Tag: Penn Dixie
Office Closure
Please note that our office will be closed from December 20 to January 4. If you need to contact us, please use this form and we will get back to you when we return to the office. Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Seasonal Educator
Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Natural Reserve is a top-ranked destination for science enthusiasts of all ages! With a mission of hands-on science education, we encourage our visitors to learn about the natural world in an outdoor setting. Our programs emphasize natural history — including geology and paleontology, ecology, and astronomy. We serve 18,000 guests annually, including many who travel across the country to dig our fossils and explore our park.
Educators are the initial connection that visitors have with Penn Dixie. Educators are responsible for introducing Penn Dixie to guests, from admission to departure. The ideal candidate is driven to provide an outstanding learning experience for visitors of all abilities and backgrounds. Educators are expected to be friendly, helpful, and consistently maintain a positive attitude despite the challenge of working outdoors with large groups of visitors. Candidates do not need a formal background in geology or paleontology, but must be willing to learn.
Please note that this position is seasonal and part-time. Priority will be given to applicants who are available from April – September and are able to work at least 12 hours per week. This position pays $16.50 / hour.
Essential Functions
- Provide tours for guests (various group sizes)
- Demonstrate enthusiastic and welcome behavior at all times.
- Greet guests, accept admissions, conduct introductions, guide guests throughout the site.
- Monitor and enforce safety rules.
- Ensures cleanliness and organization throughout the site, including, but not limited to, collecting, cleaning and sorting fossils, organizing gift shop merch, garbage pick up, light trail maintenance.
- Provide excellent customer service and be knowledgeable in Penn Dixie’s science, history, and programming (training provided).
- Explain and promote Penn Dixie programs, membership, gift shop merchandise, birthday parties, and special events.
- Respond to guest needs immediately, including issues requiring first aid.
Requirements and Qualifications
- Documentation of U.S. citizenship or proof of eligibility to work in the U.S.
- Obtain criminal background check clearance.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including some weekends, holidays and evenings.
- Knowledge or interest in science and / or education.
- CPR and First Aid certifications (may be provided if employee is not currently certified)
- Must have your own reliable transportation to/from work.
Experience, Skills and Personal Qualities Required
- Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Friendly, positive attitude
- Comfortable speaking in front of groups
- Exceptional customer service skills
- Detail-oriented
- Reliable and punctual
- Strong teamwork and collaboration skills
Physical Demands
- Speaking in small and large groups
- Walking and standing outdoors, sometimes for extended periods
- Bending/stooping frequently
- Dealing with highly variable weather conditions
- Ability to lift/carry up to 40 lbs
To apply, send a resumé and cover letter to our Marketing and Development Coordinator, Matt Wheaton at matt@penndixie.org
Applications will be accepted through March 6th, 2024
Dig With The Experts 2024 Visual Guide
To be properly prepared for the Dig With The Experts event, there is certain equipment that is highly recommended:
- Rock pick / Bricklayers hammer
- 1 inch masonry chisel with hand guard (do not bring wood chisels)
- 3-4 lb hand sledge
- Work gloves
- Safety glasses
- Super glue for gluing broken fossils
- Aluminum foil for wrapping fossils
*There will a very limited amount of tools available for rent on a first come, first serve basis*
To learn how to properly split blocks, please refer to this shale splitting tutorial specifically curated for the event:
There are safety rules that must be followed: When splitting you must wear safety glasses. Work gloves are also highly recommended. Never hit two hammers together to try to split a block. This can cause pieces of metal to shoot off the hammer. When flipping large blocks, ask for assistance from a staff member. Lastly we will have people at the event who can cut out your finds with a rock saw. Listen to any instructions they give you as the saws are dangerous.
Other recommended items to bring would be:
- A sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Drinking water
- Proper gear for the weather conditions: rain jacket, waterproof pants, etc. (make sure to check the forecast prior to the dig and dress accordingly)
- Closed-toe footwear (i.e., sneakers or boots) no Crocs, sandals, flip-flops or dress shoes
- Kneepads or a kneeling pad
- Lunch and/or snacks
Trilobites
Eldredgeops (prev. Phacops) rana is the most common trilobite we find at Penn Dixie. They can be found rolled up or prone. (click on photos for a close-up)
We have two species from the Asteropyginae family, Greenops barberi and Bellacartwrightia undes. These trilobites look very similar but have small differences. The tail spines on a bellacartwrightia are thinner and more straight than the ones on a greenops. The bellas also have axial nodes which are small spines running down the center lobe of the trilobite. (click on photos for a close-up)
Pseudodechenella is the rarest of the trilobites pictured. These trilobites have a defined border around the base of the tail and have much different looking cephalons (heads) than all the other trilobites. (click on photo for a close-up)
Other fossils
You will also be able to find the more common fossils in the piles. Corals and brachiopods will be common within all of the rock in the piles. There are many different species of both types of fossils to be found. Crinoids can be found in the bayview commonly, calyxes, however, are uncommon. (click on photo for a close-up)
There are other more uncommon fossils that can be found. Various species of bivalves (clams) can be found in the rock
There are a few types of cephalopods (ancient squid fossils) that can be found as well. 2 major genera of straight shelled cephalopods: Dolorthoceras which has a smooth shell and Spyroceras which has ridges on its shell, and curled cephalopods called goniatites—these are much rarer. You can find gastropods of different species within all of the rock as well. There is also some plant material that can be found uncommonly. (click on photo for a close-up)
Carpoids
Last spring Site Manager Jonathan Hoag and Educator James Hanna discovered a new genus and species of carpoid, an echinoderm, on site. Since then a few other specimens have been discovered. The partial specimens are usually hard to notice so pay close attention as any further discoveries could be a big deal! (click on photos for a close-up)
The layers within the piles
This is a block of the smoke creek trilobite beds. The smoke creek layer has a healthy mix of fossils and is where most of the trilobites are found. It is also where most of the cephalopods come from. (click on photo for a close-up)
This is a piece of the Bayview coral layer. These pieces are filled with all sorts of corals, brachiopods, and crinoids. This is where we also find most of the gastropods and occasionally the crinoid calyxes.
Spring Cleanup
Saturday, May 18th, 2024, 10 am to 12 pm
Join our team of volunteers as we perform the annual cleanup of Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve!
Helpers are needed for various beautification projects including debris pickup and general maintenance. Waterproof boots are strongly recommended; please dress for the weather as we will be outdoors for several hours. Work gloves are helpful, too. We will have a limited supply of gloves on hand for those who do not bring them.
There is no charge for admission and those who help will receive a family membership gift certificate! All volunteers are invited to stay after the cleanup ends for some free fossil hunting fun.
Contact Sydney Mecca at sydney@penndixie.org to register or use the form below.
