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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 19h

Welcome to "Jacket Palooza" with Elevation Science! This is a fun activity that we at Elevation Science have done many times throughout our summers. Sometimes, our field paleontologists and participants have lots of dinosaur fossils to jacket and so little time, so we jacket them at the same time!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Oops! Sorry for the misunderstanding! Jacket sponsorships are part of our spring/summer fundraiser. They will open again in the spring of 2027. We'd be happy for you to sponsor a jacket then! 😊 Having your name on a jacket full of dinosaur bones is AWESOME!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Depending on the age of your child, you can both either join us for a week, or join us for a day or two! Week-long program: elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e... Dino Discovery Days: elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-d... We teach you everything you need to know! Questions are welcome!

elevationscience.org

Fossil Dig Expeditions — Elevation Science Institute

Join us on the adventure of a lifetime and discover the ancient creatures that ruled the earth!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Thank you to Keith Guerin for sponsoring a field jacket for the 2026 season! This jacket is what we call a "JJ", made for smaller fossils that need a little extra protection for transport. Inside the jacket is a sauropod (🦕) vertebra, likely a caudal, which is part of the dinosaur's tail.

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

With all the advancements in technology today, is there a point to continue with actual "boots on the ground" fieldwork? We're here to tell you... Yes. Check out this latest story, featuring some of our field staff, to learn why going out into the field in the name of science is irreplaceable.

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Why are public lands so important? Public lands provide important habitats to native flora and fauna, clean water for local communities, and connections to our history and cultures. Get outside as much as you can. Visit your local parks and enjoy what nature has to offer. Love your public lands!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Registration for the 2027 field season is open, and YOU can be part of a grand dinosaur adventure! Dig for Jurassic dinosaurs in Montana & learn everything you need to know about hunting for and preserving fossils. Learn more and sign up: elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e...

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Many thanks to Alistair Kraft, Paleo Prep Lab volunteer at the Cincinnati Museum Center, for sponsoring a field jacket for the 2026 field season! This jacket holds several elements of dinosaur toes from the Skyewalker site, discovered by Hannah C. These toes were an exciting discovery this summer!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Someone's gotta get down in the dirt with the fossils... Guess that's us. 😎

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Thank you to our good friend Chuck for sponsoring a field jacket this year! This jacket contains sauropod (🦕) fossils from our Skyewalker locality. This site developed so much over the 2026 season, with possibly multiple species showing up in the fossil layer! We miss you, Chuck!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Thanks again to the Montana Limestone Company for making it possible to get these fossils on their way to the prep lab!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

On the final day of the field season, we called in reinforcements (AKA our friends at the Montana Limestone Company) so they might help us get these large jackets off the ground. With some careful maneuvering, the jackets were carried up the hill to the trailer.

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

This year, we had some pretty big blocks of both sauropod (🦕) and theropod (🦖) fossils. These blocks weighed too much to be lifted by hand; wooden pallets were built underneath the fossil blocks for support, then bolts were drilled into the wood as attachment points for straps.

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

How do paleontologists extract large blocks of fossils? On today's Fossil Friday, come with us to see how it's done!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

A jaw-some time at Alabama Fossil Fest! 🦈 Over 500 people showed up from near and far to learn more about paleontology — how amazing is that!? Thank you for having us!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Bonus pics from this year's Red Lodge Fun Run! Rick had a great time chatting with folks from all over, especially about dinosaurs and the important work we do at Elevation Science. It's incredible to see so many people interested in science education! Thanks to our friend Don for the pictures!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Thank you to Bonnie for sponsoring a field jacket for the 2026 field season! This jacket is from our SWB quarry, which contains one sauropod (long-neck dinosaur) and theropod (likely Allosaurus). The jacket is protecting a humerus (upper arm bone) belonging to the sauropod. How funny! ...Get it?

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The end of field season brings on some bittersweet feelings. Although we are home once again, we do find ourselves missing the field. For 8 weeks, we work together not only as a team but as a family. If you're missing us, and the dinosaurs, just know that we miss you too!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Today is the 2026 Red Lodge Fun Run! Stop by the Elevation Science booth, see real dinosaur fossils, and learn how you can support science education! www.rlacf.org/programs/thr...

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Sometimes, our quarries need love too. And who better to love them than our friend Hannah!? Huge thank you to Hannah for sponsoring M&M this year, a very fun site with several types of Jurassic dinosaurs!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

A great summer with our 2026 field interns! Listen in as Chal and Matthew tell us some important skills they developed during their time in the field with us. Thank you to the David B. Jones Foundation for making opportunities like these possible!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Looking back on yet another incredible field season! Thank you to everyone who hunted for new fossils, got down in the dirt, stuck their hands in plaster, shoveled to the max, hauled tools and jackets, and appreciated science and nature with us. We couldn't do this without you!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Run for science! 🏃🦖 Support Elevation Science in the 2026 Red Lodge Fun Run and help us bring real paleontology into classrooms through Ancient Worlds, Modern Classrooms. www.rlacf.org/programs/thr...

