GO BACK TO SCHOOL WITH DINOSAUR RIDGE
Virtual Education Experiences
We are also pleased to offer three new virtual experience options, available starting September 14th! Pre-registration is open! Please use the virtual program request form at the bottom of the page
WHAT: This virtual tool provides teachers with a geology and paleontology curriculum expressed through the localized lens of Dinosaur Ridge, our National Natural Landmark.
GRADES: 2-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-10, and 11-12
PROGRAM LENGTH: Each lesson averages 20 minutes to facilitate the video, google slides, and discussion. Accompanying student activities – which can be assigned as independent activities, homework, or group work – vary in length.
FEE: $3/student (scholarships available for Title I schools)
The curriculum includes:
- An educator’s guide that addresses grade-level geology and paleontology standards through an exploration of points of interest along Dinosaur Ridge. The Educator Guide includes up to 8 lessons per grade (one for each stop featured), complete with images, questions and answers, and student activity options. (Lesson count varies by grade level.)
- Filmed segments featuring key geological and paleontological sites on the Ridge. Show them live in your classroom, stream them during a remote virtual session, or assign them to students for independent viewing.
- Google slides that an educator can assign to students for individual reading or present in a live or virtual classroom. The slides are a great tool to use as follow-up to watching the filmed segments to reinforce learning and facilitate discussion.
To see a sample of the curriculum components, visit the links below:
2nd-3rd Grade Samples
4th-5th Grade Samples
6th-8th Grade Samples
9th-12th Grade Samples
WHAT: Students can ask questions of one of Dinosaur Ridge’s interpretive guides! Submit your questions in advance and select to have the answers provided to you as a pre-recorded segment or via a live Zoom session during which our guide can connect in real time with your students remotely.
PROGRAM LENGTH: 15 minutes pre-recorded or up to 30 minutes for a live Zoom session
GRADES: Any
FEE: $50 per session for up to 40 students — $100 per session for more than 40 students
WHAT: Book a Dinosaur Ridge interpretive guide to provide a live, remote tour of our National Natural Landmark. Whether you are meeting together in a classroom or meeting remotely, the geology and paleontology of Dinosaur Ridge will come to life for your students. The tour includes a visit to four unique sites on the Ridge, followed by a time for Q&A with our interpretive guides.
PROGRAM LENGTH: 60 minutes
GRADES: 3rd-12th
FEE: (scholarships available for Title I schools)
- $150 per session up to 35 students
- $250 per session up to 70 students
- $350 per session up to 110 students
- $450 per session up to 150 students
Onsite Tours & Programs Are Still Available!
On-site tours and programs for schools and other groups are available year-round on weekdays for groups of twelve or more.
- SCHOOL TOURS: Available to schools and home-school groups.
- NON-SCHOOL GROUPS: If you have more than 12 people in your group and are a school, adult group, summer camp, daycare center, senior center, etc., consider one of our scheduled education tours or programs!
- Available on-site programs:
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- Dinosaur Freeways and Cretaceous Seaways bus or walking tour
- Fossils Traces in Swampy Places
- Group sizes for on-site programs:
- Dinosaur Freeways and Cretaceous Seaways tours: up to 50 people (including adults). For groups of more than 30, please travel in at least two buses. This allows Dinosaur Ridge to maintain social distancing requirements as agreed upon with Jefferson County.
- Fossil Traces in Swampy Places tours: up to 25 people (including adults).
- Masks: All members of your group must wear a mask during the tour.
Ready to book? Please use the on-site tour request form at the bottom of the page.
On-site Programs
Backyard Bones: Dinosaur Dig Program - Currently unavailable due to COVID-19
Solve a dinosaur mystery! This program is a simulated dinosaur dig in our Dinosaur Dig Site at the Visitor Center. This hands-on, inquiry-based program is gives students a chance to predict, uncover evidence, and draw conclusions about dinosaurs, fossils, and ancient Colorado. (This program does not include a guided tour of Dinosaur Ridge sites.)
