The undergraduate class The Dinosaurs (GEOL 240) is designed for students from any major who would like to satisfy a general education requirement in laboratory science by engaging in a real science research project. The program consists of a balance of instruction in technique, practical experience in excavating fossils, an overview of dinosaur life, and general science concepts and principles.
 
College and University Students
Four semester hours of university undergraduate laboratory science credit from Southwestern Adventist University may be earned during the four-week excavation season by any college or university student, including those that have just graduated from high school. You may qualify for a scholarship to cover a portion of your tuition and participation costs, and you will be notified when you apply.
 
High School Juniors and Seniors
There is a special program for interested and qualified high school students who have completed their sophomore or junior year but have not yet graduated to earn four semester hours of university laboratory science credit from Southwestern Adventist University during the four-week excavation season. You may qualify for a scholarship to cover a portion of your tuition and participation costs, and you will be notified when you apply.
 
How to Apply
If you are already a Southwestern Adventist University student, then you will need to submit a project application and register with your advisor for GEOL 240.
 
Project Application opens January 2026
 
If you are not already a Southwestern Adventist University student, then you will need to submit both a project application and a university application to Southwestern Adventist University.
 
Project Application opens January 2026
University application for GEOL 240, The Dinosaurs class, opens January 2026
(On the Admissions page, scroll down to locate the application for the Dinosaur Excavation and Taphonomic Research Project for college credit.)
 
Next Steps
An admission decision will be made after we have received and reviewed your project and university applications, including transcripts and other supporting documents as required by Southwestern Adventist University.
 
Once you have been accepted, a $200 nonrefundable deposit is required to secure your position in the course. This deposit must be received within 30 days after being notified of your acceptance. For all applications accepted after April 15, this deposit must be received by May 15. Please send a check or money order payable to:
 
Earth History Research Center
100 West Hillcrest St.
Keene, Texas 76059

The Dinosaur Project welcomes all interested volunteers to join us as “citizen scientists” in this exciting scientific research! We will provide you with the training you need to work with our dig team to excavate and recover dinosaur bones and other fossils. Citizen scientists are welcome to join us for any length of time from a single day to up to the full four weeks.
 
The project welcomes families with children, but please consider the following advice and guidelines. Our excavation project is a serious scientific study dealing with fragile specimens and requiring accurate data recording. With training, children can do limited work at the dig site, but must be supervised by a parent, guardian, or other adult at all times. Please see our [FAQ page] for more information about attending the dig with children.
 
How to Apply  
All interested volunteers must complete a project application that includes everyone in their group.
 
Project Application opens January 2026
 
Next Steps
An admission decision will be made after we have received and reviewed your project application.
 
Once you have been accepted, a $200 nonrefundable deposit for each member of your group is required to secure your reservation for the dig season. This deposit must be received within 30 days after being notified of your acceptance. For all applications accepted after April 15, this deposit must be received by May 15. Please send a check or money order payable to:
 
Earth History Research Center
100 West Hillcrest St.
Keene, Texas 76059

Every year, the Dinosaur Project hosts scientists, educators, and pastors from many different countries. Our international guests are important contributors to the project, and they share what they learn with others in their home countries.
 
Funding may be available for international participants to assist with participation costs and travel. Once your project application has been accepted, we will provide instructions on how to apply for funding.
 
How to Apply
All international guests must complete a project application that includes everyone in their group.
 
Project Application opens January 2026
 
Next Steps
An admission decision will be made after we have received and reviewed your project application. We will contact you directly regarding the availability of funding and how to apply for it. A project director will guide you in preparing to travel to the research station.

The project is based at the Hanson Research Station. The facilities include a building equipped with electricity, clean hot water, private showers and restrooms, a kitchen, and a meeting room. We also have a satellite internet connection primarily for project use, though it can be utilized for limited personal contact as well. Participants are responsible for their own accommodations, typically in the form of a tent, but camping trailers, RVs, and similar options are also acceptable. To ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone, we ask all participants to be considerate of one another.

The Field Paleontology Research course is conducted on a private cattle ranch in eastern Wyoming. The region is low rolling grasslands at an elevation of about 4,200 feet. 

Ranch rules
One of the most important things to understand is that we are all there as guests of the ranch owners. It is our duty to respect the land, the flora, the fauna, and the owners. Cattle must be left undisturbed; shut all thru-fence gates; report any breaks in the fences; drive only along established paths; and generally leave the area the same as, if not better than, when we first arrived. We are to obey rules and requests by the ranch owners. Please note that the gravel/dirt road off the paved highway traverses private property. Drive carefully and be vigilant and cautious whenever cattle are present near the road. 