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Happy National Nonprofit Day! 🤍 We're grateful for every person who helps make Elevation Science's research and educational work possible. Your support helps us explore, discover, teach, and share science with others. Want to support our mission? elevationscience.org/fuel-discovery

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

"In honor of my brave daughter for her 1st solo trip in Belize! Proud of you, Lilly!" Thanks to our very own Executive Director, Jason Schein, for sponsoring a field jacket this year... And in honor of his daughter at that! What could be better than honoring someone than with dinosaurs?

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Big thank you to the Christiansen family for sponsoring lumber and construction this year! They've joined us in the field for years and have become great friends of ours. We're so grateful for their continued support!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Every discovery deserves to be shared with everyone. Support Elevation Science in the 2026 Red Lodge Fun Run and help us bring paleontology into classrooms through our Ancient Worlds, Modern Classrooms initiative. Learn more: www.rlacf.org/programs/thr...

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Join us today as we wish one of our field interns, Chalfant Conley, a very happy birthday! 🐢

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Spend your days preparing dinosaur fossils, supporting research, and helping museum visitors experience paleontology up close. We're hiring an Assistant Fossil Preparator! 🦴 elevationscience.org/fossil-prep-...

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Thank you to the Billings Public Library, the Red Lodge Carnegie Library, the Red Lodge Farmers' Market, the Carbon County Historical Museum, and the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary for being gracious hosts and partners in education!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Outreach week! Every season, we have the opportunity to visit libraries, museums, and other public places to bring paleontology to the masses. It's so much fun talking with dinosaur lovers from all over and getting to show off all the amazing things Elevation Science gets to work on.

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Please join us today in wishing our Director of Development, Devon Francis, a very happy birthday! 🎉

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Women in paleontology! Last week, we happened to notice that we had a group of incredible women working in the same area of the quarry. Each of these people, and all those we get to work with, are the picture of grace, good humor, hard work, and intelligence. We're honored to work alongside them!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Thank you to Susan Dayton for sponsoring a jacket for the 2026 field season! This jacket comes from the Elevation Science SWB quarry, which features a Jurassic sauropod (long-neck) and a theropod (hollow-boned, carnivorous) dinosaur. Inside this jacket is a tail vertebra from the sauropod!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Skye and Chal had a blast today with some little dino lovers. We talked dinosaurs, asked great science questions, got to see and touch real dinosaur fossils, and even got to dig for them!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

After 2 weeks in the field, our Field Paleontology students are on their way home! We're so proud of how much this group accomplished these last 2 weeks and we've greatly enjoyed watching them become close friends. We miss you already, students!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

When you can't beat the heat... Go above it! Elevation Science did just that today with a trip to northern Wyoming! Cool sights, cool rocks, cool animals, and SLIGHTLY cooler temperatures. Great way to spend the day!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Many thanks to Susan McDonald for sponsoring a large field jacket this year! This jacket contains elements from the Mother's Day Quarry, a world-famous site known for an assemblage of juvenile sauropods. We can't wait to get it back to the lab and learn even more about these awesome dinosaurs!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

It was great welcoming geology students from Missouri State University to our field sites this week! They toured the area, visited our excavations, and even tried fossil jacketing. Thanks for joining us; we had a great time!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Plaster, burlap, teamwork... and a little bit of a mess! Today our Field Paleontology students learned how to jacket fossils, creating protective the shells that keep our specimens safe on their journey from the field to the lab.

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

First day in the field with ERTH 491 students! This weekend, we welcomed this year's Field Paleontology students to the expedition. Over the next two weeks, these young scientists will learn how to excavate dinosaurs, grid and map a quarry, preserve and jacket fossils, and more!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Week 1 of our 2026 Field Season is done! Backfill removed ✔️ Quarries reopened ✔️ New bones discovered ✔️ A great start to the summer. Watch the latest vlog! youtu.be/USswd77MyL0?...

youtu.be

Opening the Dinosaur Quarries | Field Season 2026

YouTube video by Elevation Science Institute

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Please join us in wishing field technician Adam Johnson a very happy birthday today! 🎂

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

"To the best paleo team ever!" We had the pleasure of having our friend Timshel out in the field with us for Week 1 of the expedition. Thank you for being such a great part of the crew and for sponsoring a field jacket this year! ❤️🦕

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

We loved welcoming our 2025–2026 Fossil Preparation Intern, Brandan Miller, for a visit to the field! It was great showing him this season's excavations so far and catching up. Thanks for stopping by, Brandan!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Day 1 in the field! 🦴 Despite the cold, windy weather, our participants uncovered new bone and helped remove the backfill that protects our fossil sites over the winter. A great start to the 2026 field season and we're excited for tomorrow!

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