Grapevine’s Fossil Fest takes kids back in time

Make no bones about it, Grapevine’s first Fossil Fest offered kids a fun and educational trip back in time.

The Oct. 16 event gave young and old aspiring paleontologists the opportunity to learn about some of the oldest creatures that once roamed in Grapevine.

Morgan Davidson, outdoor programs coordinator for Grapevine’s Parks & Recreation, conceived of the idea when she heard that National Fossil Day was celebrated on Oct. 14.

Given the green light, the 23-year-old started putting together some fun kids’ events. With her mom’s help, she made 200 eggs with dinosaurs inside utilizing used coffee grounds, salt and water.

“I tried to make them look as real as I could,” she said.

Kids got to hunt the eggs in “incubators” made from pallets, excavate “dinosaur bones” with chisels and brush them off.

Members of the Dallas Paleontology Society were on hand with fossils for the kids to take home and study.

They also provided background on tracks and other findings discovered around Grapevine Lake.

The Dallas Paleontological Society was founded in 1984 to promote interest in and knowledge of paleontology. It was designed to be a network for the exchange of data between professionals and serious amateurs in the field.

This story was originally published October 27, 2015 at 9:15 AM with the headline "Grapevine’s Fossil Fest takes kids back in time."