• Why Paleontology?
• The Academy:
• A day in the life:
• Cost/Travel:
• Lodging:
• Meals:
• College Credit:
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The study of dinosaurs may be a small part of paleontology as a whole, but it certainly has a 'flashy' appeal that makes it benificial as a springboard for science education. Inquiry driven education has proved to be an effective way to engage students to be more proactive in learning. The Dinosaur Academy is just the place to bring all of these components together.

The Academy:

The Big Horn Basin Foundation 's Dinosaur Academy is a program designed to give high school students an opportunity to experience one of the most interdisciplinary fields in the natural sciences. A paleontologist must be well versed in biology, anatomy, geology, chemistry, physics, & math.

The weeklong academy explores the many aspects of paleontology, from dirt to display. Participants will spend mornings and (some) evenings digging in the quarry, making observations, and recording data. During the heat of the afternoon the students will participate in discussions and hands-on learning in areas such as molding and casting, 3D scanning of specimens, preparation of bones from the quarry, and of course all about dinosaurs!

We need a population that can think beyond today. Paleontology is a powerful venue for creating the sense of deep time and the powerful dynamism of slow cumulative change. As a nation we are falling behind much of the world with regards to scientific literacy, and as we transition to a global economy what you know and what you can do becomes much more important. Scientific and technological know how is the currency of this new system.

One of the desired outcomes of the academy is to foster scientific thinking and a systematic and analytic approach to problems. The Dinosaur Academy engages students as they learn the process of scientific inquiry. By the end of the academy each student will have learned enough to build the scientific story of the life, death and burial of the animals in the quarry. The skills they learn will let them evaluate and answer scientific problems in the future. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Tell me and I forget; teach me and I remember; involve me and I learn" . Franklin's philosophy is at the heart of this program, we seek to involve students in the science of paleontology as a springboard to foster lifelong learning.

A day in the life:

A typical day in the academy would start around 7:00 am. Breakfast would be served at 7:45-8:15. From there we will head to the field which is only 10 minutes away, and begin the days activities. Most of the morning activities will focus on field techniques, and data collection. Discussions of various aspects of science will be conducted in the field at locations ideal for each topic. The quarrying activities would include brunton compass work, 3d-total station, excavation, plastering, taking field notes and making observations.

As lunchtime approaches we will head down to the museum where we can focus on labwork, data processing, etc. Each student will be assigned a project that they get to work on for the duration of the academy. Discussions and class-like 'meetings' may be used to demonstrate more academic ideas that relate to the experiences in the field.

As we leave the museum for the dinner meal there will be about an hour for shower/clean-up/phone etc. before dinner. After dinner there will be more time, either as a group, or individuals to work on reading, or visit the hot springs. Some evenings we will head back to the field after dinner (or have dinner in the field), for some nice cool evening digging; this is the best time of the day to dig!

The evening will slow down around 9:00 or so and we'll settle for the night. Lights out at around 10:30-11:00.

Cost/Travel?

The program costs $945 per student and includes all meals, lodging, and program activities such as swimming at the mineral hot springs. Travel to and from the program is the participants responsibility; shuttles to the Worland Airport are available for $35 round trip. There is a $200 non-refundable down payment to reserve your spot. Any cancellation less than two weeks prior to the start of the registered session will result in a refund of 75% of the $945 Academy Fee less the $200 deposit. Cancellation with less than one week’s notice will result in a refund of 50% of the $945 Academy Fee less the $200 deposit.

Lodging:

During the Dinosaur Academy participants will be staying in one of 4 cabins at the Eagle RV Park in Thermopolis,WY. The cabins hold 3-4 people. Each cabin will be designated for boys or girls according to registration demographics. Chaperones will be on site. Clean restrooms and showers are separate from the cabins, and found in the main building. Bedding is not included for the beds, so remember to bring a sleeping bag and pillow!

Meals:

Breakfast:
Breakfasts will be conducted family (self-serve) style each morning. Cold and hot cereal, toaster pastries, muffins, fruits and yogurt, will be the choices for morning meals.
Lunch:
Likewise, lunches will be conducted family (self-serve) style around the noon hour. There will be various breads, lunchmeats, cheese, fruits, and chips available for each participant to build their own lunches.
Dinners:
The evening meal may vary from eating at a local restaurant with three or four meals to choose from, or will be conducted B-BQ style with salads, sides, and several meat and non-meat entrees to choose from. (one evening will be a pizza night at the museum).
Snacks:
Snacks for the field will be available throughout the day. It is important when in the field to stay hydrated and healthily fed. There will be soda available (one can each) for lunch and dinner. At 5000(+) feet above sea level it is hot and dry, so cold water will be supplied throughout the day.

College Credit: