How to Join a Dinosaur Dig

You don’t need a paleontology degree to excavate dinosaur fossils. Every summer, dozens of dig programs across the American West welcome amateurs, families, and enthusiasts to participate in genuine fossil excavation. Some are paid programs, some are volunteer opportunities, and some are academic field schools. Here’s everything you need to know to get out in the field.

Types of Dig Programs

Commercial Pay-to-Dig Programs

These are operated by private companies or independent paleontologists who hold land leases or own fossil-bearing property. You pay a fee and spend one or more days excavating real dinosaur fossils under professional supervision.

What to expect:

Professional guides teach you field techniques: prospecting, excavation, jacketing, mapping
You work on real fossil sites --- these are not seeded or staged
Some programs let you keep certain common finds (isolated teeth, bone fragments, invertebrates); significant specimens typically go to museums or the program’s collection
Group sizes vary from small (4—8 people) to larger (15—20)
Programs run primarily from June through September when weather and ground conditions are best

Established commercial programs include:

PaleoAdventures (Belle Fourche, South Dakota) --- One of the most respected operations in the country. Multi-day digs in the Hell Creek Formation targeting T. rex, Triceratops, Edmontosaurus, and more. Founder Walter Stein has decades of experience. Programs range from single-day experiences to week-long expeditions.
Judith River Dinosaur Institute (Malta, Montana) --- Operates digs in the productive Judith River Formation of north-central Montana. Known for exceptional hadrosaur and ceratopsian discoveries. Offers multi-day programs for adults and families.
Wyoming Dinosaur Center (Thermopolis, Wyoming) --- Their “Dig for a Day” program is one of the most accessible entry points for beginners. You spend a half or full day at active dig sites in Morrison and Cretaceous formations near Thermopolis. The center also houses an excellent museum.
Baisch’s Dinosaur Digs (Glendive, Montana) --- Family-run operation in the Hell Creek Formation badlands of eastern Montana. Offers single and multi-day digs. Known for a friendly, small-group atmosphere.
Two Medicine Dinosaur Center (Bynum, Montana) --- Field programs in the Two Medicine Formation, the formation that produced the famous Maiasaura nesting grounds. Combines fieldwork with museum access.
Hell Creek Fossils (Jordan, Montana) --- Operates on private ranchland in Garfield County, one of the most fossil-rich areas of the Hell Creek Formation.

Museum Volunteer Programs

Several natural history museums run summer field programs staffed partly by volunteers. These are typically free or low-cost, but they’re competitive and may require an application.

Burpee Museum of Natural History (Rockford, Illinois) --- Runs one of the best-known volunteer dinosaur digs, working Hell Creek Formation sites in Montana each summer. The Burpee program discovered “Jane,” a remarkably complete juvenile tyrannosaur.
Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology (Claremont, California) --- A museum on a school campus that runs field expeditions and accepts volunteers.
Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman, Montana) --- Occasionally offers public field programs associated with their extensive Montana fieldwork.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science --- Has historically offered volunteer field opportunities at Colorado and Wyoming sites.

Contact museums directly to ask about volunteer opportunities. Many are not widely advertised and fill quickly by word of mouth.

University Field Schools

If you want a more rigorous, academic experience, several universities offer summer paleontology field schools that accept non-degree students or community participants:

These are typically 2—6 week programs combining classroom instruction with fieldwork
Some offer college credit; others are continuing education
Costs range from $1,500 to $5,000+ depending on duration, credit, and whether room and board are included
You’ll learn professional field techniques: stratigraphic measurement, GPS mapping, systematic excavation, plaster jacketing, and fossil preparation
Check offerings from universities in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and South Dakota, as well as institutions that run western field programs from out of state

Costs

Expect the following price ranges:

Program Type	Duration	Typical Cost
Single-day commercial dig	4—8 hours	$150—350 per person
Multi-day commercial dig	3—5 days	$800—2,000 per person
Week-long commercial expedition	5—7 days	$1,500—3,500 per person
Museum volunteer program	1—3 weeks	Free to $500 (may cover own travel/lodging)
University field school	2—6 weeks	$1,500—5,000+

Most commercial programs include tools, water, and field instruction. Some include lodging and meals; others require you to arrange your own accommodations in nearby towns. Always confirm what is and isn’t included before booking.