Campsite 
The campsite has a central facility with bathrooms, showers, a kitchen, and a meeting area. Sleeping will be in individual tents or other personal facilities. Electricity and hot-and-cold, running water are available. The kitchen facilities contain an electric stove, oven, and refrigerators. You will be able to recharge cell phones, etc. We also have a satellite internet connection and a computer wireless network in the camp area. There are a limited number of hookups for RVs or other such camping equipment. Everyone will have his or her own tent and sleeping bag or another camping setup. The only exception is for married couples and children that share sleeping quarters with their families.

 
Weather 
The weather is dry with occasional rainy days. The wind can be quite strong and constant. The temperature can be so low that you may find occasional frost at dawn, and it can be more than 100 degrees in the afternoon of the same day. Because of the unpredictable nature of the weather, you need to be flexible. One goal of the research project is to perform as much careful quarrying as possible. We try to take advantage of all the dry days to do so. There are other activities for rainy days! 

Food and meals 
A hot breakfast and dinner will be prepared for you, and materials for a sack lunch are set out in the morning for you to make your own lunch. Lunch is eaten at the quarry site. The fare is basically Ovo-lacto vegetarian; however, we try to accommodate vegan and limited omnivore diets. 
The use of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, and illegal drugs are not permitted in the camp or the quarries. Smoking anywhere on the ranch is prohibited. 

Gear 
All the tools and eye protection that you will need will be provided. No one can work in a quarry without eye protection. While some shade is typically arranged for when working in the quarry, you need to consider serious protection from the sun. It is very easy to develop a painful sunburn. Appropriate clothing is essential. Cover exposed skin with opaque materials. Generally, long pants; a light, long-sleeved shirt; a hat; and a generous application of sunblock (SPF 45 or higher). Do not overdress. Heatstroke or heat exhaustion is a potential problem at times if you are not used to the warm climate. What is ideal to wear for early morning may not work well in the hot afternoon. Dress in layers. 

Laundry 
Laundry is typically done once a week on Friday afternoons. Therefore, you will need to bring a nine or ten day's supply of clothing.

 
Water consumption You are expected to fill your own canteen or water bottle each morning and carry it with you. Drinking water will be transported to the quarry each day for you to refill your supply when it is exhausted. Near the quarry is a port-a-potty, so there is no excuse to restrict your water intake. At times the working conditions are quite dry—it is easy to become dehydrated. Drink lots of water and drink often! 

Eyewear 
If you normally wear contact lenses, consider wearing glasses for the duration. Glasses provide the eye with protection that is required in the quarry and some protection against wind-driven dust. 

Jewelry 
If you wear a wedding band or other rings, seriously consider removing them during your time onsite. A ring can be damaged or lost and can easily become glued to your finger when working with the Bone Bond.  

Handwear 
Gloves may be desired. However, do not wear fabric gloves when working with Bone Bond. Superglue on the glove sets very fast, becomes hot, and can burn and/or glue your finger to the glove. Generally, gloves are useful to protect your hands when moving matrix, but they are cumbersome when working with delicate bones. 

Cell service 
The area is marginal for cell phone use. You may need to walk from the campsite to the top of a ridge or the quarry site to get a reliable signal. Not all cell phone service providers are equal—some provide service in camp, some at the top of a nearby ridge, and some not at all. 

Transportation 
The quarry site is located about one mile from the campsite. The route is not rugged, and has a slow uphill section from the campsite, a level section, and a slow descent to the quarry. You will generally walk this route. A van or pickup truck is driven out to the site to carry equipment, water, etc. If there is room, then you may have the van transport your pack. 

Saturdays and Sundays
Work in the quarries and lectures occur primarily Monday through Friday. The period from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday is observed as a day of rest by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. During this time, work and classes cease. Normal chores are suspended, and meals are generally prepared by the directors of the project. All participants are invited to attend worship activities in the morning. In the afternoon, activities, such as nature hikes, bird watching, travel to see the natural sites of the Black Hills, etc., are typically available. Sunday is, especially if the weather is good, often a day of work in the quarries. However, chores and quarry activities are not required for those who prefer to respect this day as a sabbath. 

