Jurassic Fest – Passion for the Past
Wyoming Dinosaur Center welcomes you to the inaugural
Featuring Dr. Dean Lomax and WHY Dinosaurs?
This weekend adventure celebrates all your favorite dinosaur classics of the Jurassic, with unique activities and special guests, professional lectures and hands-on experiences you won’t find anywhere else!
- Create your own fossil cast!
- Learn to Site Map and preserve all of our dinosaur dig sites!
- Dig for fossils in premade dig kits!
- Create computer models of dinosaur bones with 3D scanning and printing!
- Compete against other dino-fans in Dinosaur Trivia
SPECIAL MORNING FIELD TRIPS:
Dig Experience!
Hunting for Dinosaurs on the Warm Springs Ranch
Sitting in an established dig site too easy for you?
Want to spend your time finding a whole new dinosaur that no one has ever seen before?!?
Join this program and you can spend the morning exploring and prospecting on the Warm Springs Ranch with one of our own Paleontologists. This is another once in a lifetime chance to discover a brand-new dig site and even NAME the site yourself!
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All participants for this program must be at least 10-years-old or older, and all participants under 18-years-old must be accompanied by an adult.
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Spend 3 hours prospecting in the unexplored reaches of the Wyoming Prairie, to discover brand new dinosaur dig sites that have never been seen before.
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Discover a new dig site?! Our paleontologists will mark the location via Satellite, and you will be allowed to name the site/dinosaur yourself!
ABOUT DR. DEAN LOMAX
Dr. Dean Lomax is an internationally recognized, award-winning British paleontologist, author and TV host. He is the author of multiple books, including LOCKED IN TIME, and is a leading authority on ichtyosaurs. He also led the excavation of the ‘Rutland Sea Dragon’, one of Britain’s most important paleontological discoveries, which recently made headlines worldwide.
Talk #1 – Friday June 23
Never Stop Following Your Passion – The Adventures of a Dinosaur Hunter
Dinosaur-obsessed kid to world-renowned palaeontologist, discover the inspiring journey of how Dean Lomax followed his childhood dream of becoming a palaeontologist. Born in Doncaster, England, Dean failed science in high school, was told he would never be a palaeontologist and did not have the grades or finances for university. Aged 18, he volunteered at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center where his life changed forever. Today, fifteen years later, Dr. Dean Lomax is a world expert on ‘Sea Dragons’, has discovered multiple new species, written best-selling books, hosted TV shows and led major excavations. This talk will take you from Dean’s dinosaur adventures in ‘Jurassic Britain’ to far-flung icy Patagonia and explore how he’s bringing palaeontology to the public.
Dean’s unconventional career in palaeontology began right here in Thermopolis. His incredible story will no doubt inspire you to follow your passion.
Talk #2 – Saturday June 24
Unearthing the ‘Rutland Sea Dragon’ – The UK’s Most Complete Jurassic Giant
In January 2022, news broke of one of the greatest finds in British palaeontological history, a 10-metre-long giant ichthyosaur found in Rutland. Dubbed the ‘Rutland Sea Dragon’, this remarkable fossil is the largest skeleton of an ichthyosaur, or any prehistoric reptile ever found in the UK. In this fascinating talk, excavation leader and world ichthyosaur expert, Dr. Dean Lomax, will take us on a Jurassic journey and talk about the discovery, excavation, and science behind this exceptional Jurassic giant.
www.deanrlomax.co.uk
But wait, there’s more!
Afternoon Showings of “WHY DINOSAURS?”
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A documentary on Paleontology and Dinosaurs from Pinto Productions created by the father and son team of Tony and James Pinto.
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Purchase a ticket at the High School Auditorium or get a discount when purchased along with admission to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center
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WHY DINOSAURS?
Follow father and son Tony & James Pinto on a journey around the world as they interview paleontologists about the latest research, track down the filmmakers behind Jurassic Park, see the world’s largest dinosaur toy collection, dig up real dinosaur bones, and attempt to figure out why everybody loves dinosaurs!
www.whydinosaurs.com
One Ticket – Three Amazing Speakers!
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Each night, meet two engaging speakers who took some of their first steps in paleontology at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center!
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Conclude with a presentation by our esteemed keynote lecturer, Dr. Dean Lomax!
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Advanced tickets available now!
