What ages are appropriate for the Junior Geologist Expedition?

This expedition is designed specifically for children ages 5 through 12 to best engage with the content and activities.

Can adults participate without children?

No, all groups must include at least one child participant to book this junior-focused experience.

What will participants take home from the expedition?

Fossils and geological specimens collected during the tour, plus a special iron-on patch for each child.

Is prior fossil or geology knowledge required?

No prior experience is needed; guides provide all necessary education and tools during the tour.

Are there any physical requirements for participants?

The terrain is easy to moderate walking; participants should be able to walk and stand for two hours outdoors.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Tours generally operate rain or shine except in severe weather such as lightning; cancellations are communicated promptly.

Junior Geologist Expedition with Hamburg Natural History Society

Just outside of Buffalo, New York, the Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc. offers a unique hands-on adventure designed specifically for budding scientists aged 5 to 12. The Junior Geologist Expedition invites young rockhounds to engage directly with 380 million-year-old fossils across a sprawling 54-acre fossil park. This program stands apart in Western New York’s outdoor education scene, blending the thrill of discovery with expert guidance in a private group setting.

Located near Buffalo’s city limits, this fossil park—known regionally for its rich Devonian Period deposits—provides an ideal outdoor classroom. The site’s sedimentary rock layers have preserved an exceptional array of marine fossils, including brachiopods, trilobites, and bryozoans. Children and accompanying adults receive professional instruction that breaks down geological history in a way that sparks curiosity and encourages critical thinking.

Each two-hour expedition is personalized for small groups, accommodating up to ten participants, ensuring plenty of one-on-one time with guides. Kids handle tools like trowels and collection bags, developing practical skills alongside their fossil finds. Upon completing the expedition, each child earns a commemorative iron-on patch—a keepsake symbolizing their accomplishment and new knowledge.

What makes the Hamburg Natural History Society’s Junior Geologist Expedition particularly special is not just the fossil hunting but the educational philosophy underpinning it. It’s designed to foster stewardship of the Earth’s history by engaging young minds in authentic scientific activities. With a strong emphasis on safety, enjoyment, and accessibility, this program builds confidence and outdoor competence early on.

Located amid accessible terrain with trails running through fossil beds marked by outcrops of shale and limestone, the park offers a perfect blend of adventure and learning. For families seeking an active, educational outing that stands apart from typical playgrounds or museums, this experience offers an enriching connection to nature’s deep past right near Buffalo’s urban reach.

About Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc.

Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc. connects visitors with hands-on fossil experiences at the Penn Dixie site. The organization offers guided fossil-hunting programs for families, schools, and small groups that focus on Devonian-era fossils preserved in a 54-acre park. Programs include two-hour public fossil-hunting sessions led by Penn Dixie educators, extended tours that allow collecting until closing, private expeditions for groups up to 10 with tools and a complimentary “Field Guide to the Devonian Paleontology of New York,” birthday party packages with guided collecting and pavilion celebration options, and a Junior Geologist Expedition for ages 5–12 with a special patch.

All programs emphasize safe, educational collecting: participants receive tools and buckets, instruction in finding and preserving fossils, and the right to keep discoveries. Activities run rain or shine and are suitable for beginners and families; the Fossil Hunting for Beginners offering is recommended for ages 7 and up. The Junior Geologist Expedition highlights 380 million-year-old Devonian fossils and combines hands-on collecting with guided interpretation.

Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc. leverages Penn Dixie educators and published field resources to support learning. By providing trained guides, site access, educational materials, and clear group limits, the organization creates repeatable, family-friendly fossil experiences. The combination of guided instruction, take-home finds, and site-specific resources makes these programs attractive for birthday celebrations, school outings, scout groups, and adult fossil enthusiasts seeking a factual, hands-on introduction to Devonian paleontology. Bookings support small groups, classrooms, scout troops, and community organizations seeking educational, hands-on fossil experiences at Penn Dixie park.

Junior Geologist Expedition with Hamburg Natural History Society

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