Growing Interest in Paleontology Lab Spurs Need for More Staff and Interns
Thanks to recently approved budget requests from Badlands Natural History Association (BNHA), Badlands National Park's paleontology lab is preparing for exciting growth. With visitor interest skyrocketing each year, the lab has become a hub for educational programs and hands-on learning—especially for children. One of the key lessons they emphasize is the importance of “doing the right thing” when discovering fossils: leave them in place, note the location, and report the find to a ranger. This simple practice helps protect the park’s incredible fossil heritage.
The new visitor center’s paleontology lab is set to become a major attraction, but to keep up with the increasing demand, we need more staff and interns. BNHA, along with our 4% donation and several other generous donors, is stepping in to help fund these much-needed positions. These interns will not only assist visitors but also participate in significant excavation work.
One of the most exciting projects involves a new, remote quarry where a large number of Mesohippus fossils were discovered. Excavating this site will take years, and thanks to a live feed from the quarry, visitors can watch the team in action from the lab.
Although the lab is only open to the public from June through September, they welcome nearly 90,000 visitors during that time. With growing interest and continued support, they're eager to share even more of our park’s paleontological treasures with future generations!
To learn more about Badlands Natural History Association, click here!
