Dinosaur Camp has a new and enthusiastic leader this summer. Robin Sissons of Edmonton has taken over the reins of this popular Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation program, and hopes to bring some special attributes to it.

Robin has just finished her third year of her B.Sc. at the University of Alberta’s palaeontology program. On weekends she would volunteer for the university’s Science Sunday program, where she developed a love of teaching kids about the earth sciences, and realized how enthusiastic their response could be. She finds it incredibly fulfilling when kids get excited about science, and feels privileged to develop their interest in learning.

When Robin heard about the Tumbler Ridge camps from her friend, last year’s camp leader Janet Proos, she therefore immediately thought that this would be a great summer experience, and put in an application. She was delighted to be the one selected from the five applicants that were interviewed.

Robin is impressed with what she has seen of the Dinosaur Camp program so far, and plans to update it to include the very latest research and discoveries, both around Tumbler Ridge and world-wide. She is equally impressed with Tumbler Ridge, and its beautiful setting, its wonderfully friendly people, and being able to walk anywhere she needs to go.

The Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation is entering its fourth year of presenting Dinosaur Camp, in conjunction with the Northern Lights College, starting June 26 and running through August 25.

Most camps run daily from Monday to Friday and cater to kids aged 7-13. In addition two-day Mini-camps will be held for two weeks in August, for kids aged 6-13. Registration costs $150 for a week-long camp or $60 for a Mini-camp. The Raptor Camp is for first-time registrants, while graduates can return for the second-tier Tyrannosaur Camp. This year for the first time there will also be a week-long camp in Hudson’s Hope.

Activities include field trips to dinosaur footprint sites and other fossil sites, identification and preparation of fossils (with take-home material), tours of the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery in Tumbler Ridge, daily lectures and games regarding dinosaurs, other fossils, and famous palaeontologists, a dinosaur excavation exercise, an introduction to BC’s geology, rocks and minerals and much more.

Hundreds of kids have gone through Dino Camp and had a unique and wonderful summer experience, and Tumbler Ridge is the only place in B.C. where such camps are organized. Parents often have a great time enjoying the wonderful scenery and hiking trails that Tumbler Ridge has to offer, while their kids are in camp. For further details on Dinosaur Camp call (250) 242-DINO or click here.

Robin has a special interest in vertebrate palaeontology, which makes Tumbler Ridge with its dinosaurs an exciting place to be. She hopes to move on to her Masters and Doctorate once she has completed her B.Sc. Meantime she is looking forward to an exciting summer in Tumbler Ridge and hopes to be able to inspire many young Dinosaur Campers.

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