AMATEUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE EDUCATION: THE SUPPORTIVE ROLE OF THE SPECAL FRIENDS OF THE AURORA FOSSIL MUSEUM

The Special Friends of the Aurora Fossil Museum (SFOM), an organization dominated by fossil collectors, is dedicated to supporting the Aurora Fossil Museum (AFM) through a myriad of contributions ranging from financial to volunteer efforts. Another important aspect is the dedication of time, effort, and energy to assist the AFM in its outreach efforts supporting science education in North Carolina. Not only do SFOM members contribute greatly to education by supplying educators with needed fossils and subsequent materials to assist with classroom instruction, but members also donate and establish permanent fossil displays in academic environments.

A major educational outreach event that the SFOM has substantial ongoing involvement in is the Aurora Fossil Festival, which is held annually over Memorial Day weekend. The tremendous efforts of the SFOM membership are exhibited at this time through their dedication to festival duties over the days leading up to, during, and after this event. During the festival, the SFOM assists the AFM in various education-related areas such as sponsoring invited speakers and managing the visiting fossil displays. Offsite, the SFOM has become a critical participant in the University of Florida's FOSSIL Project, which provides a platform for educating fossil collectors on best practices for collecting.