Updated January 22,2004
Summer of 2003
We just got back from a fabulous vacation in Wyoming, the highlight of which was the dino dig with Bob Simon. Here's a testimonial if you need one. My 15-year-old daughter and I had a wonderful time digging for dinos with Bob Simon, of Dinosaur Safaris. Bob was extremely knowledgeable and we learned more than we expected, but also had a lot of fun. We were amazed at the number of fossils that we found, and were delighted to be able to keep some of them. We found parts of camarasaurs, allosaurs, and a tiny bone from an unknown baby dino. Now that we're back home, we will use the techniques that Bob taught us to clean the fossils for display. We would highly recommend this opportunity to dig-for-a-day with Bob, whose knowledge and sense of humor made the dig very enjoyable.
Sue Kayton
Summer of 2003
Bob,
I just wanted to thank you for the great experience our family had at your
dig this summer. It was a real thrill to uncover the bones that we did. And
I enjoyed learning how to pedestal a bone. For the benefit of others,
here's what we found in just two days: My wife Jill found and excavated a
Camarasaurus femur, a task taking quite some time, her enjoying every
moment. Our 10 year old son Max found a perfect Camarasaurus tooth,
complete with root, plus an Allosaurus toe bone. I found a great Allosaurus
claw, a Camarasaurus toe bone, a Camarasaurus vertebrae, and a Camarasaurus
rib. Unbelievable! The place was so rich that while I was excavating
around a bone, Bob noticed that I flung out all but the tip of a Allosaurus
tooth. While looking for the tip (which he did eventually find), a
Dryosaurus tooth turned up. Pretty amazing. We had to drag our son away at
the end of the second day; he was intent on excavating a limb bone he
discovered that headed into an area covered by a couple feet of rock, a job
which would have consumed quite a few hours. Max was in heaven (as Jill and
I were), despite the fact that the temperature was well over 100 both days.
We brought home both the Camarasaurus vertebrae and rib, plus a fine
collection of vertebrae pieces. We have spent several enjoyable evenings at
a table in the backyard working with dental tools to clean up these bones
and we're not quite done yet. Thanks again Bob. I'd recommend your dig to
anyone.
Don Schaeffer Wauwatosa WI
Summer of 2003
Bob,
I wanted to tell you again what a great time I had on your dino safari!
I've already ordered my Paleobond starter kit and can't wait for it to
arrive so I can begin cleaning up my fossils to see what I found. I've
collected minerals and fossils all over the country for over 25 years, and
have never had this much fun. As much fun as collecting a few dinosaur
bones was, the educational aspect was even better. And the joy of sitting
there at the base of the Bighorn Mountains digging for 145 million year old
dinosaur fossils is an experience that will be difficult to beat. You asked
me what you could change to make the experience better. My recommendation
is "don't change anything". I hope I can make it back soon.
Mel Croft
Summer of 2003
Dear Bob,
Want to thank you again for a five great days of dinosaur fossil digging! That's a very rich bone bed you're working and I particularly enjoyed the easy access, particularly after all the hiking and climbing I had to do in Alberta the week before. The sun could be brutal by mid-afternoon -- particularly since we were in the middle of a heat wave -- but the excitement of discovery was enough to keep me going longer than I would have thought I could. The fact that we could drink all the ice water we wanted rather than warm water from a canteen or bottle carried in a backpack helped a lot, I think!
Floyd Lasley
Summer of 2003
"I booked a one day dig with Dinosaur Safaris out of curiosity, and stayed a second day because I had so much fun. I got hands-on experience digging for, locating and extracting dinosaur bones, while Bob Simon worked nearby so he could answer my questions and offer needed advice. Bob is an enjoyable digging companion and a great teacher, who will share his wealth of knowledgeable about local geology and paleontology. Going on this dig was educational, fun and exciting -- since, when you first expose part of a dinosaur bone, you don't know which kind of dinosaur it belonged to or how big the bone might be. I'll be going back again."
Doug Foster
Summer of 2003
Dear Bob:
We just wanted to thank you for the wonderful experience of digging for dinosaur bones. Although we were there for a only a day, the event provided enthusiasm and conversation for our whole family for days to follow. It was a great learning experience for my wife and I as well as our two children. We certainly hope to be seeing you again in the future.
Sincerely,
The Boswell Family
Rick, Christine, Richie, Ingrid
To: Dinosaur Safaris Inc.
