KANSAS

Kansas Archaeology Month takes place in April. For more information, visit: http://www.ksarchaeo.info/KAM/KAM/index.html.

Kansas Archeology Training Program
The Kansas State Historical Society and the Kansas Anthropological Association sponsor this field school for 10-16 days in June at a different site each year (2012's site is Fool Chief's Village). Children must be at least 10 years of age to participate, and children under 14 must work alongside a parent or sponsoring adult. For more information, visit: http://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-archeology-training-program-katp-field-school/14623.

The University of Kansas Natural History Museum offers a variety of programs for children, including summer camps. They also have a large fossil collection. Children can touch the fossilized femur of Camarasaurus, learn about the evolution of ancient plants and trees, and discover invertebrate fossils, including ammonites, trilobites and giant squid. For more information, call (785) 864-4540, or visit: http://www.nhm.ku.edu/.

Kansas Historical Society provides Project Archaeology, three archaeology units for Kansas classrooms. Teachers can also borrow one of their travelling trunks. For more information: http://www.kshs.org/portal_educate

The Sternberg Museum of Natural History, located in the world-famous, cretaceous chalk beds of the Niobrara Formation, features fossils of amazing animals. A huge walk-through diorama of both land and sea environments allows visitors to experience the plants and animals of this exciting time. The exhibit is complete with sounds and moving replicas, including a Tyrannosaurus rex.

Many of the educational offerings focus on paleontology, especially the paleontology of dinosaurs and the famous chalk beds nearby. Whenever possible, the Demonstration Laboratory is staffed with student and volunteer workers. While they are there, you can see fossil preparation and other tasks that are an on-going part of the museum's research programs. In addition to fossils, you can see many other exciting traveling and temporary exhibitions. And don't forget to visit the Discovery Room for hands-on learning and fun! For more information, call (877) 332-1165, or visit its Web site at: http://sternberg.fhsu.edu.

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