A COMMUNITY DIGS THE ICE AGE: REAL-TIME SCIENCE OUTREACH ON A WORLD-CLASS PLEISTOCENE FOSSIL SITE IN SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO

In October 2010, construction crews working on a reservoir in Snowmass Village, CO discovered large bones belonging to a juvenile Columbian mammoth. This skeleton and additional finds prompted the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS) to take part in the largest excavation project in Museum history. Over a 10 week excavation, more than 5,000 bones from 26 different Pleistocene vertebrates were unearthed. This amazing discovery has been dubbed “The Snowmastodon Project™”.

Due to the interest and excitement of the public, the Museum seized this opportunity to communicate the science of paleontology with the public in real-time. As the dig was in progress, museum educators were traveling to K-12 schools in the Roaring Fork Valley sharing the discovery with over 8,500 students. Live “Scientist in Action” satellite broadcasts from the dig site were viewed by hundreds of students across the country. The DMNS created a Snowmastodon Project™ website, with regular photo and video updates from the field. Public events were held in Snowmass Village and Denver sharing the exciting finds and the science behind them with 12,000 visitors. DMNS scientists began giving public presentations throughout Colorado to several thousand people. DMNS created a new K-5 school program using new DMNS Science Education Frameworks to educate and inspire over 6,100 students. Teacher webinars with museum educators and scientists provided 81 K-12 teachers and informal educators with content and tools for incorporating Snowmastodon Project™ into their curricula. Additionally the DMNS collaborated with the Town of Snowmass Village and Snowmass Tourism to build an Ice Age Discovery Center in Snowmass Village, creating a 2000 ft² informational exhibition that included casts, activities, videos as well as exhibit displays.

Throughout the excavation, the excitement and desire of the community to be involved created many opportunities to share the science of paleontology. This rare find is a perfect example of the Museum’s mission to inspire curiosity and excite minds of all ages through scientific discovery and the presentation and preservation of the world's unique treasures. Keeping the public engaged in science and informed was a high priority throughout this project and will remain a priority as the science of this discovery unfolds.