The Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds, Inc.

At the International Ranger Federation Scotland World Congress of Rangers in 2006, delegates decided that July 31 of each year, beginning in 2007, would be a day dedicated to rangers. This first World Ranger Day will fall on the 15th anniversary of the founding of IRF on July 31, 1992. World Ranger Day recognizes the work of rangers in preserving the world’s protected areas.World Ranger Day will be marked by the international premier of the documentary The Thin Green Line, which chronicles the exciting and sometimes dangerous work of rangers around the world.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Paleontologist Dr. Herb Meyer will be giving a Curator’s Lunchtime Lecture at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on August 1. This talk will cover the work Meyer and others have been doing to assist the citizens of Sexi, Peru, in conserving and developing a nearby Middle Eocene fossil forest, Piedra Chamana. Come learn about this developing partnership and research on the fossil forest and see beautiful photographs of a remote part of Peru!

Can’t make it to the paleo seminar this weekend? Stop by the park for as long as you have and join us for homesteading activities at the Hornbek Homestead. There will be people in period costume, quilters and weavers demonstrating their work, and games and crafts for kids. July 28th is part of Heritage Days in Florissant, and the Friends will also be joining the Pikes Peak Historical Society for a homestead tour of the area.

You can still sign up for “The Eocene Life of Florissant: Paleontology of the Plants, Insects, Mammals and Diatoms of the Florissant Formation,” taught by four scientists heavily involved in recent research on Florissant paleontology. This is a unique opportunity to learn about current science and get out in the field at the Monument–highlights include a look at the museum collections and a chance to help collect fossil mammals!

The Ponderosa Loop Trail will be temporarily closed for repairs, beginning Monday, July 23. Repairs should take about a week.