Elevation Science for Natural History Exploration

Elevation Science for Natural History Exploration Paleontology fieldwork, research, education, and outreach.

The Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to paleontology and earth science research and education.

06/19/2026

Happy Fossil Friday! 🦴🦕 Take a look at this sauropod femur!

The femur is the thigh bone, and in sauropods (long-neck dinosaurs) it served as one of the primary weight-bearing b0nes in the body. Some sauropod femora could reach lengths of more than 6 feet (2 meters), helping support animals that were among the largest to ever walk on land.

06/18/2026

NEXT MONTH!!!! Saturday, July 11, 2026
10:00 AM
Carbon County Historical Society & Museum
FREE ADDMISSION DAY!

Elevation Science is a nonprofit focused on paleontological and natural history research, education, and outreach. Their work is based in the Bighorn Basin of Montana, with their home base located right here in Red Lodge!
Come check out their Pop-Up Museum, where you can interact with fossils and cool finds from their adventures out in the Bighorn Basin!
In honor of their work in the area, the Carbon County Historical Society & Museum is hosting with FREE ADMISSION!!!

Only 2 spots remain for Week 7 of our 2026 Paleontology Expedition!Join us in Montana for a week of hands-on paleontolog...
06/17/2026

Only 2 spots remain for Week 7 of our 2026 Paleontology Expedition!

Join us in Montana for a week of hands-on paleontology, fossil excavation, scientific discovery, and unforgettable experiences in the field.

Whether you're hoping to find your first dinosaur fossil, learn field methods, or simply experience life at a real dig site, we'd love to have you join us.

Visit https://elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-expeditions to learn more and reserve your spot.

06/16/2026

NEXT MONTH!! Thursday, July 9, 2026
5:00 PM
Carbon County Historical Society & Museum
Explore the prehistoric world of dinosaurs in the Bighorn Basin with Jason P Schein!

Jason Schein is a writer, naturalist, explorer, educator, and a paleontologist. He grew up in Alabama, and with encouragement from his family, inherited and developed from an early age a deep love and fascination with nature - both past and present. Early memories of fossil-hunting trips around the state and the unbridled exhilaration accompanying every discovery fueled his imagination and drive through graduate school and into his professional career. He now dedicates his time to sharing and creating similar experiences with his own family and others.

Jason is the Founding Executive Director of the Elevation Science Institute (formerly known as the Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute). He also serves as a researcher and educator within the organization.

Earlier this month, Elevation Science was happy to extend an outreach opportunity to students from Red Lodge High School...
06/16/2026

Earlier this month, Elevation Science was happy to extend an outreach opportunity to students from Red Lodge High School along with science teacher Summer Graber.

The Red Lodge team was the first one to work at the Skyewalker B site in 2026 and officially found the first new fossils of the season including several sauropod toe bones, a large tail vertebra, and what has since turned into a series of articulated tail vertebrae.

Great job by the Red Lodge students!

Today's Fossil Friday: Tunneling!How do we safely remove large fossils from the ground?One technique we use is called tu...
06/12/2026

Today's Fossil Friday: Tunneling!

How do we safely remove large fossils from the ground?

One technique we use is called tunneling. After the top plaster jacket has hardened, we carefully dig tunnels beneath the fossil while leaving enough rock to support its weight. This allows us to pass strips of burlap underneath and apply additional plaster from below.

The process is done as a team, with people working from opposite sides of the jacket to reinforce the underside. The number of tunnels depends on the size of the specimen.

By the end, the fossil is protected by a strong plaster shell that helps it safely make the journey from the field to the lab.

06/11/2026

You can almost smell the sagebrush.

06/11/2026

Don’t miss our latest episode! Catch it on our YouTube channel and all major podcast platforms.

Field season is almost here!The countdown is on, and before long we'll be back in Montana digging fossils, exploring the...
06/10/2026

Field season is almost here!

The countdown is on, and before long we'll be back in Montana digging fossils, exploring the landscape, and sharing another summer of discovery.

If you're joining us for the 2026 field season, we'd love to hear from you: what are you most looking forward to?

Is it finding your first dinosaur fossil? Learning how to excavate and jacket fossils? Exploring new places? Meeting fellow fossil enthusiasts? Or simply experiencing Montana for the first time?

Tell us in the comments!

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Red Lodge, MT
59068

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