National Fossil Day, October 17, 2018 and International Archaeology Day, October 20, 2018
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
August 30, 2018
In Reply Refer To:
8100, 8270 (240) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 09/04/2018
Information Bulletin No. 2018-075
To: All Bureau of Land Management Employees
From: Assistant Director, Resources and Planning
Subject: National Fossil Day, October 17, 2018 and International Archaeology Day, October 20, 2018
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will celebrate the 2018 National Fossil Day (NFD) on October 17, 2018 during Earth Science Week, October 14-20, 2018. This year’s Earth Science Week theme is "Earth as Inspiration”. National Fossil Day is an annual celebration held to highlight the scientific and educational value of paleontology and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations. See http://www.earthsciweek.org/ for additional information about Earth Science Week; for more information about National Fossil Day, see https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/index.htm. Earth Science Week 2018 concludes on International Archaeology Day (IAD), Saturday, October 20, 2018; for more information, see http://www.archaeological.org/archaeologyday. The BLM field offices are encouraged to engage the public in both events.
National Fossil Day
The NFD was established by the National Park Service (NPS) in response to the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470aaa-2), which requires federal land managing agencies to create programs that increase public awareness of the significance of paleontological resources. This annual event supports the BLM Education, Interpretation, and Youth Engagement National Strategy by fostering a greater appreciation of the scientific and educational value of fossils.
Start planning your events in conjunction with NFD immediately. All events that include paleontological resources on or from public lands may be considered a National Fossil Day event. Post your event on the NFD web page, http://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/add_event.cfm. Please forward your event information to Brent Breithaupt at bbreitha@blm.gov for coordination.
Check the NPS-NFD web page at http://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday for information about NFD, including planned activities, artwork and logo, ideas for events and activities, art and a photography contest, and information and links to NFD partner web pages.
The BLM Printed Materials Distribution Section (PMDS) has the following paleontological education materials available in support of your activities:
- PS-003, black and white 17" x 22" coloring poster from the 150th Anniversary of the Department of the Interior: Dinosaurs, America's Public Land Legacy for Children of All Ages (old No. P-393).
- P-437, A New Paleontology Law: A brochure on the PRPA (Paleontological Resources Preservation under the Omnibus Public Land Management Section of 2009).
- EE 2038A, “Junior Explorer: Geology and Fossils” Activity Book.
The Washington Office (WO) has limited funding to support field offices hosting NFD events. Please send your proposals to BLM NFD Representative, Brent Breithaupt (bbreitha@blm.gov) by August 31, 2018.
International Archaeology Day
The AIA is a nonprofit organization established in 1879. The organization is devoted to promoting public interest in past cultures and civilizations, archaeological research, and preservation of archaeological heritage. The BLM has participated as a collaborating organization, holding events and promoting the IAD across all offices. However, the BLM does not host a separate web page for IAD. State and field offices should register their program on the IAD website that publicizes the activity, https://www.archaeological.org/archaeologyday/events.
As part of National Fossil Day and International Archaeology Day, field offices are encouraged to participate by:
- Distributing archaeology week/month posters.
- Teaching Project Archaeology lessons to home school groups or at other nontraditional educational opportunities such as scouting events.
- Coordinating interpretive events that highlight paleontological and archaeological resources. These events may occur any time during the year.
- Inviting BLM-permitted researchers to speak about their field activities.
- Coordinating or giving presentations at local schools, museums, or civic events about paleontological or archaeological resources.
- Organizing an archaeology and paleontology fair, where the public may bring their items for identification.
- Conducting or coordinating field trips to nearby interpreted BLM paleontological localities or archaeological sites.
- Coordinating NFD and IAD activities with partner museums that hold fossil specimens or artifacts from BLM-administered lands, such activities might include laboratory open houses.
- Developing or helping to develop temporary or permanent displays on BLM paleontological or archaeological resources.
- Registering programs on the NFD and IAD websites.
As NFD and IAD rapidly approach, keep updated about events nationwide at the NFD and IAD websites. If you have any questions, please contact Brent Breithaupt, Regional Paleontologist, BLM WYSO-930, at (307) 775-6052, or bbreitha@blm.gov, or Ranel Capron, Federal Preservation Officer, WO-240, at (202) 912-7241, or rcapron@blm.gov.
Kristin Bail Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director Division of IT Policy and Planning,WO-870
Resources and Planning