Tent 
A rugged tent that can take strong winds is a must. Dome tents with only two over-the-top poles are inadequate. Please be certain your tent has at least three over-the-top poles or the equivalent. If your tent comes with slender, lightweight, backpacking "stakes," you will want to acquire sufficient heavy-duty ones to stake your tent firmly to the ground. Bring a tarp or other ground cloth to go under your tent. If you want to know what to expect, think of driving down the freeway at 50 miles per hour in heavy rain with your tent on top of your car!

Sleeping bag 
A warm sleeping bag with a trouble-free, adequate mattress pad is important. You will want more than the half-inch insolate backpacking pad. An inflatable mattress pad works well but can be prone to leaks. 

Luggage 
Pack your things in a duffle bag or other such container. It is suggested that the bottom be waterproof. Do not use plastic garbage bags to hold anything of value. It is too easy for things packed in garbage bags to be mistaken for trash and discarded. 

Clothing 
You will want to bring durable work clothes, such as jeans, etc., that can be worn in layers. Heavy hiking or work boots are not necessary, but you will want comfortable sports shoes. Flip-flops are not appropriate for work in the quarries. It is possible that you may be walking to the quarry in wet grass in the morning. There also may be the possibility of needing to do some work in mud. A sweatshirt can seem luxurious on cool, windy mornings. Laundry is typically done once a week on Friday afternoons. Therefore, you need to bring a nine or ten day's supply of clothing.

Day pack 
You will need a day pack to carry your lunch, dry socks, sunblock, camera, Field Notebook, or whatever you need for the day. Quarry tools are stored at the quarry site. 


Things that will be supplied: 
You do not need to bring: 

• Quarry tools 
• Eye protection 
• Laundry detergent and dryer sheets 
• Cooking and eating utensils

Things to bring:

• Personal items
• Cash (for washing clothes and purchasing personal items) 
• Credit card for personal purchases 
• Driver's license or identification 
• Filled-out participant forms*

*Copies will be available for you to fill out when you arrive. If you are a minor without a parent or guardian, then you need to bring signed copies of the participant forms.

Medical things to bring:

• Sunblock (as high of SPF as possible) 
• Insect repellent 
• General analgesic (Aspirin, Tylenol,  Advil) 
• Vitamins 
• Any prescription medications 
• Glasses (if needed) 
• Sunglasses 

Books to bring:

• Devotional reading 
• Recreational reading 
• Field Notebook* 
• Textbook 
• Notebook for taking notes 
• Writing implements 

*If you do not have one, then you may acquire one when you arrive. 

Camping gear to bring:

• Good tent 
• Ground cover 
• Hefty tent stakes 
• Sleeping bag 
• Good sleeping pad or mattress 
• Pillow 
• Laundry bag (pillowcase will work—avoid the use of a garbage bag) 
• Canteen or heavy-duty water bottle 
• Small backpack 
• Sturdy duffle bag (waterproof bottom is desirable) 
• Flashlight (with spare batteries) 
• Alarm clock and/or watch 
• Toiletries 

Clothing to bring:

• Sturdy shoes 
• Hat 
• Jeans or work pants 
• Shorts 
• T-shirts 
• Long-sleeved shirt 
• Sweatshirt and/or jacket 
• Rain Pancho 
• Socks 
• Underwear 
• Towel (thin towel will dry faster) 
• Shower flip-flops (must be used for showers, may be used in camp—not appropriate for work in quarries) 

Other optional items to bring:

• Camera 
• Cell phone 
• Hand lens 
• Gloves 
• Binoculars 
• Personal music source 
• Compute (limited wireless internet is available in camp) 
• Folding camp chair 

Do not overpack! 

Keep in mind that on the return trip, space may be limited. The priority for space is in this order: 

• Recovered fossil material 
• People 
• Equipment 
• Personal items 

 

Travel to and from the Hanson Research Center

Traveling With the Dig Team from Southwestern Adventist University

Students enrolled in our summer class, The Dinosaurs, and international guests may reserve a seat in one of two 12-passenger vans traveling from the university.
 
Our caravan leaves in the morning and travels through the day and night to arrive at the research station the following morning. The trip is approximately 21 hours.
 
Personal vehicles are also welcome to join the caravan.

Arriving On Your Own by Personal Vehicle

If you are traveling to the research station in a personal vehicle, we will provide you with detailed driving directions once your application has been approved.  Please note that arriving at the site involves travel on gravel roads and dirt tracks. With that said, most cars, trucks, and RVs have arrived at the site without any serious issues. Rain can make the roads muddy and slick, so proceed with caution if you are arriving during or just after a hard rain.
 
