May Programs and Event
Sunday May 6
In the Land of Color: Exploring the Devil’s Playground
8am – 5pm
This program is offered by Petrified Forest Field Institute and an additional fee is required; see http://www.petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/ for additional information. Join a day-long adventure in the unique and little-visited Devil’s Playground area of the park to explore its geology, paleontology, history, flora and fauna. Devil’s Playground is only accessible to a few people every year, and is an absolutely extraordinary landscape of bizarre eroded rock, hoodoos and badlands. This rugged 7 to 8-mile round trip hike heads through colorful rock layers and petrified wood that make this an exceptional area to explore the nature of Petrified Forest National Park.
Thursday May 10
The Bird’s the Word! Ranger Talk
6pm-7pm
Holbrook Public Library
In anticipation of World Migratory Bird Day, join a ranger for a discussion and activity to celebrate our birds of Arizona! Learn about birds, how to watch them, and why they are an important part of our world.
Saturday May 12
Fossil Dig: Discovery and Excavation
8am – 4:30pm
This program is offered by Petrified Forest Field Institute and an additional fee is required; see http://www.petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/ for additional information. Prepare to get dirty digging in the Triassic Chinle Formation for fossil bones of giant amphibians, reptiles, and even early dinosaurs. Join the park paleontologist for a fossil dig in Petrified Forest National Park that provides an introduction to paleontology field work. The day includes a behind the scenes tour of the park fossil collections and travel ‘off the beaten’ path to the dig site. Training and tools provided for participating in a real paleontological dig with collected specimens becoming part of the park’s museum collection.
Saturday May 19
Young Paleontologist’s Fossil Exploration
9am – 1pm
This program is offered by Petrified Forest Field Institute and an additional fee is required; see http://www.petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/ for additional information. Designed as an option for science-minded youth who want to learn about Triassic fossils and the work of paleontologists. Based on the simulated fossil dig in the park’s education programming, this adventure begins with a tour of Rainbow Forest Museum where fossil exhibits are displayed. Participants will then be given the opportunity to dig for and identify real and replica fossils in a prepared education area. After a break the group will take a 1 ½ mile hike to see how paleontologists look for and discover fossils in the field.
Saturday May 26
Fossil Dig: Discovery and Excavation
8am – 4:30pm
This program is offered by Petrified Forest Field Institute and an additional fee is required; see http://www.petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/ for additional information. Prepare to get dirty digging in the Triassic Chinle Formation for fossil bones of giant amphibians, reptiles, and even early dinosaurs. Join the park paleontologist for a fossil dig in Petrified Forest National Park that provides an introduction to paleontology field work. The day includes a behind the scenes tour of the park fossil collections and travel ‘off the beaten’ path to the dig site. Training and tools provided for participating in a real paleontological dig with collected specimens becoming part of the park’s museum collection.
Sunday May 6
In the Land of Color: Exploring the Devil’s Playground
8am – 5pm
This program is offered by Petrified Forest Field Institute and an additional fee is required; see http://www.petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/ for additional information. Join a day-long adventure in the unique and little-visited Devil’s Playground area of the park to explore its geology, paleontology, history, flora and fauna. Devil’s Playground is only accessible to a few people every year, and is an absolutely extraordinary landscape of bizarre eroded rock, hoodoos and badlands. This rugged 7 to 8-mile round trip hike heads through colorful rock layers and petrified wood that make this an exceptional area to explore the nature of Petrified Forest National Park.
Thursday May 10
The Bird’s the Word! Ranger Talk
6pm-7pm
Holbrook Public Library
In anticipation of World Migratory Bird Day, join a ranger for a discussion and activity to celebrate our birds of Arizona! Learn about birds, how to watch them, and why they are an important part of our world.
Saturday May 12
Fossil Dig: Discovery and Excavation
8am – 4:30pm
This program is offered by Petrified Forest Field Institute and an additional fee is required; see http://www.petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/ for additional information. Prepare to get dirty digging in the Triassic Chinle Formation for fossil bones of giant amphibians, reptiles, and even early dinosaurs. Join the park paleontologist for a fossil dig in Petrified Forest National Park that provides an introduction to paleontology field work. The day includes a behind the scenes tour of the park fossil collections and travel ‘off the beaten’ path to the dig site. Training and tools provided for participating in a real paleontological dig with collected specimens becoming part of the park’s museum collection.
Saturday May 19
Young Paleontologist’s Fossil Exploration
9am – 1pm
This program is offered by Petrified Forest Field Institute and an additional fee is required; see http://www.petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/ for additional information. Designed as an option for science-minded youth who want to learn about Triassic fossils and the work of paleontologists. Based on the simulated fossil dig in the park’s education programming, this adventure begins with a tour of Rainbow Forest Museum where fossil exhibits are displayed. Participants will then be given the opportunity to dig for and identify real and replica fossils in a prepared education area. After a break the group will take a 1 ½ mile hike to see how paleontologists look for and discover fossils in the field.
Saturday May 26
Fossil Dig: Discovery and Excavation
8am – 4:30pm
This program is offered by Petrified Forest Field Institute and an additional fee is required; see http://www.petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/ for additional information. Prepare to get dirty digging in the Triassic Chinle Formation for fossil bones of giant amphibians, reptiles, and even early dinosaurs. Join the park paleontologist for a fossil dig in Petrified Forest National Park that provides an introduction to paleontology field work. The day includes a behind the scenes tour of the park fossil collections and travel ‘off the beaten’ path to the dig site. Training and tools provided for participating in a real paleontological dig with collected specimens becoming part of the park’s museum collection.
