This is when the reason for museums becomes clear. Museums take care of fossils, and national parks are bIg museums. Science involves building and sharing knowledge. All the student- paleontologists that visited on a field trip can be sure their fossils are being taken care of at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, so they can come back and see them whenever they want to. Simulated fossil digs will be offered to the general public this summer on July 8 and 22, August 19, September 3 and 4.
Space is limited.
The July 8 program is already full. If space is available, the general public is also welcome to attend. The 'John Day Associates' are alive and well. The paleontology staff has been working on a variety of new localities in 'basin margin' sediments, which include remarkable new assemblages. The current amalgamation of pilgrims working on manuscripts in one stage of completion or another includes Mike Woodburne, Carl Swisher, Bob Hunt, Jim Martin, Barry Albright, Greg Retallack, Xiaoming Wang, Harold Bryant, Matt Kohn, Dale Hanson, and many others.