About

Join VMNH staff on scientific expeditions. Fees are used to support VMNH research. Space is limited. To learn about upcoming expeditions or to make a reservation, please e-mail fieldtrips@vmnh.virginia.gov or call 276-634-4171.

(Scientifically significant specimens may be retained by curators for the VMNH collections.)

2010 VMNH Field Trips

Learn about the fascinating geological history of the Middle Atlantic States covering a wide variety of ages and environments representative of the last 450 million years with VMNH Staff and Volunteers. Field trip fees are used to support VMNH research. To make a reservation, please e-mail fieldtrips@vmnh.virginia.gov or call (276) 634-4171. Information is also available at www.vmnh.net. Please note that space is limited. (Scientifically significant specimens may be retained by curators for the VMNH collection.

April 9-12: Alabama Boat Trip (Limit 10)
VMNH Member, $315; Non-Member, $350
Boat the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers and collect fossils from the Paleocene, lower and middle Eocene formations exposed in those areas. The fossils, mostly shells, but some vertebrates, sand dollars, etc. are beautifully preserved and very abundant. These exposures set the standard for the rest of the Gulf and Atlantic Coast and have been explored back into the 1830s by Conrad, Harris, etc. Our base motel is the Best Western in Monroeville. We collect April 10, 11, and 12 starting from the motel at 9:00 a.m.

April 16-18: Kentucky
VMNH Member, $90; Non-Member, $100
Children under 12, $31.50; Non-Member, $35
We meet at Natural Bridge, Virginia, April 16, and tour Natural Bridge Friday morning; then follow I-64 through Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky, to Maysville, making stops along the way. On April 17 and until 12:00 p.m. April 18 we collect the spectacular Ordovician (475 mya) outcrops in the Maysville area. Specimens include individual specimens and whole slabs of brachiopods, bryozoans, corals, pelecypods, etc. Trilobites, though not abundant, are found on every trip. We start from the motel each day at 8:00 a.m.

April 24: Lower James Boat Trip (Limit 16)
VMNH Member, $90; Non-Member $100
April 25: Lieutenant Run
VMNH Member $22.50; Non-Member $25
Children under 12: VMNH Member/$18; $20;Non-Member
Meet at the Jamestown Yacht Club at 8:30 a.m. to boat the James River on the Surry County side for about 15 miles. We will collect from massive outcrops of marine formations containing millions of shells, barnacles, corals, bone, teeth, etc. of Miocene and Pliocene Age. We stay at the Hampton Inn-Chester.

On April 25, the group meets at the Hampton Inn (Chester) at 8:30 a.m. and caravan to Petersburg and Lieutenant Run. We will collect from Miocene and Pliocene beds (7-3.5 mya). The fossils, mostly shells, but some bone and teeth, are excellently preserved, extremely prolific, and exhibit several hundred species many of which are named from that locality. We will collect until noon.

April 30-May 2: North Carolina Mines
Mines+River: VMNH Member, $225; Non-Member, $250
River: VMNH Member, $180; Non-Member, $200
Mines: VMNH Member, $45; Non-Member, $50
April 30: We will collect Eocene, Oligocene, and Pleistocene fossils at several quarries from New Bern to Wilmington, North Carolina. They may vary according to availability and include:
Martin Marietta-Belgrade
Martin Marietta-Onslow
Martin Marietta-Castle Hayne
Martin Marietta-Clarks

May 1-2 Cape Fear River
We will stay at Elizabethtown, North Carolina, and collect, by boat, the sections along the Cape Fear River including the Cretaceous Black Creek and Peedee, the Pliocene Duplin, the Pleistocene Waccamaro, and terrace gravels.

May 15-16: Stratford Hall/Westmoreland
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
VMNH Member, $76.50; Non-Member, $85
Children under 12, $31.50; Non-Member $35
Stratford Hall $5/ea grounds fee applicable at the Stratford Hall Dining Room or Gift Shop
Take a trip along the spectacular cliffs of the Potomac River, in an area rich in paleontology, ecology, and history. The 140-foot high cliffs expose sediment ranging for 3.5 million to 14 million years old, and have produced fossils of whales, seals, crocodiles, sharks, and numerous seashells. Explore the scenic beauty at Westmoreland State Park and the historic structures and museum of Stratford Hall. Accommodations and park fees not included. Accommodations are available at Westmoreland State Park campground and hotels in Montross and Colonial Beach. Bring your own lunch, a trowel, plastic bags, and a bucket. Dress to wade and get dirty. Access is moderate, with some walking required, and getting wet is likely. No restrooms.

2009 Wyoming Dinosaur Dig
Here's your chance to excavate a dinosaur!

Participants will be in Wyoming for 6 nights, including 5 days on site. This Field Trip will take place in June 2010. Specific dates will be announced soon. For more information, contact Dr. Alton Dooley, associate curator of paleontology at VMNH, at 276-634-4173 or alton.dooley@vmnh.virginia.gov.

Don't wait... register today!

June 19: Lower James Boat Trip (Limit 16)
VMNH Member, $90; Non-Member, $100
Meet at the Jamestown Yacht Club at 8:30 a.m. June 19 and boat the James River on the Surry County side for about 15 miles. We will collect from massive outcrops of marine formations containing millions of shells, barnacles, corals, bone, teeth, etc. of Miocene and Pliocene Age. We stay at the Hampton Inn-Chester.

June 20: Lieutenant Run
VMNH Member, $22.50; Non-Member, $25
Children under 12, $18; Non-Member, $20
We meet at the Hampton Inn (Chester) at 9:00 a.m. on June 20 and drive to Petersburg and Lieutenant Run. We will collect from Miocene and Pliocene beds (7-3.5 mya). The fossils, mostly shells, but some bone and teeth, are excellently preserved, extremely prolific, and exhibit several hundred species many of which named from that locality. We will collect until noon.

