Collection Corner

Last Wednesday, October 11, was National Fossil Day, and the Carter County Museum celebrated by inviting classes from Carter County High School. Students from the math, science, and agriculture classes spent time at the museum learning about fossil collections – following a lab plan set up by Chioko Hammel, Sharon Carroll, and Seth Whitney. This collaboration helps highlight the comprehensive nature of the collections here – not only do we have dinosaurs, but we also have an extensive collection of horse fossils (from mesohippus to equus) that enabled students to discuss their evolution.

Students also had a chance to try their hand at the Hell Creek Amber Citizen Science Project, operating the microscope to examine 40 and 65-million-year-old amber specimens. A student in Ms. Carroll's math class discovered a leaf within the first ten minutes of working at the station. By looking at amber, scientists (whether citizen or professional) can find clues about what the environment may have been like in Carter County millions of years ago, based on everything from the color of the amber to the plant and animal matter captured within it. For the artists out there, amber that does not have specimens could be turned into jewelry.

All of this is made possible by the museum, the community, and our grant sponsors. Over the past year, the CCM has been steadily increasing our involvement in educational tours and activities, from celebrating archaeology month to kids' activities and lectures at the Dino Shindig to National Fossil Day. The Carter County Geological Society provides a generous paid stipend project program where participants can learn on the job skills creating paintings like CCM Artist in Residence Xan Peters did last summer, or leading lab and field work as Ekalaka native Stewart Cook has done for the past several years. In both cases, Cook and Peters gained experience that will inform their studies at Montana State University and their later careers. Thanks to grants from the Montana History Foundation and the Red Ants Pants Foundation, we have volunteer opportunities for youth and adults to get involved with fossil preservation and amber research.

This is not just a summer thing, but a year-round volunteer program at the museum. You can put in as little or as much time as you want during museum hours.

If dinosaurs and amber aren't your thing, we have cataloging work where you can learn about our collections software and discover the stories behind the objects, help design exhibitions, or learn the finer points of taxidermy (with parental permission, of course). Talk to your teachers about earning extra credit or fulfilling volunteer requirements. Visit the museum and ask Sabre Moore about how you can volunteer.

CCM is one of Ekalaka's oldest institutions, founded with the mission to increase and diffuse knowledge, advance science, and preserve objects. Become a part of that history and take advantage of this incredible resource.