Mr. Bob Simon
Bob,
I just wanted you to know that the time I spent with you this summer was, literally, the experience of a lifetime. I had been dreaming of this since I was twelve years old and since I spent my 55th birthday on your dig, it has been a long time coming.
The lessons and techniques that you gave me will be never be forgotten. To actually find, on my own, and remove these fossils from the earth that has held them captive for so long is so amazing. The act of holding 145 million year old fossils in my hands was something I cannot describe. You taught me the respect that these amazing items deserve.
I just want everyone who reads this letter to know that you offer people a fun and informative experience that they will not find anywhere else. It is something special that parents can share with the young people in their families. I can hardly wait to come back in two years with my nephew. He is the other dinosaur lover in my family.
I have recommended Dinosaur Safaris to everyone I
meet and hope they will all come and experience what I did. Thank you
again for all of your patience and the knowledge you are willing to share.
Vicki Neal
Idaho
Al
We just got back from a fabulous vacation in
Wyoming, the highlight of which
was the dino dig with Bob Simon. Here's a testimonial if you need one.
My 15-year-old daughter and I had a wonderful time digging for dinosaurs with
Bob Simon, of Dinosaur Safaris. Bob was extremely knowledgeable and we
learned more than we expected, but also had a lot of fun. We were amazed at
the number of fossils that we found, and were delighted to be able to keep
some of them. We found parts of Camarasaurs, Allosaurus, and a tiny bone
from an unknown baby dinosaur. Now that we're back home, we will use the
techniques that Bob taught us to clean the fossils for display. We would
highly recommend this opportunity to dig-for-a-day with Bob, whose knowledge
and sense of humor made the dig very enjoyable.
Sue Kayton August 17, 2003
Bob, July 16,2002
I wanted to thank you so much for the fantastic time we had on our dinosaur
dig with you on July 5th. It turned out perfectly and exceeded my
expectations. Our entire vacation to Wyoming was excellent and this was the
highlight of the trip. The whole experience was so "real", nothing
commercialized about it. Getting to actually bring home what we had dug out
was fantastic.
I appreciated all of your personal attention to the boys and I.
I know
working with kids can tend to be a bit trying, but you did a great job being
patient with them and keeping their interest. Being so hot that day I was
happily surprised when at 3:30, after we had dug out that relatively large
piece of sauropod rib, that the boys were not ready to quit! "No Dad, we
want to keep digging!" they said. It was great!
The walk into the outback to search for belemnites was a special treat also.
Jared and Creighton loved that. The scenery out there is spectacular. I
couldn't get over how interesting the geology is there.
I enjoyed the conversations we had on the dig site also. Thanks for sharing
you wealth of knowledge of the geology of the area, how you found the dig
site, how to dig for the bones and what to look for, etc. I also
appreciated your non-judgmental attitude toward our beliefs in a young Earth
and your willingness to share some of your beliefs in the reasons for an old
Earth. If you have any interest in looking into this further, here are a
couple of good websites with young Earth information specifically on
dinosaurs and geology respectively:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/dinosaurs.asp
http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/geology.asp
Thanks also for the hats. That was unexpected and a very nice touch.
They
have been worn frequently by all three of us! We've shared our experience
with lots of people since returning home and several have asked for specific
information on your operation.
Thanks again for a great time Bob. May God continue to bless you with fun
and prosperity.
Rob, Jared, and Creighton North.
It's a hot day today - 103 degrees. The sun is baking down on my head and back. I kneel, digging amongst the hard matrix of the Morrison Formation in the Bighorn Basin. A cloud is passing by, and our little group is thankful for the break from mean ol' mister sun. I can't believe I'm sitting where the end of time took place. Where herds of gargantuan beasts roamed the earth and met their demise 145 million years ago. As I look up, wiping the sweat dripping off my face, I'm filled with awe. The Bighorn Basin has offered up to me it's spectacular scenery of majestic peaks and magnificent colors. It's splendor has taken my breath away. There is no other place on earth I'd rather be right now than here. I'm starting to uncover a vertebra from the large plant eater, Camarasaurus. This is why my family came here from New York. Looking at dinosaur bones in any old museum wasn't enough for us. We wanted more. We brought our son A.J. on this dig because of his unyielding passion to become a paleontologist when he grows up. A.J. got the opportunity to be a paleontologist for a few days at Bob and Roger's site. This was truly an educational experience. With Bob working at your side, you learn techniques used to prepare, plaster, cast, excavate and preserve fragile dinosaur specimens. I can't describe the incredible feeling that comes over you when you actually unearth an artifact 145 million years old. We brought home several pieces including a large fibula bone that my husband Charlie dug up. Make no mistake. This dig is not for everyone. Diggers need not be experienced but serious with their endeavor. You need to be in reasonably good shape. The sun is hot and the rock is hard. A lot of sweat goes into unearthing a treasure. But well worth the effort and a truly rewarding experience. The dig has only further fueled my son's desire to become a paleontologist. He learned a great deal. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that we will never forget. We really "dug it!"
