THE BEGINNING – SUMMER 2000
The curiosity of Daniel
Helm and Mark Turner
resulted in the discovery of
dinosaur footprints in
Tumbler Ridge, the result
of which is now the active
pursuit of a museum and
research centre to study
the creatures who roamed
the Peace region 90 million
years ago.
Here scientist Rich McCrea
shows Daniel how to make
a plaster cast of the tracks
found by the boys while
tubing Flatbed Creek.
Rich McCrea (left) - western
Canada’s leading authority on
dinosaur footprints – responded
immediately to the boys’ discovery
and teamed with Daniel’s father, Dr.
Charles Helm, in the quest to
discover more evidence of dinosaur
existence.
Now, after three summers of
combing the area by air and by foot,
Tumbler Ridge boasts many
significant specimens – such as
dinosaur skin impressions and a
print of a “broken toe” – and is the
home of BC’s first dinosaur,
excavated from Quality canyon in
2003. The excavation will continue
in July 2004.
TUMBLER RIDGE “DINO CAMPS”
Continuing Education
&
Museum Foundation Partnership
Rich McCrea presented
the concept for Dino
Camp to the Museum
Foundation as a
potential fundraiser.
Northern Lights College
became a partner and
offered the program
through Continuing
Education.
MOCK EXCAVATION
A simulated digging exercise taught the kids to locate and
carefully excavate dinosaur material.
EXPERT INSTRUCTION
U of A student Marisa Gilbert spent a very hands-on summer
coordinating the pilot project. The scientific expertise of our
instructors brings quality and integrity to the program.
MAKING FOOTPRINTS
Museum Director Hazel Peters makes
theropod footprint replicas with each
class. These are also manufactured as
Museum fundraisers.
Each child took a cast home as a
memento of the Dino Camp
experience.
FIELD TRIPS
Breathtaking scenery and warm days
made field trips to Flatbed Creek lively
and enjoyable.
HUDSON’S HOPE PARTNERSHIP
Dino Camps went on the road and
toured the Peace Canyon dam, Bennett
dam and Hudson’s Hope Museum.
Lisa Hildebrandt, right, gave weekly
tours to our students through a
partnership agreement with the
District of Hudson’s Hope.
DISCOVERY CHANNEL
Discovery Channel was in Tumbler Ridge filming for a segment
that aired September 8, 2003.
CLASSROOM WORK
Classroom work
was fascinating
and engaging reflecting an
increase in
scientific
knowledge from
14- 71%.
GRADUATION
Each Dino Camp student
completed a research project
on his/her favorite dinosaur,
compiling and presenting the
material as part of their
“museum exhibit.”
These exhibits were displayed
for parents at a wind-up
graduation event each Friday.
Each graduate received an
exclusive Dino Camp t-shirt,
NLC water bottle and
graduation diploma.
DINOSAUR HUNTER
Dr. Phil Currie, Curator of Dinosaurs at
the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller,
Alberta, arrived unexpectedly on day one
of Dino Camp. He was here to visit the
site of the bone bed excavation, but took
time to speak to the Dino Camp students,
and his advice to them was “keep your
eyes open.” He is seen here wearing a
DINO CAMP t-shirt – a gift from the class.
Dr. Currie and his team predict there
could be 20 years of excavation work in
the Tumbler Ridge area, which bodes well
for the future of the community.
Dr. Phil Currie
RESOUNDING SUCCESS
Dino Camp was a very successful
pilot project. Plans for 2004 include
an expanded season, an intermediatelevel camp and camps for homeschooled children, adults and
seniors.
Because palaeontology expertise is
rare, NLC may look at in-house
training to develop an instructor base.
This summer program creates
economic activity and makes
excellent use of community facilities
that might otherwise be empty.
FOSSIL ROAD SHOW & LECTURE SERIES
A new concept called the “Fossil
Road Show” drew a crowd of 130
people. Rich McCrea and other
scientists evaluate the private
collections of fossil hunters.
It is scheduled to go literally “on
the road” traveling to Fort St.
John and Hudson’s Hope in the
summer of 2004.
A guest Lecture Series hosted
by the Museum Foundation also
drew big audiences and helps to
educate the public about fossils
and the geology of the area.
TUMBLER RIDGE DINOSAURS
Copyright: Joan Zimmer
Ankylosaurs
Theropods
Ornithopods
“THEROPOD” was a carnivorous
dinosaur with large bird-like claws.
This deep footprint is found at the
Wolverine River site, minutes from
Tumbler Ridge.
INTERPRETIVE LANTERN TOURS
Interpretive lantern
tours, which provide
angled lighting,
allow for much
better viewing of the
footprint details, like
skin impressions.
PEACE REGION PALAEONTOLOGY RESEARCH
CENTRE (PRPRC)
• Catalogue collections and
archives
• Research, preparation and
display of fossils
• Training facility
2004 OBJECTIVES
•Expand Dino Camps to include a longer season and
an intermediate level, adult and seniors camps
•Continue the excavation of fossil material from
Tumbler Ridge area (5 years)
•Develop curriculum for Palaeontology & Earth
Sciences programs for science teachers, amateur
scientists and university students
•Create a high tech interactive display of video and
audio footage to enhance existing exhibits
•Create jobs and increase public awareness of earth
sciences
•Open Field Station, where preparation and research
will be available for the fossil specimens recovered
from the northern BC and Alberta Peace regions.
The Tumbler Ridge campus
relocated to the Secondary
School, optimizing facility usage
and ‘opening doors’ between the
College and high school. A grand
opening was held in October 2003.
The Oil and Gas
Operators (OGP)
program came to
Tumbler Ridge in
the fall of 2003.
Here 13 students
receive fire
extinguisher
training as part
of the safety
certification
required to work
in the industry.
Oil and Gas students
Graduation
ABE
Babysitter Training
Student Breakfast