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Dinosaur Bone Preservation: From the Jurassic to the Lab

Program Number: 6276RJ
Start and End Dates:
9/15/2013 - 9/20/2013; 10/13/2013 - 10/18/2013;
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: 14; 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 5 Dinners    

Delve into Wyoming's compelling geologic history — dinosaurs did roam this corner of the earth! Nearly 150 million years ago, dinosaurs such as Diplodocus, Camarasaurus, and Allosaurus roamed and thrived on the land that is now modern-day Wyoming. Investigate the lives of these fascinating Jurassic creatures as you help paleontologists from the Wyoming Dinosaur Center (WDC) prepare dinosaur bones for preservation and display. Gain hands-on experience in the molding and casting process to create bone replicas, and get in-depth insight into the museum’s dinosaur exhibits and collections. Learn about Wind River Canyon and the World’s Largest Mineral Hot Springs, and explore the dig sites under excavation by the WDC.




Highlights

• Earn a Basic Lab Preparation Techniques Certification, a status offering evidence of field competence for museum work.
• Under the instruction of paleontologists, prepare bones in the lab and learn molding and casting techniques used to make replicas of the specimens.
• Weather permitting, search for fossils in a Jurassic sea bed or view Native American petroglyphs.



Activity Particulars

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



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



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 6 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 3:00 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:
Parking is available at the motel 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
 

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
 

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.
 
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: Elevations of 4300 feet.
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:
(Sunday, October 13)
   
 Afternoon: Check into Hotel
 Dinner: Participants will be picked up by 6:15 pm from the front of the Hotel. 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 of the Wyoming Dinosaur Center Museum and Introduction to the Preparation Lab. Weather permitting, a tour of the Hill Sites.
(Monday, October 14)

Note: The Museum Tour is about an hour to an hour and a half of walking through the museum. The Introduction of the Prep Lab is to explain the proper use of tools and when to use certain tools.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel
 Morning: 8:30-11:45 Tour of the Wyoming Dinosaur Center and Dig Sites. We will take a coffee break to digest new information.
 Lunch: !2:00-1:00 Lunch at Senior Center
 Afternoon: Work in the center's bone preparation lab.
 Dinner: Dinner at one of the restaurants in Thermopolis TBD.
 Evening: Free Time
   
Accommodations: Days Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Prepping Bones in the Preparation Lab. Presentation from one of our Paleontologists.
(Tuesday, October 15)

Note: The Presentation is on current research being done at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at Hotel
 Morning: Work in the Center's bone preparation lab.
 Lunch: !2:00-1:00 Lunch at the Senior Center
 Afternoon: Work in the Center's bone preparation lab.
 Dinner: Pizza night at the Dinosaur Center.
 Evening: Paleontology presentation
   
Accommodations: Days Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Wind River Canyon and Thermopolis Hot Springs Tour and working in the preparation lab.
(Wednesday, October 16)

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: Breakfast at Hotel
 Morning: Work in the center's bone preparation lab.
 Lunch: !2:00-1:00 Lunch at Senior Center
 Afternoon: Tour of Wind River Canyon and Hot Springs geology.
 Dinner: Dinner at local Thermopolis restaurant, TBD
 Evening: Free time.
   
Accommodations: Days Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Preparation Lab all day.
(Thursday, October 17)

Note: Depending on the group and weather permitting, we may take optional fossil collecting trips.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at Hotel
 Morning: Work in the center's bone preparation lab.
 Lunch: !2:00-1:00 Lunch at Senior Center
 Afternoon: Work in the center's bone preparation lab.
 Dinner: Dinner at local Thermopolis restaurant, TBD
 Evening: Free Time.
   
Accommodations: Days Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Certification test, Tour of Molding and Casting, and wrap up
(Friday, October 18)

Note: The Tour of Molding and Casting is to show participants how bones are replicated so as to preserve them from being handled alot while being studied.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at Hotel
 Morning: Certification Test, Tour of Molding and Casting, and Wrap up
   
Accommodations: Days Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Thermopolis, WY 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
  Thermopolis Chamber of Commerce
Located at 119 South 6th Street. Phone: 307-864-3192. For additional information, visit www.thermopolis.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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