Many thanks,
Bonnie, Charlie, A.J.
October 14, 2001
Dear Bob,
"It's fun being a paleontologist, with a big "A." At just six years old, Nicholas is certainly proud of his new "Junior Amateur Paleontologist" status. After all, he has been interested in dinosaurs since age two. Necessity and practicality dictate that much of a person's education consists of filling one's memory with the discoveries and experiences of others. Our Dinosaur Safari was an exciting way to augment our education with actual experience. Experience makes learning much more exciting and interesting. Nicholas is definitely excited about Dinosaurs.
You and Roger were absolutely wonderful with Nicholas. "Roger taught me how to find the 'bone zone,'" says Nicholas enthusiastically. We both learned so much! We imagined that we would be using tiny brushes and dental picks, not heavy hammers, chisels, and pry bars. "One of the pry bars was bigger than me," says Nicholas, only 4 feet tall. He really enjoyed working with the tools, especially the boot knife. He stayed remarkably focused and interested. Enthusiastic teachers! Enthusiastic students!
Of course, working in the field does have its frustrations. I found myself reaching for the Paleobond, more than once. Happily, frustration quickly turns to excitement, when you realize that you are the only person to ever hold this dinosaur bone -- a bone that has been hidden in the earth for approximately 148 million years.
We've now created our own "museum" collection, to commemorate our safari. Our collection contains: the tooth (a Nicholas favorite), gastrolithes, Belemnites, Gryphaea, bits of gypsum and charcoal ("bone zone" demo), and of course what dino collection would be complete without -- BONES! For comparison, Nicholas even threw in one of his modern, non-fossilized, bone finds.
It was wonderful to be able to actually bring home a few bones. "Too bad we couldn't keep the allosaurus claw." "It's very special, " says Nicholas. Luckily, not all bone finds are scientifically significant. Our partial rib (???) seems to be a favorite among friends and family. Museums may not be interested in these isolated, unidentifiable bone fragments, but they make wonderful teaching tools, and are immensely interesting to junior amateur paleontologists.
Nicholas remains enthusiastic, and maintains his desire to be a paleontologist when he grows up. "I want to find a whole dinosaur skeleton, but I'll probably have to move." (Michigan has a lot of marine fossils, but due to the Ice Age, no dinosaurs.) "I really liked Wyoming. The people were really nice. I want to go back there and live on a ranch. Or I might move to Germany. They have compsognathus skeletons there. They're cool!" "They also have marine reptiles, like plesiosaurs. If I found a marine fossil, I would name it Marina, because it lived in the water. If you find a whole skeleton you get to name it." Nicholas was hoping to have the chance to name a big dinosaur discovery, but it just wasn't to be . . . this time.
Thank you, for sharing your experience, and for providing us with a truly wonderful opportunity!
I'll close with just one more Nicholas quote. "It was fun, even without any toys." How true!
Monica and Nicholas Lesnau
September 25, 2001
Dear Bob:
We just wanted to thank you for the most enjoyable vacation we have ever taken. It is hard to believe we had the opportunity to dig real fossils from the Jurassic. My son Eric and I have gone to several dinosaur sites, and have worked with several different people extracting bits of the past. But, the patience, expertise and relaxed nature of your adventure are by far the best experience we have ever had. The bones and teeth were exciting discoveries and the highlight, was, of course, the unearthing of the Allosaurus jaw with dentine. As my son pursues his future in Paleontology, this highlight will go with him. His Earth Science teacher is using his finds for instructional aids, and he is looking forward to the mold of "his" jaw.
We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your experience. I would heartily recommend that anyone considering the Dinosaur Safari with you be prepared for an exciting adventure, coupled with a true learning experience. We have left with a true appreciation for the life that lived during the past, and a respect for those who study it.
Please feel free to use our recommendation for any other visitors.
