Visitors to Petrified Forest National Park are invited to attend the special programs scheduled in the coming days.
Dig Fossils for a Day on Saturday, May 21. This program is offered by Petrified Forest Field Institute and an additional fee is required; go online to http://www.petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/ for additional information. Prepare to get dirty digging in the Triassic Chinle Formation for fossil bones of giant amphibians, reptiles and even early dinosaurs! This one-day excursion provides an introduction to real paleontology field work.
In addition, cultural demonstrators with ancestral ties to the area share engaging skills and traditions from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Painted Desert Inn.
Geocaching is available daily at selected locations throughout the park. Anyone with a GPS device can play! There are several geocaches at Petrified Forest National Park where a hidden container can be found and a logbook signed. For more information on geocaching, visit Geocaching.com.
Junior Ranger programs are offered daily, offering youngsters an opportunity to explore, learn about and protect their national parks! Fun activities engage young visitors at Petrified Forest, and are rewarded with a badge and patch by finishing the appropriate number of activities. Pick up a booklet at any park visitor center.
Tours of the Painted Desert Inn are offered anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily at the park. The inn is a beautiful building with rich history and stunning views to boot. Ask any staff member in the building to give you a brief, personal tour during your visit, and if they can, they will.
