The Museum of Geology offers a series of Summer Field Paleontology courses for its constituents. These courses may be taken for college credit or as not for credit courses, depending upon the needs of the potential participant. Students expecting to apply to the SDSMT Paleontology programs are encouraged to enroll in one of these courses as part of their application process.
May
17 to 28
Join the Museum staff to collect Late Pleistocene fossil vertebrates at Fossil Lake, Oregon. Coordinated by and with permission of Dr. James Martin.
May 31 to June 4
Paleontology for Families - visit the Rapid City area for a variety of fossil experiences designed for families with young children. Register for 2 to 5 days during this session. Field trips to nearby fossil sites, guided tours through local museums, and opportunities to dig and prepare fossils in the laboratory may be planned with the parent(s). Parent(s) must attend with child(ren). Other times may also be available throughout the summer as schedules permit. Coordinated by and with permission of Dr. Gale Bishop.
July
15-29
Crazy
Mountains Basin Project: th (date somewhat flexible).
Geology and Paleontology of the Paleocene Fort Union Formation of
Montana. Investigating the
faunal and floral response to climate change at the Torrejonian-Tiffanian
boundary. Involves collecting
July 11 to 24
Join the crew continuing work at the famous Big Pig Dig in Badlands National Park. Excavate a unique tangle of fossil bones of animals such as rhinos, horses, deer and pig-like animals in the classic Oligocene age White River Badlands. Coordinated by and with permission of Ms. Carrie Herbel.
July 19 to 30
Join an expedition to excavate Dinosaurs of the Judith River Formation - This expedition takes you back in time to discover the small and large beasts that roamed the area during the Late Cretaceous. Join Late Cretaceous fossil experts, Dave Parris and Randy Moses, in investigating the dinosaurs and other fossils from northcentral Wyoming.
July 12 to July 20
Sea Turtle Conservation Program - This expedition, designed for all grade levels of in-service and pre-service science teachers (K-12), provides two days of distance learning training, a seven-day residency on St. Catherines Island (GA) performing a hands-on, real-world conservation program for threatened loggerhead sea turtles on a remote coastal Georgia barrier island. Participants must enroll for college or SDU credit. This project is partially funded by the Georgia Improving Teacher Quality Education Program (50%). (Coordinated by Dr. Fred Rich at Georgia Southern University <frich@georgiasouthern.edu>.
See our web site at <http://gsaix2.cc.gasou.edu/cturtle/002over.html>.
A rare white loggerhead hatchling from Summer 2003!
August 2 to 13
Marine Turtles, Mosasaurs and Plesiosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Sea - Join this expedition along the Missouri River near Chamberlain, South Dakota to search for and help collect Cretaceous marine reptiles. Cordinated by and with permission of Dr. James Martin and Mr. David Parris.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
MUSEUM OF GEOLOGY
SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES & TECHNOLOGY
501 E. Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
605-394-2487
1-800-544-8162 ext. 2467
museum@sdsmt.edu
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Field Paleontology is a two-week experience that is designed to introduce students and interested persons to the procedures of preserving and documenting fossil discoveries. You may participate for two weeks as a college course for 2 semester credits or just for the educational experience with no college credit. We emphasize the fact that fossils are information so the geologic context of fossils as well as the distribution of fossils at a given site are meticulously recorded. Although the program is based in Rapid City, South Dakota, with the Museum of Geology, each session is taught in the field in places that are of current interest to research undertaking at the Museum of Geology. Rapid City is accessible by commercial airlines, buses, and the Interstate system.
The field sessions are taught at various times of the summer months
of June, July, and August. Our climate is continental in character
which means that it can be quite hot (>40 Celsius) and sometimes
bone-chilling cool. Rain is possible but seldom interferes with
the work for very long. The best advice on clothing is to have
layers of clothing so that you can be comfortable from 5 to 40o
C. A hat to keep sun off, sunglasses, and sunscreen are helpful.
Other materials necessary include glasses that protect your eyes
while chipping rocks, a rock hammer, a 2-inch wide natural bristle
paintbrush, gloves, a small chisel, and a sharp awl. Canteen for
water on hot days, a camera to record your experience, a notebook
and pen to record observations, and a sense of humor make this
a very rewarding experience.
Hotel accommodations can be obtained for many of the sessions
or camping is another alternative. Camping is usually done at
commercial campgrounds and food is purchased nearby. A small tent
that is capable of withstanding strong wind and a sleeping bag
with a mat to soften the ground are advisable. Cooking arrangements
vary with group leader so you will know more when you choose a
specific course.
Sessions are two weeks long and begin with meeting in Rapid City
unless other arrangements are made. Your instructor will designate
the time and place to meet. The Museum provides transportation
to the research area and base camp. The first day will be spent
with an orientation session for participants. Thereafter, the
group will assemble each morning at a specified time (different
group leaders operate on different schedules) with all materials
necessary to get them through the day, water, lunches, tools,
and notebooks. After a brief review of the goals for that day,
the participants will then drive to the site or area that is being
investigated. During the day, breaks may be taken as a group.
Lunch is at mid-day, and we usually wind up at about 4:30 - 5:00
pm before the drive back to camp or hotel. The exact nature of
the day may vary if the goal for the day is to search out new
sites or to spend the day in a quarry working on a specimen.
NO PETS are allowed to accompany the participants, and due to
insurance reasons, an adult who must also be a participant must
accompany all persons under the age of 18.
The Museum accepts payment for the experience by VISA or MasterCard,
money order, cashier's check, or personal check. Payment must
be made in full two weeks before the session starts. Cost
is $450.00 for each two-week session unless taken for college
credit. If elected for undergraduate credit, the course will cost
$550. If elected for graduate credit, the course will cost $650.
There is a possibility of modest application fees being accessed
by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for those opting
to take the course for credit. Field Paleontology is a 2-credit
course. Please note you may sign up for more than one session.
If you have further questions please write us at the Museum of
Geology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City,
SD 57701, or call 1-800-544-8162 extension 2467.
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