What You Get to Keep

This varies significantly by program and should be clarified before you book:

Common surface finds (isolated teeth, small bone fragments, invertebrate fossils, petrified wood) are often yours to keep at commercial programs.
Significant specimens --- articulated skeletons, skulls, rare species --- are almost always retained by the program, donated to museums, or sold to fund future fieldwork. This is standard and appropriate.
Museum volunteer programs generally do not allow participants to keep any finds, as all material goes to the museum’s research collection.
University field schools --- all finds become part of the institution’s collection.

Even when you don’t keep specimens, the experience of discovering and excavating dinosaur fossils is the real reward. And you’ll often go home with photos, memories, and an entirely new set of skills.

Physical Demands

Be honest with yourself about fitness. Dinosaur digs involve:

Heat. Most digs operate in summer in the western US. Temperatures regularly exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit in the Montana and South Dakota badlands. There is often no shade.
Hiking. Sites may require walking 0.5 to 2 miles over uneven terrain to reach the dig area. Some are on steep hillsides.
Kneeling and bending. Excavation work means hours spent crouching, kneeling, or lying on the ground. Bring knee pads.
Altitude. Some sites in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah are at 5,000—7,000 feet elevation. If you’re coming from sea level, you’ll notice it.
Dust. Badlands excavation is dusty work. Bring bandanas or dust masks if you’re sensitive.

That said, many programs accommodate a range of fitness levels. Some offer vehicle access close to dig sites, lighter-duty tasks like surface prospecting, or shorter work days. Programs that cater to families often have options for children and older participants. Ask about accessibility when you inquire.

What to Bring

Most programs provide a packing list, but standard items include:

Wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen (SPF 50+)
Sturdy hiking boots or shoes (closed-toe required at most sites)
Long pants (you’ll be kneeling on rocks)
Layers for morning chill and afternoon heat
At least 2—3 liters of water per day (more in extreme heat)
Knee pads
Work gloves
Daypack for personal items
Camera
Notebook and pen for field notes
Personal medications

Most programs supply excavation tools (awls, brushes, chisels, plaster supplies), but some invite participants to bring their own small hand tools.

How to Choose a Program

Consider these factors:

Your experience level. First-timers should look for programs explicitly welcoming beginners. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center’s day programs and PaleoAdventures are both excellent starting points.
What you want to find. Different formations yield different animals. If you want a shot at T. rex, look for Hell Creek programs. Morrison Formation sites are better for Jurassic giants.
Duration and budget. Start with a day program if you’re unsure about commitment. You can always book a longer expedition later.
Group size. Smaller groups mean more individual attention but may cost more. Larger groups are more social but you may get less hands-on time.
Reputation. Search for reviews, check social media for participant photos and testimonials, and don’t hesitate to email programs with questions before booking.

Making the Most of Your Experience

Ask questions constantly. Dig leaders are usually passionate about paleontology and love teaching. Take advantage of their knowledge.
Learn to see. Spotting fossils on the surface is a skill that develops with practice. Ask experienced participants to show you what they’re seeing.
Document everything. Photograph your finds in place before moving them. Note the GPS location if possible. Good field documentation is a professional habit worth developing from day one.
Follow instructions precisely. If a dig leader tells you to stop excavating in a certain direction, there’s a reason. Impatience destroys more fossils than erosion.
Stay hydrated. Seriously. Heat exhaustion is the biggest safety risk at most dinosaur digs, and it sneaks up on you.

The American West is one of the greatest dinosaur graveyards on the planet, and these programs offer you a legitimate chance to be part of the ongoing discovery. Book a dig, get your hands dirty, and find out what 66-million-year-old bone feels like emerging from the rock under your brush.