July 5-9: Paleo Camp for Kids!
We will stay at Stratford Hall, home of the Lees of Virginia. We will collect from Aquia Creek (upriver); Popes Creek (MD) area, and Westmoreland Cliffs. Formations include the Aquia (60 my), Nanjemoy (50 my), Calvert (14 my), Choptank (12 my), Eastover (9 my).

July 10: Pamunkey River Boat Trip (Limit 16)
VMNH Member, $90; Non-Member, $100
July 11: Stratford Hall
VMNH Member, $27.00; Non-Member, $30
Children under 12, Member, $22.50; Non-Member, $25
We will leave Westmoreland State Park at 8:00 a.m., caravan to the Pamunkey (about 1 hour) and boat the river until 4:30 p.m. We will collect shells, bone, teeth from the Nanjemoy (L. Eocene 50 my), Piney Point (M. Eocene 45 my), Old Church (U. Oligocene 25 my), Calvert (18-14 my), and Eastover (8-7 my) Formations. We return to Westmoreland State Park and on Sunday (July 12) we will explore the shoreline at Stratford Hall by boat or by foot. We leave Stratford Hall at 2:00 p.m.

July 17: Upper Potomac Boat Trip (Limit 16)
VMNH Member, $99; Non-Member, $110
We will leave Westmoreland State Park at 8:00 a.m., caravan to the Upper Potomac, and boat the river until 4:30 p.m. We will collect shells, bone, teeth from the Aquia (60 my) and Nanjemoy (L. Eocene 50 my) Formations and return to Westmoreland State Park at 5:00 p.m.

July 18: Stratford Hall
VMNH Member, $27; Non-Member, $30
Children under 12, $22.50; Non-Member, $25
Stratford Hall $5/ea grounds fee which can be applied to dining at the Stratford Hall Restaurant or Gift Shop
We meet at Westmoreland State Park at 9:00 a.m., convoy to Stratford Hall, and boat the Stratford Hall Cliffs until 2:00 p.m. We will collect shells, bone, teeth, etc. from the Calvert, Choptank, St. Marys, and Eastover Formations.

July 24: Lower James Boat Trip (Limit 16)
VMNH Member, $90; Non-Member, $100
Meet at the Jamestown Yacht Club at 8:30 a.m. June 19 and boat the James River on the Surry County side for about 15 miles. We will collect from massive outcrops of marine formations containing millions of shells, barnacles, corals, bone, teeth, etc. of Miocene and Pliocene Age. We stay at the Hampton Inn-Chester.

July 25: Meherrin (Limit 16)
VMNH Member, $45; Non-Member, $50
We will collect by boat from the Eastover and Yorktown Formations long the Meherrin River at Murfreesboro, NC. Boats put in at the Route 258 bridge.

August 23-27: Paleo Camp for Adults!
We will stay at Stratford Hall, home of the Lees of Virginia. We will collect from Aquia Creek (upriver); Popes Creek (MD) area, and Westmoreland Cliffs. Formations include the Aquia (60 my), Nanjemoy (50 my), Calvert (14 my), Choptank (12 my), Eastover (9 my).

August 28: Calvert County Cliffs and Chesapeake Bay Boat Trip (Limit 16)
(Depending upon weather conditions)
VMNH Member, $90; Non-Member, $100
Staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Prince Frederick, we will launch boats at the Chesapeake Beach at 9:00 a.m. and collect shells, bone, teeth of the Calvert (17 my) and Choptank (12 my) Formations along the beaches and cliffs of the famous Calvert Cliffs for about 15 miles. We return to Chesapeake Beach at 4:30 p.m. (In case of windy weather we will move to the Patuxent River.)

August 29: Pope's Creek/Potomac Boat Trip (Limit 16)
VMNH Member, $45.50; Non-Member, $50
The group will put in at the 301 bridge near Pope's Creek and boat the river on the Maryland side for about 8 miles. We collect shells, bone, and teeth from lower Eocene (50 mya), lower Miocene (18 mya).

Sept. 11: Stratford Hall/Westmoreland Boat Trip (Limit 16)
8:00-4:00 p.m.
VMNH Member, $76.50, Non-Member, $85
Stratford Hall $5/ea grounds fee which can be applied to dining at the Stratford Hall Dining Room or Gift Shop
Take a trip along the spectacular cliffs of the Potomac River, in an area rich in paleontology, ecology, and history. The 140-foot high cliffs expose sediment ranging for 3.5 million to 14 million years old, and have produced fossils of whales, seals, crocodiles, sharks, and numerous seashells. Explore the scenic beauty at Westmoreland State Park and the historic structures and museum at Stratford Hall. Accommodations and park fees are not included. A campground is available at Westmoreland State Park and hotels in Montross and Colonial Beach. Bring your own lunch, a trowel, plastic bags, and a bucket. Dress to wade and get dirty. Access is moderate, with some walking required, and getting wet is likely. No restrooms.

Sept. 12: Stratford Hall/Westmoreland
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
VMNH Member, $31.50; Non-Member, $35
Children under 12, $22.50; Non-Member, $25
Stratford Hall $5/ea grounds fee which can be applied to dining at the Stratford Hall Dining Room or Gift Shop
Meet at Westmoreland State Park at 9:00 a.m., convoy to Stratford Hall, and boat the Stratford Hall Cliffs to collect shells, bone, teeth, etc. from the Calvert, Choptank, St. Marys, and Eastover Formations.