artifacts used in everyday life in Wyoming, with the majority of items dating from the 1880s through the 1930s. Highlights of the collection include the cherrywood bar from the Hole-in-the-Wall Saloon, a sightseeing stagecoach of the type used in Yellowstone park until 1914, a one-room schoolhouse moved to the Museum grounds from a location in the county, an extensive collection of Native American artifacts, a log cabin from the ghost town of Andersonville, and an elk hide painting created by Chief Washakie of the Shoshoni in January 1900. There is also a collection of approximately 8,000 historic photographs of Thermopolis and Hot Springs County. For additional information, visit www.trib.com
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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