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I was invited to set up an educational booth at the Cranbrook Rock & Lapidary Club's Mineral, Fossil & Gem Show in October. It was a huge hit with the local collectors and members of the public. I was able to chat with a diversity of people ranging from families to fanatics and even some familiar faces from social media swung by to say hi. I am excited for the next event and will definitely be spending more time in Cranbrook. Such a welcoming community of fossil hunters and great number of Cambrian sites. Here are some photos of my table display. I wanted to spice things up and add fossils from around the world for this event as well as feature some of my current work.

Some of you may remember my struggles with the COVID lockdowns and having to shutdown my event rental business. Sad times. Well… my wife is at it again! She recently started another business venture (about 8 months ago. I think…) This time it’s an imaginative indoor play area specifically for kids in the age range of 0-8 years old. It’s been well received by our community and she is doing great! Why does The Fossil Forum care? I’m glad you asked! Today my wife had her first Fossil Event for the kids. A private event with a limited number of tickets. The event consisted of kids getting to dig open a “dinosaur egg” which contained a plastic dinosaur toy that was hidden inside. A grab bag full of goodies, snacks, special fossil themed play areas, and open play to the entire facility. She also had a local fossil expert on hand to show real fossils to the kids. That’s me! All of the children were 5 years old or less. I spoke to each of them in turn since they had to come to me to get an identification for the dinosaur they just found in their egg. It was a joy to watch their face light up when I showed them the Megalodon tooth or petrified wood. I equally enjoyed their nose wrinkling in disgust when I handed them fossil poo**. The insect could go either way. I also gave each kid a real fossil to take home in their goodie bag. My meager fossil setup is shown below. It’s not much, but was enough for the 5 year olds (and younger). Showing them things they could understand and relate to was key. A big tooth, wood, a bug, poo. I also threw in a few local specimens that they may find in their own backyards. It was a fun time and I thoroughly enjoyed spreading a bit of my fossil enthusiasm to the younger generation. I will certainly do it again in the future. **I know that the “fossil poo” I brought is not likely a coprolite, and may even be strictly geological, but to a 5 year old, if it’s the shape and color of poo, then it must be poo!

Hi everyone! For those of you who live in or close to the Netherlands: on the 9th of March 2019, the PaleoTime-NL International Fossil Show will be held again, this year in the town of Harderwijk, The Netherlands. This show is the biggest paleontological event in the Netherlands, a meeting between amateur and professional paleontologists, for the exchange of knowledge, experiences and fossils. There are informative lectures, prep demo's and many more activities. Entrance is free. For more information, see the website www.paleotime.nl/en Is anyone of you guys going? Cheers, Johan

Atlantic Canadian mega-volcanoes blamed in mass extinction End Triassic extinction wiped out half the world's species 200 Ma (million years ago) http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2013/03/22/science-end-triassic-mass-extinction-volcanoes.html Here's another article related to this subject.. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130321141450.htm

So was Natura 2012 Fall Edition in Madrid # 1

The next 7, 8 and 9 December is celebrated "NATURA 2012- Autumn Edition ", traditional contest with more than 32 years old in Madrid(Spain) "Natura" Edition autumn 2012 is a classic of the cultural offer in Madrid, with disclosure of natural sciences through admiration and/or acquisition of its natural objects from their different approaches and possibilities; ideas and materials for interior decoration and exterior; teaching materials for educational centers; minerals, shells, fossils, etc., for a formative collectibles; gift ideas for original and unique; courses and naturalistic excursions, and much more...This exhibition of natural objects, with the presence of fifty national exhibitors, and other European countries is a classic and cites common not only of fans from Madrid to this fascinating topic, but other many who come from all over the country.Natura is one of the most important exhibitions of the European circuit and essential appointment in the calendar together with fairs as St.Marie Mineral in St. Marie Aux Mines (France) and Munich (Germany). In this new edition will count on the collaboration of the ever Gemological Institute it will occupy a stand near the entrance of the exhibition and in which it will be cutting workshops, carving and polishing of precious stones and gems recognition.Also will be identified and kilograms all the minerals, fossils and shells than the audience request.This year the Organization "NATURA 2012- Autumn Edition ", will give to the first 4,000 visitors with a beautiful copy of mineral or fossil will also have the traditional daily draws for natural objects valued at 3,000 attendees APPOINTMENT in: "NATURA 2012- Autumn Edition " 7,8 and 9 December 2012 Hotel Convencion Street / O'Donnell, 53 - Madrid –SPAIN Uninterrupted hours of 11 am to 9 pm Admission: € 2; under age 14 and older: 1€ fbmcomunicacion@telefonica.net Let me show pics of others editions

The next 11, 12 and 13 of May is celebrated "NATURA 2012- Spring Edition ", traditional event with more than 30 years old in Madrid. "NATURA " Spring Edition 2012 is a classic of the cultural offer in Madrid, with the dissemination of natural sciences through admiration and/or acquisition of their natural objects from their different approaches and possibilities; ideas and materials for interior decoration and exterior; educational materials for teachers centres; shells, fossils, minerals, etc., for a formative collectors; gifts original and unique; courses and naturalistic excursions, etc. This exhibition of natural objects, that counts with the presence of fifty national exhibitors, and other European countries is not only usual appointment Madrid to this fascinating subject enthusiasts, but many others arrived from all points of the national geography. This year we have a big surprise for our visitors the Atapuerca Foundation presents NATURA days 11, 12 and 13 may its workshops of carving tools of stone, cave painting and discovery of fire to bring visitors in a dynamic and participatory manner some of the daily activities of our most distant ancestors that undoubtedly will delight both children and adults make fire, carving stone tools or paint with the materials with which the caves of Altamira were painted are activities within the workshops to the Atapuerca Foundation held at the hall located at the entrance of access to NATURA 2012. This year the Organization "NATURA" Spring Edition 2012 will give to the first 4,000 visitors with a beautiful copy of mineral or fossil, also will feature the traditional daily draws for natural objects among those attending valued at 3,000 Euros 11, 12 and 13 of May 2012 Hotel Convención C/ O’Donnell, 53 – Madrid (SPAIN) Uninterrupted hours of 11 to 21 hours Entry; € 2;children under 14 and senior citizens: 1€ For more information and reservations: fbmcomunicacion@telefonica.net