Curator-Led Field Trips: Prospecting in the Park
This event is no longer on sale.
Prospecting in the Park
Saturday, August 6th, 2022
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM EST
Join the Museum’s Dr. Caitlin Colleary, Amanda McGee, and Dr. Michael Donovan at Rocky River Reservation for a discussion about geology, ancient environments, and all things fossils. We’ll spend some time discussing how working in the Cleveland Shale is different from other types of paleo fieldwork and then use what we learned to break apart some shale of our own. While it’s unlikely you will find a fossil on this trip, we’ll show you how to properly break apart the rock, discuss what paleontologists look for when they’re out in the field, and examine what we do find. We encourage folks to bring lunch to enjoy in the park afterward.
Please note: The chances of finding a fossil are very low, but any museum-quality fossils that are found will return to the Museum. The participant who found the fossil will be recorded as the official collector.
Meeting / Parking Location: Frostville Museum, 24101 Cedar Point Road, North Olmsted, OH 44070
Age: 10 and up; youths must be accompanied by an adult.
Trip Difficulty: Moderate
This trip will involve some hiking and walking through water along the outcrop, so please dress appropriately and wear proper shoes—the rocks will be very slippery! We will be using rock hammers, which we will provide to all participants. Safety goggles will also be provided. Please note that it is common for little bits of shale to rain down from the cliffs.
Important registration request: Please use your current email address when registering. The Museum will inform all registrants via email should the event be canceled due to inclement weather.