Fossil Hunting With Kids – Finding Fun in the Dirt
There isn’t a kid out there that hasn’t fallen in love with dinosaurs at some point. I’m not sure what it is, but there is certainly something wonderful about these terrible lizards. The fossil collections in museums are spectacular and if you are anything like me, you may have wondered what it would take to get a fossil collection of your very own.
The great news is all it takes is getting out there and going on a fossil hunt.
How to Find a Place to Fossil hunt
Finding a place to do fossil hunting with your kids is often as simple as doing a quick Google search. While I’ve only done fossil hunting in Texas, I did a quick search for the first 5 states or so that popped into my head and was rewarded with pages for each state telling me why their state is actually the best place to hunt for fossils.
Many states have fossil parks that are in or near rock quarries where digging is already happening. They will take a portion of what they dig and put it in a spot where amateur fossil hunters of all ages can come and search through it to their hearts’ content. These sorts of fossil parks are a great place to start since they are often easy to access and will usually turn up some fun finds.
My preference, however, is for those parks that take you into the wild!
My family recently went fossil hunting in Ladonia, TX. Their fossil park is essentially a drainage culvert just off the highway. While there was a parking lot, there wasn’t an easily accessible way down beyond climbing down the drainage ditch that would normally be carrying water from the parking lot into the culvert. It wasn’t really a hard path to follow, but it also wasn’t easy. My kids definitely needed a hand to get down safely.
It was wet, and muddy, slick, and if it hadn’t been so much fun, it could have been miserable.
Looking for places to go hunting will turn up both kinds of places; parking lots and wilderness. Some ‘wilderness’ areas will be easier to access, and others harder, so it’s important to do the research.
If you want to dig deeper, you could also check your area for a local Paleontological Society. They occasionally will have field trips to areas where you might not otherwise have access and can help you learn more about the ins and outs of fossil hunting.
What to Expect
Fossil hunting expeditions usually happen in the areas off the beaten path, and so you should expect to be dealing with Mother Nature. The hot sun, rain, cold weather, and more are all possibilities, as are poison ivy, brambles, snakes, and spiders. Be prepared for what you could encounter, and careful about where you step, and most likely none of that will be a problem.
I hope that I’ve made it apparent that this is something that both I and my kids enjoyed. Because we did, and I do not think it is a stretch to expect that you will have fun, too.
I’ve been to 2 different fossil parks this month, and they were both very different experiences.
Ladonia Fossil Park had a stream flowing through the middle of it, and we ended up basically panning for fossils. We scooped the dirt and sediments into a colander and slid it back and forth in the water until the mud was gone. At that point, we could pick through what was left looking for fossils. It was super easy, but also really muddy.
At Mineral Wells Fossil Park it was almost completely dry. We brought the same equipment, but there wasn’t a water source for us to use. And even if there had been, it would have been unnecessary.
Fossils littered the ground in such abundance that no matter where I looked down I was able to reach down and pick up fossils.
The kinds of fossils that you can find depend greatly on your location. For instance, the Mineral Wells Fossil Park contains tons of fossils from the “Pennsylvanian Period” including crinoids, brachiopods, and even some early shark teeth. Most likely you won’t find dinosaur bones unless you’re at a site that’s known for that, but it does occasionally happen.
What to Wear
First and foremost, you will want to wear something that you don’t mind getting dirty. Fossil hunting involves a lot of digging in the dirt, and often it can also involve playing in the mud. Definitely don’t wear clothes that you care about.
Also, be aware of the weather. My family went fossil hunting in December, and, while we were in Texas, it was a bit chillier than I would have liked. Bring a jacket in case you get cold, and make sure to wear good shoes.
My preference here is for long sleeves, and possibly long pants. You want to keep your skin safe from the cold, the sun, or any irritants you may have to get past. But again, this will vary wildly according to the season, the weather, and your personal preference.
What to Bring
Especially when you’re getting started fossil hunting with kids, you don’t need professional-level tools. A quick trip to the kitchen, the garage, and maybe Walmart and you should be good to go.
I suggest starting with:
- A colander
- A Trowel or metal scoop
- Some collection baggies (snack size Ziplocs work great)
- A bucket for sitting on, or bringing home dirt/fossils
- Food and Water
- First Aid Kit
Identifying your finds
When I set out on a fossil hunt the thing that I wanted more than any other was a tooth because teeth are cool. And I found some! But, when I left the fossil park I didn’t actually know that yet.
Unless you are an expert, fossils can be super difficult to identify. Not only is there an astonishing variety in the shape and size of different fossils, but it is also possible that they have been damaged in some way. The first tooth I found looked nothing like a tooth to me, but actually belonged to a ray. The second tooth was chipped so that I thought it was just a neat looking rock. It wasn’t until I had a chance to show them to a Paleontologist that I found out what I had.
While there are apps available for fossil identification, I prefer asking real paleontologists. Many museums offer fossil identification services and will be happy to look at any fossils that you bring in, and in many cases, they will also identify them from an emailed picture. It doesn’t have to be a museum either. There are lots of paleontologists out there who are willing to help out, like Frank, from Florida.
Try to find someone from the area where you found your fossils if you can. Paleontologists often know their own backyards best!
After finding our fossils, we had the opportunity to chat with a Paleontologist at the Perot Museum in Dallas, and not only was she happy to help us identify our fossils (including my two teeth!), but we also had a great time talking. If you can, definitely follow up your fossil finding adventures with a trip to the nearest Natural History museum.
The fossils we found, while really cool, were not the kinds of fossils that end up in a museum. I didn’t find a single fossil that was larger than my pinky nail, and we definitely didn’t find dinosaurs.
But, it was still awesome! We found teeth and urchin spines, and all sorts of echinoderm and brachiopod fossils! Without a doubt, if you find yourself wanting to go fossil hunting even a little bit, I would say go for it.
Until this month I had no idea that going fossil hunting was something that literally anyone could do. I thought it was something that was relegated to professionals with professional tools, and not something for amateurs. I was wrong, and I’m so glad I was.
Need some ideas for fossil-themed field trips near Dallas?
