Distance Learning

Dinosaur National Monument's rangers offer Virtual Field Trips to students during the winter season when in-person visitation is low.

NPS

In winter, Dinosaur's park rangers provide free Virtual Field Trips for classrooms and communities around the world. Meet with a park ranger virtually to tour one of the most famous dinosaur quarry sites in the world. Students and community members can learn about fossils, dinosaurs, geology, geologic time, earth history, adaptations, and more.

 

About Virtual Field Trips

Here at Dinosaur, we can only offer Virtual Field Trips during the winter season when in-person visitation slows down. While we mainly provide Virtual Field Trips for educators and students in grade school, the distance learning program is open to all community groups, including universities, public libraries, and care facilities. Our Virtual Field Trips can last anywhere from 15-45 minutes. We also try to include time for attendees to ask questions. Spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no limit to the number of attendees that can join our virtual class. To find out if we're currently offering Virtual Field Trips, please view the Virtual Field Trip Schedule below and follow the directions to book your appointment.

 

Current Virtual Field Trip Schedule

Winter 2024/2025 Season

Program Dates: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from November 5, 2024 through February 27, 2025
Program Times: 10 am and 2 pm (Mountain Time Zone)

We are only able to offer Virtual Field Trips through the winter season when in-person visitation is slower. You must schedule your Virtual Field Trip at least 7 through our online webform. Programs are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have questions, see the Virtual Field Trip FAQ or contact us. Please note that we don't respond to the Virtual Field Trip email outside of the schedule posted above.

 

How to Schedule a Virtual Field Trip

1. Virtual Field Trips must be booked at least 7 days in advance. Select your desired date and time using our online scheduling form. Your selected date and time must be within our current virtual field trip season. If you weren't able to book 7 days in advance, or if our listed dates and times don't work for you, contact us to see if we can accommodate you.
2. After booking through our online form, continue to monitor your inbox and spam folder for an email from one of our Virtual Field Trip coordinators ([e-mail]). This will contain further scheduling instructions.

Please Note...
You will need to create a virtual meeting link in either Microsoft Teams or Google Meet, and send us the link. Without this link, our staff will be unable to access your Virtual Field Trip. You will also be required to fill out a Virtual Distance Learning request form (PDF) which will be emailed to you after you request a date and time. This document helps us gather vital information about your group so that the rangers can prepare. We must recieve BOTH the meeting link and completed Virtual Distance Learning request form at least 5 days prior to your Virtual Field Trip, or your appointment time will be released for others to book.

 

Contact Dinosaur Virtual Rangers

Have a question? See if it's already answered in the FAQ below. If it's not, call the Quarry Visitor Center during operating hours at 435-781-7700 (ext. 0) or email [e-mail]. Be aware that this email is only monitored when we are within our Virtual Field Trip Season Dates. If you send an email to this inbox outside those dates, there will be no response.

 

Virtual Field Trips Facts and Questions (FAQ)

Why was my appointment canceled?

Shortly after booking a Virtual Field Trip, you should have received an email from one of our Virtual Field Trip Coordinators. The email contains instructions to create a virtual meeting link and complete a Virtual Distance Learning Request form. Both of these needed to be completed and sent to us by email at least 5 days prior to your appointment. If these requirements aren't met, time slots are released so that someone else has the chance to book with us. If your time slot was released to someone else, you can book a new appointment using our webform. You can also contact us to see if we can accomodate you. However, you will still need to create a virtual meeting link and complete the Virtual Distance Learning Request form.

What do you learn about during a Virtual Field Trip?

Virtual Field Trips are broadcast from the Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument, where over 1,500 dinosaur bones from the Late Jurassic Period are on display. We can cover a variety of topics related to the park, including dinosaurs, fossils, paleontology, evolution, deep time, geology, ecology, desert habitats, the National Park Service, and much more. Please let us know if there are any specific topics or vocabulary words you would like us to cover when booking your appointment.

How much does a Virtual Field Trip cost?

Nothing. We offer Virtual Field Trips for free!

Do you still do the "Mystery Program" for students learning U.S. geography?

We sure can! Just let us know you'd like the mystery or geography program when booking your appointment. Be sure to remind the ranger at the start of your field trip that you want the mystery/geography talk and we will not give away our location right away. Your students will guide the direction of the program with questions to guess where we are broadcasting from.

Do you only offer Virtual Field Trips to schools?

Virtual Field Trips are open to all community groups. We have provided Virtual Field Trips to homeschoolers, public libraries, after school camps, university groups, elder and medical care facilities, birthday parties, and more. Be sure to tell us about your group when booking your program so that we can tailor our information and content appropriately for your audience.

What languages do you offer?

Currently, only English.

What ages do you teach?

Everyone. Our virtual rangers are trained to make their talks appropriate, entertaining, and understandable for each age group, from kindergartners to high schoolers and beyond.

Are Virtual Field Trips open to audiences outside of the United States?

Yes, but you still have to work with our business hours. If none of the times offered on the webform meet your needs, please contact us to see if we can accommodate you. Remember that we operate on U.S. Mountain Time (MST/MDT).

The Virtual Field Trip schedule doesn't show any available times for the date that I want. Why?

Virtual Field Trips are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. We ask that you book at least 7 days in advance using our online scheduling form. If there aren't any available time slots for the dates you want, it could be for any of the following reasons: 

• All the available times for the dates you want have already been booked by someone else.
• The date you want is within the next 7 days. Please book at least 7 days in advance.
• You may be trying to book a date or time that we don't offer. Please review the dates and times listed in our current Virtual Field Trip season.
• You may be trying to book a holiday where the park is closed. We don't offer programs on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day. 

I don't see a time slot that works for me. Can you adjust to meet our needs?

Maybe. If you cannot work with any of the available times we offer, feel free to contact us. Please have a prepared list of several dates/times that would work for your group and we will see if we can work with your schedule. Be mindful that we operate on U.S. Mountain Time (MST/MDT).

How many classes/students can join in a Virtual Field Trip session?

There is no limit. During the booking process, you send us a link to join the meeting you created in your preferred virtual learning platform. You also control who gets the invitation to join and can invite as many people as you like.

Can you accommodate people with special needs?

We strive to make all our resources, including Virtual Field Trips, as accessible and inclusive as possible. When booking your appointment, be sure to tell us of any special needs or requirements your group members may have. For example, if you have anyone in your group who is blind or low-vision, let us know so we can provide verbal descriptions of what is appearing on screen. If you have need for an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, please contact us at least 1 month in advance of your program so that we have time to schedule an interpreter. 

I have 17 classes and each one needs a different date/time. Do I have to book them individually?

Yes. If you need help booking multiple classes, please contact us. Be sure to have a list of your preferred dates and times prepared, as programs are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.