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April 2006, Newsletter
RMDRC News
On March 4th, we had a great turnout for our guest speakers. The first was Jeffrey Patchen, CEO and
President of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis who discussed “Fundraising at TCM: How to Raise Money for Major Museum
Acquisitions”. This was a great insight to a successful program.
The next speaker was Warren Allmon, Director of the Museum of the Earth, who
gave a standing-room-only discussion on “Evolution and Creationism: A Guide for
Museum Docents.” Warren's talk is always in high-demand as it sheds light on both
topics. For more information, visit the Paleontological Research Institute
here.
We will be scheduling more of these "Hot Topics" later in the year with more great speakers.
On a different note, everybody deserves a Spring Break! This year
we are offering a break to you with a "Kids get in FREE with each paid adult admission"
special. (See
complete details in this newsletter). Bring the family and save through April
9th, 2006.
Sincerely,
Dave Ehlert
RMDRC Director
dave@rmdrc.com
Help Needed at the Dinosaur Center
To start immediately - We currently have an opening in Woodland Park, CO for a
Part-Time Visitor Experience Guide - for Saturdays (8:30am-5:30pm) and Sundays
(9:30am-5pm) with flexibility for possible Monday-Friday substitutions.
A Visitor Experience Guide ensures that our guests enjoy their visit by
answering questions, giving tours, showing guests actual fossil specimens, and
conducting a variety of activities at the kids area. These activities will
include demonstrations on paleontological techniques, geology, memory games,
story time, and other activities. Candidate must live in or near Woodland Park,
CO.
Contact Dave Ehlert / RMDRC Director via email (resume & cover letter
required) in MS Word format to
dave@rmdrc.com Interviews open through April
15th, 2006.
Dinosaur News
From around the world, here is the latest collection of recent finds and studies:
The article, "Fossil
ruffles feather evolution theory", discusses the hot topic of
evolution in feathered dinosaurs.
Read "Duck-billed
dinosaur story still a mystery for scientists" to learn a little more
about the "cows" of the Cretaceous known as Hadrosaurs.
Another meat eater has been uncovered in Italy. Check out the article "New
dinosaur unearthed in Italy" to learn more.
Lab News
Last month we unveiled the skull of Sophie, the giant Tylosaurus from Texas. In
the lab we are hard at work finishing the restoration and molding the rest of
the body. We have completed the pelvic and pectoral girdles, as well as the
paddles and neck vertebrae. Just a few more ribs, chevrons, and only 130 back and
tail vertebrae to go! We hope to have the first complete cast of this 40 foot
long monster on display in the coming months.
Preparation of specimens is also continuing, especially with our tyrannosaurid
from Montana. It is very slow going because the bones are in extremely hard
rock, but we have recently finished a femur, vertebrae, and ribs. Based on that
femur, we now estimate the animal to be up to 34 feet long when mounted. We are
also continuing work on a few kinds of fish, and a neat little ceratopsian (more
on these in the next issue).
Anthony Maltese
Paleo Technician
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Spring Break with the
Dinosaurs!
Looking for something fun and educational to do during Spring Break this year?
Why not bring the family to the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center for
Spring Break with the Dinosaurs?Kids get
in FREE with each paid adult admission* (*One FREE child with each PAID adult
admission- additional children are charged regular admission price. Offer not
valid with any other discounts, group rates or special events/programs. Must
present coupon at the entrance. Coupons available in Friday's GO! Offer valid
through April 9, 2006) "This is a great opportunity for families to enjoy the
Dinosaur Resource Center during Spring Break," states Marketing and Events
Coordinator Tracie
Bennitt. "You get to learn about dinosaurs, see and touch REAL fossils, and
step back in time 66 million years to see what used to roam the land, ocean and
air of Colorado."
The Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center is located in downtown Woodland
Park, 18 miles west of Colorado Springs on Hwy. 24. Additional information is
available on our web site at
www.rmdrc.com or call 719-686-1820. The
Dinosaur Resource Center is open 7 days a week. Be sure to visit Prehistoric
Paradise, the largest dinosaur store in Colorado, located in the Dinosaur
Resource Center.
"Dinosoles" Now Available
This is the perfect gift for those who walk the earth in search of that perfect
fossil!
DR-TREX - Stego, Trex, and Tric DinoRama
Shoe Wear 3D embossed design-360 degree full-wrap print-high frequency
welding, with dinosaur tracks for the soles!
  
X-10 TREX - Trex Shoe Wear 3D molded dino
figure-high quality suede-3 color rubber outsole, with dinosaur tracks for
the soles!
Click
here to purchase online or come on in
and try on a pair for yourself.
Upcoming
Exhibits & Events
Saturday, April 1st, 3-4pm
Kids
Craft Day
Make your own Dinosaur Nest!
For non-members, cost is additional $2 + Admission, FREE for members.
Open to children 12 and under.
Saturday, April 15th and
Sunday, April 16th.
Second Annual
Dino EGG-stravaganza
The event will be a weekend loaded with Dino Bingo, Dino
Musical Egg, Dino Story Time, and Face Painting. Mad Science will be on
hand Saturday for 2 presentations of their new show "Spin, Pop, BOOM!"
at 10:00am and 2pm. Activities kick off at 9:30am on Saturday and
10:00am on Sunday. Be sure to come in and join the fun activities at the
RMDRC. Most activities are FREE with paid museum admission. For more
information call 686 1820 x111 for more details or visit our website at
www.rmdrc.com.
There is an additional cost to "Make
your own Dinosaur Nest"! For non-members, cost is additional $2 +
Admission, FREE for members. Open to children 12 and under.
Friday, March 31st, at 6 pm
Mars Update at 60 Minutes in Space Lecture
Join us at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center for “60 Minutes
in Space” with Dr. Dimitri Klebe from the Denver Museum of Nature and
Science. Go behind the headlines with up-to-the-minute reports of
breakthroughs and events in space exploration. This month learn all
about the progress of the Mars Mission. The lecture is available for a
reduced admission price of $5. RMDRC members are FREE.
Kid's Summer Day Camps with the Dinos!
This summer we will be hosting summer day camps for children who
have completed grades K thru 6th grade. The month of June will focus on
Rocks & Minerals. The month of July will focus on Dinosaurs. Come join
the fun as we will conduct hands-on activities as well as lessons about
your child's favorite interests. Visit
www.rmdrc.com to find out more
information about the camps, or stop by the front desk to pick up the
information and forms. Don't forget to sign up for our Day Camps here at
RMDRC! Call 686 1820 x111 for more information.
Dino Art 2006
Our Prehistoric Poster Contest is ending April 30th. This year's
theme is "Diggin' Up Bones" so pick up your pencils and paints and get
started! Forms can picked up at our front desk or online at
www.rmdrc.com.
Coming this spring
A special collection of the artwork of Charles R. Knight Details to be announced soon.
Educationally Speaking
Teachers, are you in need of
recertification credit? Sign up for “Integrating Dinosaurs into Classroom
Curriculum” offered July 15th and 16th. This is good for 1 credit through the
School of Mines Teacher Enhancement Program. Call 686-1820 ex. 111 today for
information.
Our Summer Camp program is up
and running. Registration is currently in progress and classes are beginning to
fill. Start your own rock collection and determine how to identify your
specimens. Discover how a volcano works and why Pike’s Peak isn’t one. Learn
what characteristics define a dinosaur and how this helped them be the
incredibly successful group they were. Your child will not want to miss out on
this fun-filled week of interactive learning! Members receive a discount on any
course registration fees, so consider becoming a member today!
Regards,
Valerie Nakamura
Education Director
val@rmdrc.com
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