Length of Program: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Age Range: PreK-2nd
Maximum Program Capacity: 20 students
Fee & Deposit: Schools are $4/student and non-teacher chaperones. Teachers are free. Non-school groups are $5/person. Staff is free. Minimum deposit for 12 participants required.
Click here for detailed information about this program.
“Dinosaurs, Fossils & Miners, Oh My! - Currently unavailable due to COVID-19
Join us on an interactive tour of Colorado’s fascinating history and the paleontologists and explorers who help tell its story. This Visitor Center-based is geared towards groups of young students, allowing them to experience the interactive Backyard Bones: Dinosaur Dig Site, participate in a clue-matching activity with fossil props and our life-sized dinosaur model, and try their luck in a hands-on sluice mining activity. The groups will rotate through these three areas. (This program does not visit Dinosaur Ridge to see the fossils/tracksite.)
Length of Program: 1.5 hours
Age Range: PreK-2nd
Maximum Program Capacity: 60 students
Fee & Deposit: $7/student and non-teacher adult, teachers are free.
(Includes sluice mining as part of the program.)
Click here for detailed information about this program.
Backyard Bones: Dinosaur Dig Program - Currently unavailable due to COVID-19
Solve a dinosaur mystery! This program is a simulated dinosaur dig in our Dinosaur Dig Site at the Visitor Center. This hands-on, inquiry-based program is geared toward PreK and kindergarten students and gives them a chance to predict, uncover evidence, and draw conclusions about dinosaurs, fossils, and ancient Colorado. (This program does not include a guided tour of Dinosaur Ridge sites.)
Length of Program: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Age Range: PreK-2nd
Maximum Program Capacity: 20 students
Fee & Deposit: Schools are $4/student and non-teacher chaperones. Teachers are free. Non-school groups are $5/person. Staff is free. Minimum deposit for 12 participants required.
Click here for detailed information about this program.
“Dinosaurs, Fossils & Miners, Oh My!” - Currently unavailable due to COVID-19
Join us on an interactive tour of Colorado’s fascinating history and the paleontologists and explorers who help tell its story. This Visitor Center-based is geared towards groups of young students, allowing them to experience the interactive Backyard Bones: Dinosaur Dig Site, participate in a clue-matching activity with fossil props and our life-sized dinosaur model, and try their luck in a hands-on sluice mining activity. The groups will rotate through these three areas. (This program does not visit Dinosaur Ridge to see the fossils/tracksite.)
Length of Program: 1.5 hours
Age Range: PreK-2nd
Maximum Program Capacity: 60 students
Fee & Deposit: $7/student and non-teacher adult, teachers are free.
(Includes sluice mining as part of the program.)
Click here for detailed information about this program.
Junior Paleontologist Program - Currently unavailable due to COVID-19
How do paleontologists find dinosaur bones and how do they piece together clues to discover the ancient past? In this hands-on, inquiry-based program, young students will begin to answer these questions. Our trained guides lead students through our Dinosaur Dig Site, our world famous dinosaur tracksite (with over 300 dinosaur footprints), and our outdoor exhibit of life-sized dinosaurs. Throughout the program, students will be engaged in the scientific method with ample time for observation, prediction, and questions. This program requires your own bus or van to drive to the track site (or add an additional 30-40 minutes to walk to and from the track site).
Length of Program: 1.5 hours- 2 hours (If you have more than 40 students, the program will take 2 hours.)
Age Range: K-3rd
Maximum Program Capacity: 80 students (2 school buses)
Fee & Deposit: $7/student and non-teacher adult, teachers are free. Minimum deposit for 12 participants required.
Click here for detailed information about this program.
Dinosaur Freeways/ Cretaceous Seaways Bus Tour
Explore our world famous fossil sites! This inquiry-based program uses your own bus(es) or van(s) to visit at least four areas on Dinosaur Ridge giving students the chance to interact with the bones and tracks of dinosaurs as well as unique geologic features. Our trained guides focus on fossils/rock layers and how they form, and how ancient climates are different from today and changed over time. Students will be engaged in the scientific method with time for observations and questions. This tour can be modified to your group's interests/curriculum upon request.
