Museum Hours
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
year round
5 Day Fossil Dig Adventure Tour
100% of all Fossil Dig Adventure Tours found fossils in 2009! The success continues into 2010.
Now booking for 2010
The CFDC is offering a five day excursion this summer. Participants will experience a fossil dig with a palaeontologist.
Excursion Details
The CFDC is dedicated to educating and challenging the minds and imaginations of individuals. We invite you to join us in exploring the geological and paleontological history of Southern Manitoba.
Your tour begins at the CFDC with learning about the prehistoric geography of southern Manitoba and the wondrous life that existed here. The tour features a 13m (43ft) Mosasaur and other marine creatures of the Late Cretaceous Seas – from plesiosaurs to ammonites and sharks. The tour includes rock types and their roles with fossils. You will learn about fossil collecting techniques, identification and the significance of fossils.
In our CFDC van, you will be taken to our dig site, a 20 minute drive from the Centre on the Manitoba Escarpment, where you will have the opportunity of exploring and excavating an 80 million year old sea floor after a discussion on rock and mineral formation, use of tools and the history of the dig site.
Feel free to bring in any fossils or rocks you’ve always wanted identified.
When
- May to October - Please call to discuss.
Admission Fees
- Child - $450.00
- Adult - $500.00
Lunch is Provided
Note: Maximum seven participants
Forms
- Package information - pdf
- Registration form - pdf
Tour Includes
- A tour of the CFDC
- Transportation to and from dig site
- Five days of fossil excavation (tools and equipment will be supplied)
- Snacks and beverages at the dig site
- Rain day activities (fossil preparation in laboratory)
- Site seeing and hiking
- Local geography
- Lunch everyday
Additional Information
- Participants should be 14 years of age or over
- Maximum of seven people per excursion (separate registrants will be booked at same time to reach minimum participants needed).
- All participants are to meet at the CFDC. Once here, our team will go over the program’s itinerary as well as a few ground rules and regulations. Participants are required to sign a personal injury waiver before tour begins.
- Please provide any allergy or dietary information on your registration.
- We ask that you respect the arrival time scheduled for your tour.
- All participants must wear appropriate clothing and footwear (NO sandals). Appropriate footwear is a must... you will be hiking on ground upon which sure footing is required.
- It is important to emphasize that any fossils found at the site (and according to our curator, there are lots out there!) MUST REMAIN AT THE SITE. We are regimented by laws in regards to our digs and it is imperative that we follow these regulations.
- If it is necessary for you to cancel your booking, we ask that you inform us as soon as possible.
Contact
Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre
111-B Gilmour Street
Morden MB R6W 1N9
Phone: (204) 822-3406
Fax: (204) 272-3303
Email: info@discoverfossils.com
Itinerary
Tentative and subject to change.
Monday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
| 9:30 am | Meet at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre |
| 9:30 - 11:00 | Guided Museum Tour of the CFDC, including Laboratory |
| 11:00 – 11:15am | Break and hand out information packages |
| 11:15 – 12:00 pm | Introduction to Fossil Preparation |
| 12:00 – 12:45 pm | Check-in at Bed and Breakfast, Hotel or Campground |
| 12:45 – 1:45 pm | Break for lunch with CFDC staff |
| 1:45 pm | Meet at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre |
| 1:45 pm – 2:15 pm | Drive to the Dig Site with CFDC van |
| 2:15 pm – 2:45 pm | Review and Discuss Field Techniques |
| 2:45 pm – 4:30 pm | Dig / Excavate (breaks at site – snacks & drinks supplied by CFDC) |
| 4:30 pm | Drive back to Morden |
Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
| 9:00 am | Meet at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre |
| 9:30 – 10:00 am | Paleontologist’s Talk (Discuss finds from previous day’s dig and address any questions) |
| 10:00 – 10:30 am | Drive to the Dig Site with CFDC van |
| 10:30 – 12:00 pm | Dig / Excavate |
| 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Break for lunch with CFDC staff |
| 1:00 – 4:30 pm | Dig / Excavate (breaks at site – snacks & drinks supplied by CFDC) |
| 4:30 pm | Drive back to Morden |
In the Event of Rain
An Indoor Program is in place to offer a suitable program alternative if rain disrupts our opportunity to offer the Fossil Dig Adventure Tours.
The program begins with a Guided V.I.P. Tour of the museum. The program also includes an introduction to fossil collecting techniques, identification and the significance of fossils.
Participants will spend the duration of the program with a museum guide participating in the activities that paleontologists do during the winter months (or rainy summer days).
A rain day discount will be offered when this program is pursued as an alternative to booked Fossil Dig Adventure Tours. Keep your booking and enjoy this indoor alternative!
What to Bring
Please ensure the following are brought with you to Morden, Manitoba. We will be traveling in 1 vehicle with limited room for bag space. Our base camp will be on the Escarpment and does not include running water or power.
Field Supplies
- Back pack or ruck sack
- Basic necessities – water bottle, sunscreen & hat
- Appropriate foot wear – hiking boots
- Manitoba Manual
- Optional: notebook, camera, GPS
Clothing
- Shorts - field and recreation
- Pants, jeans or cargo pants - field and recreation
- Shirts - please bring appropriate shirts for all temperatures
- Warm long sleeve shirt - hoody or sweatshirt
- Rain gear - top and bottom
- Warm jacket for cool evenings
- Recreational shoes/shower shoes
- Recreational clothing for adventures into town
- Bathing suit - for showers or swimming on hot days
Southern Manitoba temperatures in summer vary. We can expect thunderstorms with cooler winds or warm extremely humid days. Please be prepared for various weather.
Note: A manual with more detailed information will be provided to you after booking your tour.