Things to Love About the Elevation Science Experience
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, and our upcoming 6th birthday, we want to tell you the things we love about the Elevation Science experience.
A beautiful Montana sunset behind a wind farm
Montana Landscapes
If you’ve ever joined our expeditions before, or have just visited Montana, you know what we’re talking about; the big blue sky, majestic mountains, plains that stretch on forever, breathtaking sunsets… And those are just to name a few! At the end of the day, it’s so rewarding to be able to sit on a porch, sip on hot chocolate, and enjoy the serenity of the landscape.
(Left to right) Daniel Dunfee, Jeb Bugos, Katie Hunt, and Skye Walker after a day of jacketing!
Playing in the Dirt
Who didn’t love to play outside in the dirt as a kid? Unfortunately, as we grow up, those opportunities become fewer and fewer. When you experience a field expedition with Elevation Science, you get to do that again! We show up to the research sites clean as a whistle, then at the end of the day… We’re usually covered in sweat, dirt, and plaster. And we wouldn’t have it any other way!
Exploring Montana
The fun doesn’t stop at digging; we are fortunate to be based in Red Lodge, Montana. This beautiful, historic town is teeming with exciting things to do and we take advantage of it as much as possible. When the digging day is done, it’s nice to be able to visit the Red Box Car for Milkshake Wednesday, where we can enjoy a cold shake after a hot day in the field. A walk down Red Lodge’s streets holds a variety of unique shops, delicious pizza at Red Lodge Pizza Co., drinks at Red Lodge Ales, coffee and pastries at the Cattail Bakery, and friendly locals. Some of those locals even make the occasional appearance at our nightly lessons! The Bear Creek Saloon is also a favorite of ours, with great food and pig races! Of course, the very best is the weekly evening drive up the Beartooth Pass to feed chipmunks…and maybe even have a snowball fight!
Joe, Elias, and Ethan Willard digging at Fossil Flats
Our Participants
The work we do each year just would not be possible without our participants. These citizen scientists help us achieve and surpass our goals each year, helping us with excavation and progress on research that would take years by ourselves. Not only are they invaluable crew members, but participants quickly become part of the Elevation Science family. We look forward to reconnecting, digging up dinosaurs, and taking in the adventure with new and familiar friends every field season.
Dinosaurs!
This is a big one for all of us. After all, dinosaurs are what we’re here for, right? These prehistoric creatures are what draw us in, piquing our curiosity and fueling our childhood dreams of digging up a dinosaur. There truly is nothing like being the first one to discover a piece of bone, the likes of which has never been seen by human eyes before, suddenly looking around you and realizing that these great creatures really were right here 150 million years ago. It’s that thrill of discovery that keeps us coming back every single year!
Truthfully, we could go on and on about the things we love about this experience. But we want to hear from you! What do you love most about the Elevation Science experience?