Dino Center makes TIME's 'coolest' list

TIME’s latest edition of their special TIME for Kids publication, distributed to classrooms across the country, contains their first ever list of “World’s Coolest Places of 2019” that spotlights educational, innovative, and fun destinations that are tailored to the interests of kids.  The Wyoming Dinosaur Center is one of 50 destinations listed and is the only Wyoming attraction included.

To assemble the list, TIME for Kids gathered nominations from its network of TFK Kid Reporters and from young readers around the world. Each nomination was then evaluated on several factors, including quality, originality, sustainability, and accessibility. 

“The Wyoming Dinosaur Center provides a unique opportunity for kids and their families to participate in the science of paleontology,” notes Angie Guyon, Executive Director of the Wyoming Dinosaur Center.  “Of the hundreds of children that have participated in our programs, only a few will go on to become paleontologists.  However, our goal is not primarily to produce paleontologists, rather to engage children in the wonders of our natural world, and the thrill of discovery!”

The Wyoming Dinosaur Center fosters science education with a variety of educational experiences including: “Dig for a Day” -- where kids and their families spend a full day prospecting in real dinosaur dig sites and working in the preparation lab, “Shovel Ready’ – a half-day of prospecting at a site, “Kid’s Dig” -- where young people not only get a taste of site excavation but also participate in a variety of activities including molding and casting of fossils, “Dinosaur Academy” -- a week-long session for high school students to learn the basics of geology and paleontology, classroom visits to the Center’s museum throughout the school year and virtual museum tours through Skype to reach distant classrooms worldwide.