Earth Discovery Day Program and Schedule October 13, 2012
All activities require regular admission: $5 Age 19+, $2 Age 2 - 18, Under 2 are free
All activities and areas are open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Exploring the Fossil Beds 9:30 —12:30 Hike on the outer fossil beds,* led by park volunteer Paul Olliges and Brian Vance. *Outer fossil bed hikes are rugged. Sturdy foot wear is recommended and a walking stick will be helpful. You will get wet. This hike is not suitable for small children.
Indiana Shoreline Fossil Bed Hike Schedule 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. Meet on the deck beside the Interpretive Center. Look for roving volunteer naturalists on the fossil beds throughout the day. Grade 4 - 9 Teacher Professional Development Workshop Geological History of the Ohio Valley 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Steve Greb, PhD, Kentucky Geological Survey, Lexington. General geology and history of the Ohio Valley area, with a map reading exercise using maps from the KY side of the river for the exercises. If its nice, we might go outside and do some basic map reading relative to the things they can see across the river as well and look for the glacial erratics to bring home the glacial history part of the lecture. PD credit will be available. In our classroom-library and on the fossil beds. Pre-register or get more details as they become available by contacting: Alan Goldstein - park @ fallsoftheohio.org. Public Programs - everyone is welcome! 1:30 Flourishing Life in Antarctica: When in the Past, Where Today?, Molly Miller, PhD, Vanderbilt University, Nashville. 2:30 Extinction and Shells on the Beach, Rebecca Freeman, PhD, University of Kentucky.
3:30 Earthquakes in the Midwest, Walt Gray, Indiana Geological Survey 4:30 The Age of Crinoids in Kentucky, Dave Meyer, PhD, University of Cincinnati. Hands-On Activities
Fossil and Mineral Collecting Rock Piles Always popular, these piles are located beside the parking lot. A ticket is required to collect can be picked up with paid admission to the Interpretive Center. It is good for the entire day. Dig Silurian and Devonian fossils in two large rock piles. You may keep anything you find. (Collecting at the Falls of the Ohio is not allowed anywhere else!) Trucked in from southern Illinois, look for fluorite, barite, calcite, and sphalerite in this pile. Click on the photo to learn more about the collecting piles. Quake Cottage! The Indiana Geological Survey will have their Quake Cottage - an earthquake simulator. Experience a one to two minute shake from 5.5 to 8.0 on the Richter scale. This will be set up in the outer parking lot. A ticket will be required.
Inside the Interpretive Center Children’s Activity Area The Mineral and Fossil Interest Club sponsors this activity area located in the River Observation Room . A variety of crafts can be made each day: Bead stringing, weather rocks, dream catchers, and more. Visit the tent regularly throughout the festival to see what is currently going on! Staffed in part by volunteers from Indiana University Southeast’s School of Education. Inside the Lobby
Located behind the Interpretive Center, you can find information about the event, join a geology club, get rocks and fossils identified and pick up brochures from fossil parks, earth science publications, and more. Falls of the Ohio Foundation Learn about our new exhibit gallery plans.
Kentucky Paleontological Society Members will be on-hand to identify your fossils and rocks. Club fossil sales at booth, “spin the wheel fossil game.” Information about Kentucky fossils and membership. Mineral and Fossil Interest Club Rock, mineral and fossil identification, specimens for sale including egg cartoon collections, sponsors microfossil and micromineral demonstration described below and the Children's Activity Area described above. Free Informational Brochures - Fossil Parks of North America Brochures are available for many of the 50+ parks in the U.S. and Canada that have significant fossil sites. A representative from the National Parks Service with a display on the National Natural Landmarks (of which the Falls of the Ohio is one) will be in the Resource Tent on Saturday only.
Other Information Brochures about earth science publications, organizations and fossil information can be found under the tent. Geology and Paleontology College Degrees
Indiana University's Depart of Geological Sciences, the University of Cincinnati's Department of Geology and the University of Kentucky Department of Geosciences will set up displays. These schools are renown for their geology research. Talk to representatives from each university and learn about geology and paleontology as a possible career. Educators — Win a geology collection for your school! Any full-time teacher may register for a chance to win a collection for their classroom. This is a free door prize. Three collections are available: 100, 75 and 50-piece collections will be given away! Collections include a variety of fossils, minerals and rocks from many locations (except the Falls of the Ohio).
Photo Album See what our previous Falls Fossil Festival's were like! Updated October 10, 2012 |
