Volunteering
In 1989, a group of volunteers including local politicians, state employees, geologists and paleontologists banded together to form the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge. Organized originally to stop the looting of the unique resources along Dinosaur Ridge, this group also had a vision of sharing their collective knowledge about the area with their neighbors.
Since its inception, the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge has grown to host close to 100,000 visitors each year. Help us continue the legacy of education and preservation by donating your time and talents. If education and interpretation interest you, a great volunteer opportunity is right around the corner!
A volunteer giving a tour of the tracksite |
Two happy Dinosaur Ridge Volunteers |
Volunteering Opportunities
Tour Guide
Throughout the year, approximately 10,000 visitors take fully guided tours of Dinosaur Ridge or Triceratops Trail with a trained guide. These groups range from schools to senior centers, and have between 10-250 participants. Tour Guides lead these groups on a tour of Dinosaur Ridge customized for the age of visitors and, in the case of school classes, customized somewhat for the topics of interest like dinosaurs, minerals, rocks, ancient environments, etc. Guides may work alone with smaller groups or with up to five other Guides for large groups. Training provided.
Facilitator
The Backyard Bones: Cretaceous Crime Scene Dinosaur Dig Program requires a facilitator that leads small groups of 20 or fewer on a hands-on program using the Dinosaur Dig pit at the Visitor Center. This program is targeted toward younger students and other chaperoned groups of 2nd grade or younger. Training provided.
Exhibit Hall Docent
Interpretive Specialists will get a chance to work in the new Trek Through Time Exhibit hall at the Visitor Center. Specialists will greet visitors, collect fees, and give short presentations in different areas around the Exhibit Hall. Training provided.
Discovery Day Specialist
From May through October the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge host monthly special events called Dinosaur Discovery Days. During DDDays, Discovery Day Specialists answer questions and give short interpretive demonstrations along the trails (Dinosaur Ridge and Triceratops Trail both). Or there are other opportunities for you, including orienting visitors, collecting fees, assisting with parking and crowd control, and setting-up and tearing-down. Training provided.
Ridge Rovers
Ridge Rovers are friendly volunteers who provide a visible presence on the Ridge, greet visitors and introduce them to the organization, assist with directions, answer questions, provide information on upcoming events, and interpret some of the more popular stops on Dinosaur Ridge. This is a flexible volunteer opportunity and doesn’t require the volunteer talk to large school/other guided tour groups. Training provided.
Fossil Casting Technicians
The Friends of Dinosaur Ridge Gift Shop molds and casts some of the dinosaur footprints found on the Ridge, claws, teeth, and other small fossils so visitors can take home a souvenir. Fossil Casting Techs create these replicas as well as those used in educational programs. Training provided.
Community Outreach Provider
Start spreading the news…Community Outreach Providers represent the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge at various festivals and events throughout the Denver Metro Area. Duties include setting up an informational booth, facilitating educational activities, distributing flyers and brochures, and answering general questions about Dinosaur Ridge. This is a great way to get free admission to many area events (including the Denver Gem and Mineral Show in September).
Something we haven’t mentioned?
Interested in something not on this list? Let us know and we’ll develop the position that’s right for you. We will train you for each of these positions or provide the opportunity to work with a mentor.
Contact Tom Moklestad to volunteer for guided tours.
Tom Moklestad
16831 W Alameda Parkway
Morrison, CO 80465
303-697-3466 x 103
tours@dinoridge.org
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