Photo: Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum

By Abby Zieverink

Paleontologist for a Day

Dino Museum welcomes local aspiring paleontologists

Aug 16, 2021 | 2:15 PM

Aspiring Paleontologists are being called to the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum for an opportunity to discover never-before-seen fossils.

Museum Executive Director Linden Roberts says they started their Paleontologist for a Day program roughly four years ago; although this year, she says in addition to the full-day program, they introduced a half-day program as well.

“It’s particularly good as a tester, for those who are unsure if they want to be on their hands and knees all day working,” said Roberts.

For the full-day program, Roberts explains that participants arrive, get a tour of the museum and the lab, and background information on how fossils are treated when they come in and the tools used to dig up fossils.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to experience the science and technology behind paleontology and be a part of the Grande Prairie environment and community.”

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Once participants learn the background information, Roberts says they go out to the bone bed, sit shoulder-to-shoulder with researchers and field crews to explore the Pipestone Creek Bone bed or traces of dinosaurs.

“Everybody sees something and gets to see something that no human has seen before, but has been in the ground for 65 million years or more,” she said.

Roberts adds the hope this year is to get a fossil out that has been in the works for a couple of years.

“We’re working on a fossil that we’re hoping to remove now finally… It is a section of the frill of a Pachyrhinosaurin.”

This year, the program kicked off on August 14 and runs until August 22.

Robert mentioned there are only a few full and half-day spots available for the Paleontologist for a Day program this upcoming weekend.

Bookings for the program can be made by calling 587-771-0662 or by emailing visitorservices@dinomuseum.ca