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Same-Day tickets available
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Hot Springs High School Auditorium[331 Park St, Thermopolis, WY 82443]
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Wyoming Dinosaur Center
[110 Carter Ranch Road, Thermopolis, WY 82443]*discount when purchased along with WDC admission!
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Jimmy Waldron MA. Ed – Founder, Dinosaurs Will Always Be Awesome!
Former WDC volunteer Jimmy Waldron operates DWABA, Inc., a non-profit mobile museum that brings real and replica dinosaur fossils to low-income communities. The Orlando-based organization presents unique experiences with heart, accessible engaging science, and a life-sized robot dinosaur named Poe. Jimmy has featured on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, and will share the incredible impact the Wyoming Dinosaur Center creates for paleontrepreneurs!
Evening Speaker Talk: “Childish Things:Dinosaurs are for everyone. In this interactive photo essay, follow four stories of fascinating fossils, and the impactful journeys of the kids who discovered them. Born in the heart of The Wyoming Dinosaur Center, there’s a lot of wonder to be found in childish things.
www.dwaba.org
Dr. Laura Vietti – Museum & Collections Manager University of Wyoming
Title: From Microbes to Mammoths: It all started with Something Interesting at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center
Dr. Vietti, a Thermopolis native, specializes in taphonomy, particularly the microbial decay of fossil bone, and manages the University of Wyoming Geological Museum and Collections. Her presentation will follow her earliest scientific study, a nationally ranked high school science fair project studying infamous WDC site Something Interesting (SI), through her Ph.D. studying decay of bones in marine environments, and will conclude with her current work at the University of Wyoming.
Dr. Brandon Drake – Adjunct Faculty University of New Mexico
Brandon Lee Drake currently works at the Paleoresearch Institute. He does research in Archaeology, Geochemistry and Paleoclimatology
Evening Speaker Series Talk: “Thermopolis’ red beds are great dying” The Permian-Triassic extinction, known as the “Great Dying” saw the extinction of 57% of families of life. The extensiveness of this extinction left the Earth on a long path to recovery. One of the signs of this slow period are the signature red rocks which surround Thermopolis. We will discuss both the enormity of this event, and why the rocks have the characteristic red color not just in Thermopolis, but across the globe.
University of New Mexico
ResearchGate
Elaine Howard – Author – Passion in the Bones
Attorney Elaine Howard entered her dinosaur phase in her late 30’s and never looked back. After spending decades battling a negative mindset, Elaine accidentally discovered her interest in dinosaur fossils and, before she knew it, that interest had grown into a passion that ultimately led her to discover the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. At WDC, Elaine was able to get hands-on experience in the field of paleontology and even become certified in fossil prep and field work. She returned to WDC year after year and, in the process, met individuals from all walks of life, from college interns to retired volunteers all connected by a common passion for the prehistoric. Through her years of volunteering with the WDC and sharing what she learned with others, Elaine realized just how MUCH her life had changed her life for the better. Elaine’s experience led her to write the book Passion in the Bones and to also join the Why Dinosaurs? project as an executive producer. She also uses her social media platform to spotlight others around the world who are pursuing their passion for paleontology. Join Elaine at Jurassic Fest as she shares how it’s never too late to follow your passion and make a difference.
Evening Speaker Series Talk: It’s Never Too Late to “Dig” Into Your Passion
www.passioninthebones.com
If you are a lifelong dinosaur fan, a budding paleontologist, or just someone curious about fossils and the history of our amazing planet, join us for this two-day Special Event to gain hands on experiences in Geology and Paleontology. The memories you’ll create will inspire a lifelong love of science and nature, and will last another 152 million years!
Don’t miss this chance to explore the ancient world, and engage with multiple Paleontologists visiting from all over the world, who have come to meet you and share your Passion for the Past.
Ticket Options
Digging Dinosaurs with Dr. Dean Lomax – Friday & Saturday – 9am to 12pm – $150.00 (limited availability)
Hunting for Dinosaurs at Warm Springs Ranch – Friday & Saturday – 9am to 12pm – $150.00 (limited availability)
WHY DINOSAURS? Movie Screening (90 minutes) – Friday & Saturday – $10.00 per person
Speaker Series Presentations – Friday & Saturday $10.00 per person
Museum Admission + One Event – $20.00 per person
Museum Admission + Two Events – $25.00 per person