Our purpose is to educate and create a sense of appreciation for Florida’s paleontological history. Programs strive to be both fun and educational. Question and answer sessions to further explore related topics in geology and archeology are always encouraged. The Fossil Discovery Hour can be tailored for all age ranges including a modified program for adults and a mixed age range program for library and other groups.
The Fossil Discovery Hour has 2 sections:
1. Fossil “Show and Tell” along with question and answer session. Rare and unusual fossils found over the years on our tours are showcased for discussion- much of this section is "hands-on" with real Florida fossils; we think it adds an extra dimension for participants to be able to see up close and hold the fossils we're talking about.
2. Fossil exploration and “Dig.” Participants will be given identification chart and paper plate of fossiliferous gravel in which they can find numerous fossils including shark teeth, bones, fish remains, stingray spines and teeth, shells and many other remains of ancient marine life. We will circulate among the room and help identify anything of interest. Any fossils found are yours to keep and bring home. All materials and cleanup is supplied by Paleo Discoveries. The Fossil Discovery Hour runs approximately 1hr. References available on request.
Prices for the Fossil Discovery Hour are $250- $300 for the first session and $200 - $250 for subsequent sessions the same day. Multiple programs can be arranged at discounted rates. Program group size limited to 30 or less for school programs and 75 for libraries and other organizations.
Paleo Discoveries offers both on-location educational programs and guided fossil-hunting tours for many other groups besides schools- nature centers, libraries, local history groups, fossil clubs, boy/girl scouts and various other youth and adult groups who want to introduce their students and members to Florida paleontology.
SUPER FLORIDA FIELD TRIP- Are you an educator interested in paleontology and looking for a special field trip for your students? Take a look at this 2 for 1 package trip we perform in Gainesville:
1. Visit the Florida Museum of Natural History and we'll give your group a guided tour of the remarkable "Florida's Fossils- Evolution of Life and Land" exhibit. If scheduling and staff availability permits, a "behind the scenes" tour of the Vertebrate Collections dept. may be arranged, led by one of the staff paleontologists. A great field trip in and of itself, either tour takes approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
2. After the museum tour(s), we'll take a break for lunch and then do an on-site fossil dig for lots of real Florida fossils the students will get to keep! We'll give each student approximately a cup of our fossil-rich gravel from the Peace River where we do our regular fossil-hunting tours. This gravel is loaded with Miocene and Pleistocene fossils. Most commonly found are shark teeth but there are often sting-ray fossils, fish, whale, dolphin, and land-mammal bones and teeth from Ice-Age Florida. Typically, 20-30 fossils can be found in a single cup; many of the shark teeth are 1/2" to 1-1/2" long.
Take advantage of these two unique opportunities in one day and give your students a memorable experience in Florida history/paleontology. We can perform this field trip for as little as $25. per student depending on group size. Call or email for an exact quote and more details about this trip.
Anyone with enthusiasm to explore the really old Florida is cordially invited!
Contact Fred Mazza of Paleo Discoveries at (772) 539-7005 or email at
fredmazza@paleodiscoveries.com