It is important that the location of the project site remain confidential. This is to protect both the site and the fossil remains from theft or vandalism. Please do not share the driving directions.

Arriving by Air

The Rapid City Regional Airport in Rapid City, South Dakota, is the nearest airport. From here, you have two options for local travel to the research station:
 
Option 1: You can reserve a rental car at the airport so that you can travel to and from the dig site on your own schedule.
 
Option 2: You can request pick-up and drop-off in one of our 12-passenger vans. There is a transport fee of $60 for each one-way trip to or from the airport.
 
Please note that this is not a regular daily service that we provide. You may be asked to adjust your dates of travel to align with other arrivals, departures, or scheduled project activities. You may be asked to wait at the airport for a later pick-up time on the day you arrive. If you arrive later in the evening, there may not be a pick-up available until the next day and you may need to find a place to stay in Rapid City. It is critical that you discuss your arrival and departure dates and times with a project director before selecting your flight.
 
Pick-up and drop-off are not available on the following days of the 2025 Dig Season:
Thursday, May 29
Saturday, May 31
Saturday, June 7
Saturday, June 14
Saturday, June 21
Wednesday, June 25
Thursday, June 26

Participants, except for the project leaders and technical staff who have other responsibilities, are assigned to one of three or four chore groups. Generally, these chore groups correspond to a given quarry group or individuals from a set of quarries. The responsibilities are rotated daily, so no one individual will have the same responsibilities from one day to the next. This way we all get to help the camp and the project run smoothly. The routine chores are performed by the designated chore group except on Sabbaths. 

On Sabbaths, meals are prepared by the project leaders (and any who wish to help), and the food preparation and the washing of serving items are also done by the leaders. Worships are arranged. No routine cleaning chores are performed. The rotation continues through Saturday even though no duties are performed to ensure that chores are shared among the groups. 
 

Each Friday afternoon work in the quarries is halted early so participants can shower and collect their laundry for a trip to Newcastle. This trip usually includes an opportunity for camp grocery shopping as well as an opportunity for each participant to make some personal purchases. Dinner for Friday evening is typically at one of Newcastle's fine eateries. 

Other trips to visit appropriate sites in the Black Hills area may be taken on any selected day. At the beginning of the Sabbath hours on Friday evening, and the end of the Sabbath Saturday evening, there is an informal worship usually including enthusiastic music. The project leaders are responsible for it. 
 
Destinations may include: 

• Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota 
• Black Hills Institute in Hill City, South Dakota 
• Geology Museum at the South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City, South Dakota 

In addition, there may be an opportunity to visit some other interesting sites, such as: 

• Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota 
• Custer State Park in Custer, South Dakota 
• Devils Tower National Monument in Devils Tower, Wyoming 
• Crazy Horse Monument in Crazy Horse, South Dakota 

Working in quarries can be enjoyable and safe provided a few general rules are kept in mind. 
 

Liability and medical forms must be filled out and signed before working in the quarries. 

• Forms may be filled out and brought or obtained when you arrive. 
• All participants under the age of 18 must have the forms signed by a parent or guardian. 

Use protection from the sun. 

• Sunscreen, clothing, hat, shade, etc. can help prevent sunburn or the effects of heat exposure. 
• Do not wear heavy clothing that can inhibit cooling when it is hot. 

Keep your water bottle nearby and drink water!

• Everyone is to have their own personal water bottle—do not forget it back at camp! 
• All the drinking water you can drink will be supplied—refill your water bottle or canteen often. 
• If you are not visiting the bone head, you are not drinking enough. 
• Do not waste drinking water either by drinking directly from the containers or washing unless absolutely necessary. 

Always wear eye protection.

Either glasses or the supplied goggles are to be worn at all times. 

Work only in your assigned area. 

Always follow the instruction of the quarry supervisor and project leaders—they know where it is important to work to further the goals of the project. 

If you need to leave a work area, notify your quarry supervisor. 

It is respectful and courteous to let those who are responsible know where you are at all times. 

Do not wear fabric gloves when working with Bone Bond. 

A spill onto fabric can burn your skin and glue the burn to the gloves. 

If you glue fingers together or fingers to a bone, notify the quarry supervisor. 

The experienced quarry supervisors know what to do to help you. 

Assemble promptly for lunch or for transportation back to camp. 

• Your procrastination causes others to wait. 
• Stop working a few minutes early to take care of bone head visits so you will not be late. 
• If there is an unavoidable delay (such as the GPS finally arrived), then let your quarry supervisor know. 

