Dinosaur Journey Volunteer in “Fruita Times”

Our very own Kay Fredette was featured in the Fruita Times.

Dinosaur Journey volunteer gives back to Fruita 

By Debbie Roberts, Special to the Fruita Times

February 5, 2009

“Volunteers have been an integral part of Dinosaur Journey for decades. And they are not just tour guides. At the museum they do everything from cleaning and reassembling bones found in the quarry, to visiting schools to educate students through outreach programs.

Kay Fredette has been volunteering with Dinosaur Journey since 1986, and has seen a lot since she started. The biggest find the museum has had, the Mymoorapelta, is North America’s fist Pre-Cretaceous ankylosaur, was found in the Mygatt-Moore quarry. It is currently on display at the museum.

“We are trained to learn and recognize the bones which we clean and reassemble here in the lab,” said Fredette.

Anyone can volunteer, and no experience is necessary. The volunteers are trained right in the facility for free and there is no expense to the volunteer. Normally, new volunteers work for at least 20 hours in the lab before they are sent to work in the quarry, so they can learn how to identify different bones and fossils.

Fredette says lots of teeth are found in the quarry.  “We find lots of teeth because dinosaurs used to shed them like snakes shed their skins. They would fall out and new ones would grow back in their place.”

Those who volunteer at the museum make casts, which is where replicas of bones found are duplicated and sold in the gift shop. There is normally a volunteer performing this task while the museum is open so visitors can see just how it works up close.

There are many opportunities for volunteers. After working in the lab, they are able to lead expeditions in the summer, or they may work in the museum doing slide presentations and discussions for groups that visit. 

There are tours of fossil digs a Rabbit Valley and Fruita Paleontological Area, even a geology at Dinosaur Hill. Volunteers help clean and document all the finds that come into the museums, and Fredette says over 4, 000 specimens have been pulled out of the quarry.  The smallest find is usually teeth and larger finds are normally humerus bones. There is never a dull moment for volunteers…”

Find out more about volunteer opportunites here.