Length of program: 1.5 hours
Age Range: 3rd-12th
Maximum Program Capacity: 50 participants (including chaperones)
Fee & Deposit: Schools are $5/student and non-teacher chaperones. Teachers are free. Non-school groups are $7/person. Minimum deposit for 12 participants required.
Click here for detailed information about this program.
Fossil Traces in Swampy Places
Travel back in time to Colorado's ancient swamp environment filled with palm trees and the footprints of Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus. This program is a guided walking tour of our Golden, Colorado site: Triceratops Trail. (This tour does not take place onsite at Dinosaur Ridge.) Triceratops Trail is a hiking trail featuring a complete ancient ecosystem filled with worms, beetles, birds, lizards, and at least three different types of dinosaurs.
Length of program: 1.5 hours
Age Range: 3rd-12th
Maximum Program Capacity: 25 participants (including chaperones)
Fee & Deposit: Schools are $5/student and non-teacher chaperones. Teachers are free. Non-school groups are $7/person. Staff is free. Minimum deposit for 12 participants required.
Click here for detailed information about this program.
Junior Paleontologist Program - Currently unavailable due to COVID-19
How do paleontologists find dinosaur bones and how do they piece together clues to discover the ancient past? In this hands-on, inquiry-based program, young students will begin to answer these questions. Our trained guides lead students through our Dinosaur Dig Site, our world famous dinosaur tracksite (with over 300 dinosaur footprints), and our outdoor exhibit of life-sized dinosaurs. Throughout the program, students will be engaged in the scientific method with ample time for observation, prediction, and questions. This program requires your own bus or van to drive to the track site (or add an additional 30-40 minutes to walk to and from the track site). Recommended for K-3rd grade.
Length of Program: 1.5 hours- 2 hours (If you have more than 40 students, the program will take 2 hours.)
Age Range: K-3rd
Maximum Program Capacity: 80 students (2 school buses)
Fee & Deposit: $7/student and non-teacher adult, teachers are free. Minimum deposit for 12 participants required.
Click here for detailed information about this program.
Dinosaur Freeways/ Cretaceous Seaways:
Bus Tour
Explore our world famous fossil sites! This inquiry-based program uses your own bus(es) or van(s) to visit at least four areas on Dinosaur Ridge giving students the chance to interact with the bones and tracks of dinosaurs as well as unique geologic features. Our trained guides focus on fossils/rock layers and how they form, and how ancient climates are different from today and changed over time. Students will be engaged in the scientific method with time for observations and questions. This tour can be modified to your group's interests/curriculum upon request.
Length of program: 1.5 hours
Age Range: 3rd-12th
Maximum Program Capacity: 50 participants (including chaperones)
Fee & Deposit: Schools are $5/student and non-teacher chaperones. Teachers are free. Non-school groups are $7/person. Minimum deposit for 12 participants required.
Click here for detailed information about this program.
Dinosaur Freeways/ Cretaceous Seaways:
Walking Tour
Explore our world famous fossil sites! This walking tour is an inquiry-based program with visits to at least four areas on Dinosaur Ridge. Students will interact with the bones and tracks of dinosaurs as well as unique geologic features. Our trained guides focus on fossils/rock layers and how they form, and how ancient climates are different from today and changed over time. Students will be engaged in the scientific method with time for observations and questions. This tour can be modified to your group's interests/curriculum upon request.
Length of program: 2-3 hours
Age Range: 5th-12th
Maximum Program Capacity: 25 participants
Fee & Deposit: Schools are $7/student and non-teacher chaperones. Teachers are free. Non-school groups are $9/person. Minimum deposit for 12 participants required.
Click here for detailed information about this program.
Fossil Traces in Swampy Places
Travel back in time to Colorado's ancient swamp environment filled with palm trees and the footprints of Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus. This program is a guided walking tour of our Golden, Colorado site: Triceratops Trail. (This tour does not take place onsite at Dinosaur Ridge.) Triceratops Trail is a hiking trail featuring a complete ancient ecosystem filled with worms, beetles, birds, lizards, and at least three different types of dinosaurs.
