Hello all,
It’s been quite a hot summer! I’m glad to see some of the rain come through lately, even if lower water level provides some new opportunities to collect in some places.
This is the latest report for outreach. As always, if something is missing or incorrect, please let me know and I’ll work on it. Likewise, if you’d like to help with outreach but are unsure where to start, let me know and I can perhaps walk you through it or get you in touch with someone that is experienced.
I hope everyone takes care and has a great rest of summer!
-Tony
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Completed Outreach Reported Since May:
5/6/2026 - Ramona Krailler - Root Elementary School - Raleigh
Brought some fossils to illustrate animal behavior from the past still occurs in the present. (~40 present)
5/8/2026 - Ramona Krailler - York Elementary School - Raleigh
Brought some fossils to illustrate animal behavior from the past still occurs in the present. (~40 present)
5/14/2026 - Ramona Krailler - York Elementary School - Raleigh
Brought some fossils to illustrate animal behavior from the past still occurs in the present. (~40 present)
5/23/2026 - NCFC - North Carolina Fossil Festival at Aurora - Aurora
The annual NC Fossil Festival. Members displayed their collections while others assisted with other tasks, watching tables and more. A big thank you to everyone who participated! (~2500 estimated present)
Don Rideout, Eric Sadorf, Trish Kohler, Don Clements, Dominique de Joos de ter Beerst, Terry Denny, Dan Peters, Jim Criswell, Lynn Criswell, Jim Mickle, Julie Niederkorn, David Sanderson, Travis Seymour, Tammy Smith, Erik Gutierez, John Dubois, Shane Cook, Darryl Grater, Mike Bruff, Julie Passamonti, Dale Kruse, Dawne Kruse, Dave Bohaska (Smithsonian)
6/22/2026 - Julie Niederkorn - West Cary Regional Library - Cary
Displayed fossils and discussed fossils with the children and their parents. (~20 present)
6/25/2026 - Terry Denny & Cheryl Gourley - Pine Knoll Shores Library - Pine Knoll Shores
Displayed an assortment of fossil types (casts, molds, ect) and did a presentation on fossils for a small group of adults and homeschooled children. (~7 present)
6/30/2026 - Tony Shaver, Julie Niederkorn, Ian, Diane & Dave Edgerly - Lee County Library - Sanford
Displayed North Carolina fossils and did a fossil dig of Aurora, NC and Old Dock Waccamaw material for kids as part of the “Unearth a Story” program. (~137 present)
7/6/2026 & 7/8/2026 - David & Timothy Campbell - Seagrove Public Library - Seagrove
Did a presentation and display of Waccamaw Formation Fossils for the Library as part of the “Unearth a Story” program. (~25 present 7/6, ~20 present 7/8)
7/14/2026 - Cheryl Gourley - Blue Jay Park - Raleigh
Did a fossil display of NC beach finds for their “Hiding in Plain Sight” program and provided a “seeded” Aurora, NC fossil bag for each child present. (~62 present)
Approximate Total People Reached Since The May Meeting: ~2,891
Thank you to all our outreach participants!
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New / Upcoming Outreach as of July 2026:
8/29 - Museum of Life and Science (Dino Academy) - Durham (NCFC)
The annual Dino Academy event will be occurring once again this year, and they are looking for NCFC volunteers to come and display their Mesozoic fossil collections! For more information see our previous email about this event or reach out to Trish Kohler at tkfossils@gmail.com
9/12 - Cabarrus Brewing Company - Concord (Tony Shaver, Julie Niederkorn, Open Availability)
The Rice family is putting together a free Dinosaur / Fossil Day community event and are looking for anyone interested in displaying their fossils and talking to the local kids about fossils and paleontology. Full details are not yet finalized. Their events are usually well attended by the local community (~200 in 2025, ~3000 in 2024), so it should be a fun opportunity to reach folks in a western community!
If you are interested in this particular outreach, please contact Tony ASAP. - THANK YOU!
9/26 & 9/27 - Schiele Museum of Natural History - Gastonia (Numerous volunteers)
The Schiele Museum is having the grand opening of their Elizabeth Williams Robinson Hall of Dinosaurs, and they have asked for anyone in the NCFC that would like to display their collections to come out for the weekend! The grand opening celebration is occurring on Saturday, September 26th from 9 AM to 5 PM, and on Sunday, September 27th from 1 PM to 5 PM. See the email outreach and community forum announcements for additional details.
Any members interested in this Outreach opportunity, please contact Tony Shaver at outreach@ncfossilclub.org AND Nathan Chapman at nathan.chapman@gastonianc.gov.
10/31 - White Deer Park - Garner (Tony Shaver)
The park is doing a “Trick-or-Treat the Trail” event for Halloween again this year, and are tentatively looking at having a table for the NCFC to provide fossil displays and goodies for the trick-or-treaters. More info to come later.
11/5 - White Deer Park - Garner (Terry Denny)
The park is doing a “Time Travel” component of their “Discovery Days” program, and has requested assistance from the NCFC providing fossil displays and paleontological education material for this event. They are having two sessions for this date, one from 10-12 and one from 4-6.
11/7 - Catawba Science Center - Hickory, NC - NCFC Fossil Fair
Our annual Fossil Fair has a date and location! We will once again host a number of fossil / educational displays, giveaways and our Megalodon tooth raffle. Please contact Darryl Grater at ncfossilfair@gmail.com for more information.