Sincerely,
George and Eric Pedersen
September 13, 2001
Dear Bob,
I just wanted to take a few minutes to let you know how much my children and I enjoyed our time on the dinosaur dig this summer. We had looked forward to the dig all spring, but when it finally got here we truly enjoyed that time at the dig. We've been to many many museums to learn about dinosaurs, and our library is full of many books, but to actually be on a dig was a truly a great opportunity for us as a family, we will treasure those memories and they will be with us for our lifetimes. As we stated when we were there with you, this years vacation was a vacation of a life time; we were gone almost three weeks and went thru ten states and eleven National Parks and every dinosaur museum and dig that we could find. We drove a total of 5950 miles in that time. So we did and saw alot, we camped out almost every night; but our time at the dig site in Shell, Wyoming was what each one of us thinks was the best part of the trip.
My children and I proudly show and tell all friends and family that come to our house about our dinosaurs bones that we dug up. We enjoyed the trip so much that we are talking about coming back next year for the whole week. There is nothing like the opportunity to be a part of a dinosaur excavation, the excitement of digging up the first bone is speechless. We really appreciated all the information and help that Roger and yourself gave to us and all the other families at the dig.
;So as you can see being on this dinosaur dig was a main highlight of our summer vacation. We would like to Thank You for this great adventure, and we look forward to trying to come back next year.
Sincerely,
Ron Beatty
Lauren Beatty 13
Robbie Beatty 11
August 13, 2001
Dear Bob,
Andrew and I just got the pictures back from our dig. Just seeing those images got us both talking about how much we enjoyed our time at the site. It's not often that a vacation becomes an ongoing adventure as well. Our adventure didn't start when we arrived at the dig site, but rather weeks before as we started to "bone up" on Jurassic dinosaurs. Our anticipation grew as our reservation days approached and we were both ready to dig when we arrived in Shell, Wyoming. It was so great to be able to spend time with my son doing something that we both enjoyed. We met other families from Ohio and Washington who came for the same reasons, to have fun and spend quality time with their family. Andrew and I have been to several dinosaur museums and seen any number of dinosaur bones, but nothing can compare to unearthing these treasures in the field. The excitement of finding a bone that has been buried for over 100 million years is truly exhilarating. For the two days we were there, the smile never left my son's face. And our adventure didn't end when we left the dig site. Andrew and I are cleaning and, hopefully, identifying the bones we found. Every visitor to the house gets to see those dinosaur bones and hear the stories of their discovery. You'll be happy to know that you get prominently mentioned in those stories. In fact, most of Andrew's recollections begin with, "Mr, Simon said that ......"We look forward to coming back next year and hunting for more bones. Thanks again for the adventure.
Sincerely,
Marshall Smith
Andrew Smith
August 31, 2000
Dear Bob,
I received the Allosaurus tooth we extracted from the dig site. It is beautiful. Thank you for letting me purchase it.
This is also to let you know how much I appreciate the opportunity you provided for Dr. Sealander and myself to participate in the dinosaur excavations at your site in Wyoming. When I was much younger I would read about the planets in our solar system, and stare at pictures in books. But it wasn't until I bought my first 8-inch telescope, and viewed the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn, that I actually felt a connection to these places. Unearthing dinosaur bones has quite the same effect. There is a connection between sense perception and affection or emotion, that adds a new and more permanent dimension to learned concepts. It isn't until you hear the "ding" coming from just beneath the loose soil as you tap your knife against a fossil, and watch as your brush reveals what is unmistakably part of a skeleton, that you feel an added dimension of understanding, and connection to the past.
Let me say that for us, spending a day at your site was the highlight of the Summer. We were fortunate enough to open a new excavation, and experience the anticipation of learning just what species was emerging under our tools. There was nothing to quite compare to the realization that for 145 million years this animal lay dead under the dusty Wyoming soil, and that now, myself, and a few select others, are making contact with that animal. In a sense, I felt that I had become part of its history. My eyes, my brain, my consciousness, established a connection with an extinct, long-dead life-form. We found it, and in a way, "rescued" it from total insignificance. In my opinion, you have to be made of wood not to feel something special at the prospect of unearthing intact dinosaur remains, in this case a juvenile Allosaurus.
As an educator, I would highly recommend spending the time and effort to spend a day on a DSI dig. For the novice or well-informed, it will likely prove a highly significant educational experience. I appreciated your helpful instruction, and willingness to answer and elaborate on all manner of questions related to fossils, dinosaurs, and geology.
Sincerely,
Marty Eigenberger, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Parkside