Day 4 - Vee

This morning students awoke to the lovely voices of Ms. Trimble and Dr. Salem, who were equally as refreshed as the Post Oak paleontologists. As the girls got dressed, read, lit incense, and played lofi music, the boys were rushed out of their cabin and drowsily shuffled into the van. Gathering for breakfast, teachers recited the day's activities while students feasted on biscuits, eggs, cripsy bacon, and potatoes. The day would include a trip to the Whiteside Museum of Natural History, the renowned dig at Ranger Creek Ranch, and finally a drive back to our abode at the Z Bar Ranch House. Packing lunches, waters, and backbacks of kneepads and suncreen, the Post Oak School was ready to take off. First meeting our guides at the WMNH, the building itself is decorated with grafitti of Permian critters and, as Dr. Salem joyfully acknowledged, lacked the infamous Saguaro cactus that inaccurately permeates Texan couture. Making our first introductions to Chris Flis (Museum Director) and Holly Simon (Assistant Director), Chris gave us a short seminar of the creatures of the North Texas Red Beds. Mentioning the Dimetrodon, Diplocaulus, and more, we were able to take a quick stroll around the museum itself. A majority of the displays showcasing fossils, but we were also able to observe live animals and the actual lab that the paleontologists at the WMNH work in. With high hopes and full water bottles, we headed over to our dig site. Driving about 15 minutes into the ranch, our dig site featured rolling hills and a giant lake in the distance. First we scavengered for smaller fossils in the "Spoil Pile", as Chris called it, and after some interesting finds we moved towards the bigger dig sites. With India uncovering the first ever discovered Dimetrodon forearm and me (Vee) being named after a Dimetrodon skeleton, picking at bones in the ground quickly became the highlight of the day. On top of these findings, teeth, jaw bones, ribs, fin spines, vertebrae, and more were found. Chris also gave us an fascinating insight: We were the first humans to ever see these ~250 million year old bones. After several hours of adrenaline-filled digging, many students became dehydrated and soon we begin packing up to retire for the afternoon. Loading into the van with the sweat and grime of the day, Post Oak students were rushed back to take showers and get into comfortable clothing. Feasting on an incredible dinner by staff, students and teachers alike concluded the day by playing several rounds of poker and pool.