Length of program: 1.5 hours
Age Range: 3rd-12th
Maximum Program Capacity: 65 participants (including chaperones)
Fee & Deposit: Schools are $5/student and non-teacher chaperones. Teachers are free. Non-school groups are $7/person. Staff is free. Minimum deposit for 12 participants required.
Click here for detailed information about this program.
Dinosaur Freeways/ Cretaceous Seaways - Bus Tour or Walking Tour
Explore our world famous fossil sites! This program can be experienced as a walking tour or as a bus tour using your own bus(es) or van(s). Visit at least four areas on Dinosaur Ridge and interact with the bones and tracks of dinosaurs as well as unique geologic features. This program focuses on changing environments, geology, fossils, dinosaurs, and the history of the area. Our trained guides focus on fossils/rock layers and how they form, and how ancient climates are different from today and changed over time.
Length of program: 1.5 hours for bus tour, 2-3 hours for walking tour
Maximum Program Capacity: 50 participants (including chaperones) for bus tour, 25 people for walking tour
Fee & Deposit: Bus tour: $7 per person. Walking tour: $9/person. Minimum deposit for 12 people required.
Click here for detailed information about the walking tour or here for information about the bus tour.
Fossil Traces in Swampy Places
Travel back in time to Colorado's ancient swamp environment filled with palm trees and the footprints of Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus. This program is a guided walking tour of our Golden, Colorado site: Triceratops Trail. (This tour does not take place onsite at Dinosaur Ridge.) Triceratops Trail is a hiking trail featuring a complete ancient ecosystem filled with worms, beetles, birds, lizards, and at least three different types of dinosaurs.
Length of program: 1.5 hours
Maximum Program Capacity: 25 participants
Fee & Deposit: $7/person. Minimum deposit for 12 participants required.
Click here for detailed information about this program.
Register for any (or all) of these fun add-on activities. Your group is sure to love discovering minerals while Sluice Mining, learning fun new facts in our Jr. Paleontologist Workbook, or continuing the fun back home with our Dig Blocks.
Jr. Paleontologist Workbooks
This workbook works best with students in grades 2-4, but can be adapted for younger or older students. The workbook encourages students to complete scavenger hunts for the fossils visited on the tour and provides sections to write and draw what students see during the program. There are also post activities that can be completed on the bus ride back or in the classroom. See sample pages here. $2/student
Sluice Mining - Currently unavailable due to COVID-19
Sluice mining is a great hands-on activity that can be done before or after the tour, depending on the start time. Sluice mining has been a staple of river mining in Colorado since the Gold Rush in the 1860's. With a recreated sluice system, students can get a small bag of rough to clean, discovering a few mineral pieces, and then take their discovery home with them. Sluice mining is the fastest of the add-on activities, and is on on-site. It will take around 30-45 minutes to sluice with 100 students. $2/student
Dig Blocks
A dig block is a palm-sized piece of dried, plaster-like clay with three real marine fossils inside that you can take back to the classroom. The kit comes with the block, a brush, and a wooden chisel for each student. This activity can take up to an hour (depending on the student). We recommend that you take this activity with you to be done back at your classroom or at home. $2/student
Scholarships
Dinosaur Ridge offers full and partial scholarships for qualifying schools. These scholarships are available through the Field Experience Fund for Title I schools with 50% or more on the Free-and-Reduced-Lunch Program. For more information on our scholarships click here.
We also work with the Jefferson County Outdoors Foundation, which provides transportation reimbursement for qualifying schools.
Meeting Location for Onsite Programs:
Dinosaur Ridge Main Visitor Center (16831 W. Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465)
Schedule a Program
To begin the reservation process, please:
- Review the program options and add-on activities below.
- View the calendar below for available tour dates/times. PLEASE NOTE: This button opens Google calendar in a new window.
- Complete and submit the Scheduling Request Form at the bottom of this page. Please schedule at least two weeks in advance. For groups with youth aged 18 and younger, please also plan to provide one chaperone for every ten youths.
PLEASE NOTE: Your reservation is not confirmed until you receive email confirmation from us.
To schedule an on-site tour or program with us, please click the button below.
