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Field Trip Adventures
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. Please check back for additional 2009 Expeditions. (Scientifically significant specimens may be retained by curators for the VMNH collections.) 2009 Wyoming Dinosaur Dig June 14 - 20 Costs are $1,500 per person for VMNH Members, and $1,700 per person for non-VMNH members. This includes lodging (double occupancy-6 nights), meals (6 days), and all excavation tools and supplies. Participants must provide transportation to and from Wyoming. Don’t wait – register today! June 27 We meet at the Jamestown Yacht Club at 8:30 a.m., June 27, 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 28 We meet at the Hampton Inn (Chester) at 8:30 a.m. on June 28 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 11 Pamunkey River/Upper Potomac Boat Trip (Limit 16) VMNH Members, $103.50; Non-Members, $115 We are staying at Westmoreland State Park July 10. We leave the 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 form 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 will collect shells, bone, teeth, etc. 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 1:30 p.m. July 12 Stratford Hall/Westmoreland VMNH Members, $31.50; Non-Members, $35 Children under 12, $22.50; Non-Members, $25 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. Take time to explore the scenic beauty at Westmoreland State Park and the historic structures and museum at Stratford Hall. Accommodations and park fees not included. There is a campground at Westmoreland State Park, and hotels are available 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. Aug 14-15 We are staying at Westmoreland State Park August 14. We leave the park at 8:00 a.m. on August 15, caravan to the Upper Potomac and boat the river until 4:30 p.m. We will collect from the Aquia (60 my) and Nanjemoy (L. Eocene—50 my) Formations. We will collect shells, bone, teeth, etc. We return to Westmoreland State Park at 5:00 p.m. Aug 16 We meet the park at 8:00 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. Sept. 11-12 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. Take time to explore the scenic beauty at Westmoreland State Park and the historic structures and museum at Stratford Hall. Accommodations and park fees not included. There is a campground at Westmoreland State Park, and hotels are available 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. 13 VMNH Members, $31.50; Non-Members, $35 We meet the park at 8:00 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. October 3 We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Prince Frederick. On October 3 (Saturday), we will launch boats at Chesapeake Beach at 9:00 a.m. and collect the beaches and cliffs of the famous Calvert Cliffs for about 15 miles. We will collect the Calvert (17 my) and Choptank (12 my) Formations for shells, bone, teeth, etc. We return to Chesapeake Beach at 4:30 p.m. In case of windy weather we will move to the Patuxent River. October 10 We meet at the Jamestown Yacht Club at 8:30 a.m., 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. October 11 Lieutenant Run VMNH Members, $22.50; Non-Members, $25 Children under 12, $18; Non-Members, $20 We meet at the Hampton Inn (Chester) at 8:30 a.m. 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 . |
Participants will be in Wyoming for 6 nights, including 5 days on site. There are four sessions to choose from: |
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