National Fossil Day to be Held During Earth Science Week 2012

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) and the National Park Service (NPS) invite you to participate in the third annual National Fossil Day on October 17, 2012 during Earth Science Week (October 14-20).

National Fossil Day brings together paleontologists, educators, and students from across the country to participate in fossil-related events and activities in parks, classrooms, and online!

AGI and the NPS have developed resources and activities to highlight the scientific and educational value of paleontology, as well as the importance of preserving fossils for future generations. Visit the NPS National Fossil Day website at http://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/ for standards-based lesson plans, fossil trading cards, a virtual museum exhibit, and more! You can also find fossil-themed activities in the Earth Science Week 2012 Toolkit, available at http://www.earthsciweek.org/materials/index.html.

The National Park Service is also sponsoring a National Fossil Day Art and Photo Contest. Entries should address the theme “Careers in Paleontology” and be postmarked by October 5, 2012. See complete contest guidelines at http://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/artcontest.cfm.

In addition to online resources, local events, and contests, NPS and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History are holding the National Fossil Day kick-off event in Washington, D.C. This celebration on the National Mall will take place from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on October 17, 2012. All are invited to learn how to become a Junior Paleontologist, study the history of life that has been preserved in over 230 NPS units, and take part in a mock fossil dig. For more information on the kickoff event, visit http://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/events.cfm#kickoff.

AGI coordinates Earth Science Week annually in cooperation with its sponsors and the geoscience community as a service to the public. Each year, community groups, educators, and interested citizens organize celebratory events. Earth Science Week offers the public opportunities to discover the earth sciences and engage in responsible stewardship of the Earth. Earth Science Week is supported by the U.S. Geological Survey, the AAPG Foundation, NASA, the National Park Service, the American Geophysical Union, ExxonMobil, and Esri. To learn more about Earth Science Week and National Fossil Day, go to http://www.earthsciweek.org.