Do not take any tools or supplies from any quarry without notifying the quarry supervisor. 

• Each quarry supervisor has a set of tools. 
• Generally extra Bone Bond and other supplies are kept in a central area. 

Each person working in the quarry should have a Field Notebook in which they record important information. It is a vital part of the recording and documentation process. Generally, you will have your own. However, for those who are working only for a few days, a shared one will be supplied. If you have one from previous years, then please continue using it. The Field Notebook may be obtained from the director of the project. The cost is $5. 

Liability Form

Medical Information Form

Children aged 12 and under are 50% off the daily cost ( $34/day first two weeks; $29/day each day after two weeks)
Day visitors who are not joining us for meals are $35/day for an adult and $18/day for children 12 and under.

Daily costs up to two weeks' stay
Site fees: $35/day
Food: $33/day
Total: $68/day
 
Daily cost after two weeks stay
Site fees: $33/day
Food: $25/day
Total: $58/day
 
The total for all of our on-site days in the 2025 dig season will be $1706. 

Please keep in mind that this is a remote location, and we are only able to offer limited RV amenities. We have six sites with hookups for electricity, water, and sewer. These sites have 30-amp service, and the connection distance ranges from about 50 to 200 feet. When the sites are full, you may only be able to use the electricity intermittently. There is a $10/night fee to use the sites with hookups. These sites are available first-come first-served. There are more spaces available without connections where you are welcome to dry camp.

Newcastle, Wyoming, is about 30 miles away from the research station. Newcastle has grocery stores, gas stations, a laundromat, restaurants, hotels, a small hospital, and an urgent care clinic.

Rapid City Regional Airport in Rapid City, South Dakota, which is about a 2.5-hour drive (or 120 miles) from the research station. You can find more information about arriving by air in the Travel and Arrival section above.
 

Yes, families with children are welcome to join us. Children who have expressed a real interest and can follow instructions will have a very enriching experience. Younger participants will need close adult supervision. In our experience, most children can handle a few days of digging. A week or more can be “too much of a good thing”! Dig days are long, and the weather can sometimes be challenging.

It can be distracting and potentially dangerous for all participants if children are not adequately supervised. This implies that adults who are accompanying children should not expect to devote 100% of their time to working with the bones.
 

Yes, if your dog is willing to abide by our camp rules and is safe to be around people and other dogs. Your dog must be on a leash when you are at the research station or at the RV camping area. You may let your dog enjoy some off-leash exercise away from these areas. However, please note that this is a “wild” place with cactus, thorny shrubs, and rattlesnakes. Dogs are not allowed inside the research station building or at the dig sites, except for trained service dogs. You will need to make appropriate arrangements for your dog to stay in camp while you are digging during the day.

No, the research station does not offer any sleeping accommodations inside the building. All participants who stay on site will stay in either a tent, an RV, or another suitable vehicle.

Our major area of interest is called taphonomy, which is an aspect of paleontology concerned with how an animal dies and becomes part of the fossil record. We wish to learn how this large fossil assemblage came to be buried in this location. GIS technology is essential to our research, and we use high-precision GPS equipment to map each fossil as it is uncovered. We carefully record the exact locations of the fossils, identify and excavate them, then transport them to the museum at SWAU for additional preservation and study.

We find the disarticulated remains of several upper Cretaceous dinosaurs, including Edmontosaurus, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus, Nanotyrannus, Dromaeosaurus, and Pachycephalosaurus. You can search our full catalog of recovered fossils at [https://fossil.swau.edu]

The short answer is a tent that can hold up in some very intense wind. Many first-time diggers do not take this seriously enough! If you are already investing in your trip to the research station to dig with us, it makes sense to also invest in a tent that will keep you sheltered every night. The Wyoming wind claims several tents every dig season – don’t let it be yours! We recommend a dome tent that has more than two poles supporting the body. Bring plenty of good stakes - you’ll need one for each of the tie-down strings and the corners of your tent. We are happy to help you set up when you arrive at camp!

A good pair of comfortable hiking boots or durable hiking sneakers will work well for our daily work at the dig sites and also for exploring the ranch. You will probably want something a little lighter and more comfortable to wear around camp. We also recommend that you bring a pair of shower shoes.

We serve breakfast and dinner at the research station. At breakfast, we pack a lunch to take with us to the dig sites. The main entrée at each meal will be vegetarian, although vegan, gluten-free, or non-vegetarian options may be available if these preferences were indicated in your application.