Go on a fossil hunt.

“Getting ready to go fossil hunting is like prepping for a military operation. These folks are serious fossil hunters. It takes a couple of days of preparations before everything is ready. Supplies need to be purchased. ATVs need to be rented. Trailers need to be borrowed. Liquid plastic to stabilize the fossils needs to be mixed up and decanted into individual bottles for everyone to carry. Bags containing plaster and burlap strips need to be made up for each person to carry in. Water bottles need to be filled and buckets for mixing plaster need to be rounded up. Backpacks need to be loaded with tools, supplies, clothing, food and drinking water to keep us comfortable and working all day out in the badlands in any conditions from freezing rain to extreme heat (we saw both extremes while I was there). Everything has a dual use. Even the shovel handle walking sticks we all took with us not only helped us walk on the rough and uneven surfaces of the badlands, but also doubled as handles for making slings to carry out heavy loads. They could also be used to make stretchers to carry out injured people. The preparation and organization that goes into an expedition is amazing.”

“I had one lesson from a local tour guide the first time I went hunting in Arcadia. Shark teeth are easy. Ray plates are easy. Most others I’m only able to recognize as bone. The hunting experience is like finding treasure to me even if I am questioning wtf in my head. “Dolphin ear bone? Mammoth femur? Turtle shell? I don’t know but it’s definitely bone so I’ll keep it.”