Field Program Info
Different Programs for Different Goals
The Triceratops Gulch Project (TGP) is a hands-on paleontology field program that invites participants to contribute directly to active museum research in Wyoming’s Upper Cretaceous Lance Formation. Operated collaboratively by the Morrison Natural History Museum and the Glenrock Paleontological Museum, the program emphasizes real-world field skills, scientific literacy, and authentic discovery. The 2026 season offers structured Greenhorn and Excavation programs, a refined schedule, updated emergency protocols, and expanded itineraries designed to balance rigorous fieldwork with education, safety, and flexibility.
Participants work alongside museum professionals to prospect, excavate, document, and interpret fossils that have remained undisturbed for more than 66 million years. All discoveries are permanently curated at the Glenrock Paleontological Museum, ensuring scientific and public access.
Youth Participation
Due to the nature of the program, minors must be at least 14 years of age and accompanied by an enrolled participant parent or legal guardian. Young children risk both discouragement of a pursuit of science and their physical safety in these harsh conditions.
GREENHORN
The “Greenhorn” program provides a harmonious blend of museum-based lectures and workshops with hands-on fieldwork. Its purpose is to impart essential knowledge and familiarize participants with fieldwork tasks, helping them uncover their unique area of interest for future expeditions like the Exploration and Excavation programs. Lectures will cover topics ranging from site-specific information, techniques, useful background knowledge, and the paleontology of the Lance Formation. Newfound knowledge will be applied directly to fieldwork, where you will garner a deeper understanding of field paleontology.
The program offers a carefully-crafted curriculum of lectures and workshops designed to support and enrich the overall experience. Although museum-based activities like work in the preparation and casting labs are not included, the nearby Paleon museum is used as a hub of operations to provide site-specific education and introduce armchair and aspiring paleontologists to paleontology in the field.
Please remember that the schedule is subject to change due to excavation priorities, team dynamics, and weather conditions. You are free to choose to participate in evening activities, either fieldwork or a museum workshop, or simply decide to rest.
If a well-rounded experience is what you're after, the Greenhorn program might just be the perfect fit. Particularly if you're a newcomer to the Triceratops Gulch Project or haven't participated recently, this expedition is tailored for you. Also, those contemplating a future in paleontology will find this program invaluable.
EXCAVATION
The Excavation program, designed for alumni of the Greenhorn program, offers advanced hands-on experience in paleontological fieldwork. Participants will engage in focused long-term excavations at established quarries, where participants will gain in-depth knowledge and skills in excavation techniques, fossil identification, and documentation. Additionally, the program includes test digs at prospective sites to assess their potential for yielding significant fossil discoveries.
Furthermore, the Excavation program may present opportunities for field jacketing, a specialized technique used to protect and transport large or fragile fossils. This program offers two choices: a Sunday to Thursday option, which includes an additional full day in the field, and a traditional Thursday to Sunday program.
The Excavation program doesn't cover initial exploration of prospecting or test trenching phases of the fieldwork process. This is a field-based program, consequently, museum-based activities like the work in collections or the labs are not a part of the experience. Keep in mind, the schedule can fluctuate based on excavation priorities, team interactions, and weather events. An optional activity is planned for most evenings. Participants may choose to participate or rest to prepare for the next day.
If you're new to the Triceratops Gulch Project, we recommend starting with the Greenhorn before moving on to this program. The Greenhorn is designed to offer participants a solid foundation for this and other programs.