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Theme Camping
 Theme camping is a wonderful way to combine camping and learning, seeing the world innew ways. Whether it’s you alone, as a couple or with kids-in-tow, theme camping isfrosting on the cake for any camping adventure. The great thing about theme camping isthat it allows you to discover many new campsites while pursuing the same theme.
Fossil Camping
*Never remove fossils as it is often illegal.Fossil Camping involves choosing campsites near to fossil beds that are preserved innational monuments, parks and museums (public and private). So how do you decidewhere to start to explore pre-history? Many monuments and parks have websites soyou can explore them first (some even have on-line museums and virtual tours).Agate Fossil Beds National Monument“During the 1890s, scientists rediscovered what the Lakota Sioux alreadyknew - bones preserved in one of the most complete Miocene mammal sites inthe world. Yet, Agate is a landscape that reflects many players – from early animalsroaming the valleys and hills, to tribal nations calling the High Plains home, toexplorers and ranchers passing through or settling in the American West.”Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical ParkAbout 12 million years ago, a volcano in southwest Idaho spread a blanket of ash over a very large area. One or two feet of this powdered glass covered theflat savannah-like grasslands of northeastern Nebraska. Most of the animalswhich lived here survived the actual ashfall, but as they continued to graze onthe ash covered grasses, their lungs began to fill up with the abrasive powder.Soon their lungs became severely damaged and they began to die. Thesmaller animals died first (smaller lung capacities) and finally, after perhapsthree to five weeks, the last of the rhinos perished. Their bodies were quicklycovered by the blowing and drifting ash. Undisturbed except by an occasionalscavenging meat-eater, the skeletons of these animals are preserved in theirdeath positions, complete with evidence of their last meals in their mouthsand stomachs and their last steps preserved in the sandstone below.”Dinosaur State Park“We are one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. Beneath ourgeodesic dome, you will find an exceptional display of early Jurassic fossiltracks that were made 200 million years ago. Surrounding our Exhibit Centerare more than two miles of nature trails and theDinosaur State ParkArboretum,containing more than 250 species and cultivars of conifers, as wellas katsuras, ginkgoes, magnolias and other living representatives.”Dinosaur Valley State Park
“
Dinosaur Valley State Park contains some of the best preserved dinosaurtracks in the world. The dinosaur tracks are located in the riverbed, so pleasecall ahead to check on river conditions. There are two fiberglass models; a 70-foot Apatosaurus and a 45-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex. They were built, undercommission of the Sinclair Oil Company, New York World's Fair DinosaurExhibit of 1964 - 1965. Other activities include camping, picnicking, hiking,mountain biking, 
Equestrian use
in a separate 100-acre area (no horsesfurnished), river swimming and fishing, and wildlife observation.”
 
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument“Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies on one of therichest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumpsup to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossils of insects and plantsreveal the story of a very different, prehistoric Colorado.Online Museum”Fossil Butte National Monument“Some of the world's best preserved fossils are found in the flat-topped ridgesof southwestern Wyoming's cold sagebrush desert. Fossilized fish, insects,plants, reptiles, birds, and mammals are exceptional for their abundance,variety, and detail of preservation. Most remarkable is the story theytell of ancient life in a sub-tropical landscape.”Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument“Largest concentration of Hagerman Horse (
Equus simplicidens
) fossils inNorth America - 30 complete horse fossils and portions of 200 individualhorses.Internationally significant Monument protects world's richest late Plioceneepoch (3 - 4 mya) fossil deposits: over 220 species of plants and animals!Glimpse life before the last Ice Age and view earliest appearance of modernflora and fauna.” John Day Fossil Beds National Monument“A visit to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is like taking a journeyinto ancient Oregon. Whether you tour the museum at Sheep Rock, hike a trailat the Painted Hills, or picnic at Clarno, Oregon's exciting past will be revealed.Learn about the park before you visit by exploring our newvirtual tour!”Mississippi Petrified Forest*Privately owned
. “
 Take an unforgettable journey back in time...
 
36 millionyears to an ancient log jam deposited by a river from halfway across ouryoung continent. You'll enjoy the many points of interest along the six blocklong shady paved trail. From there you'll enter our Earth Science Museumwhere you can browse among the most outstanding collection of fossils,petrified wood, and minerals from nature,Petrified Forest National Park“With one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrifiedwood, multi-hued badlands of the Painted Desert, historic structures,archeological sites, and displays of 225 million year old fossils, this is asurprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science.”Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite“At BLM's Red Gulch Dinosaur Track site, you can imagine yourself walkingalong an ocean shoreline 167 million years ago with dozens of otherdinosaurs, looking to pick up a bite of lunch from what washed up on the lasthigh tide. The ground is soft and your feet sink down in the thick ooze, leavinga clear footprint with every step you take. The discovery of rare fossilfootprints on public lands near the Red Gulch/Alkali National Back CountryByway close to Shell, Wyoming, could alter current views about the SundanceFormation and the paleoenvironment of the Middle Jurassic Period.” The Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis“This museum has an extensive display of Wyoming Dinosaurs and otherrelated material. There are also observation points for watching restoration of 
 
fossils. During the summer there are tours of the dig sites and "Kids Digs". Journey back in time with dynamic displays featuring dinosaurs from allaround the world. See the entire paleontological process, from excavation topreparation. Open daily year round.”Once you decide which places you want to visit first, simply look for campsites nearthat region, then see which have campsites on site or nearby. A Google search is oftenall you’ll need to find campsites nearby. You can also find reports of great campingsites, for example: TopSleeping Bagsreport onthe top five secluded campgrounds
Western Trails Camping
Western Trails Camping involves choosing campsites which allow you to explore thetrails used as pioneers moved West during the development of the United States. Themost historic are
theBozeman, the Cherokee, theOregon, theOverland, theCalifornia, the Mormon Pioneer,and the Pony Express Trails. Because all passed through Wyoming and Wyoming is filled with open spaces, Wyoming is a great place to start. More about the trails canbe found at the Alliance for Historic Wyoming.
While exploring these trails will fill you with the same sense of determination and “cando” attitude which propelled the western movement, you might also consider exploringwhat happened to those on the other side of that equation who’s heroic determinationto preserve their tribes made their defeat so palpably tragic, such as the Trail of Tears,which forcibly relocated the Cherokee people, the epic1,700 mile Nez Pearce retreatled by Chief Josephacross Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana,Wounded Knee,Sand Creek Massacre, Once you decide which places you want to visit first, simply look for campsites nearthat region, then see which have campsites on site or nearby. A Google search is oftenall you’ll need to find campsites nearby.
Astronomy Camping
Astronomy camping is probably the easiest theme camping to pursue. All you need is acampsite away from the light pollution of cities and the night sky above becomes yourtheatre. From asteroids, constellations, meteor showers, comet fly-bys to eclipses, theuniverse will spin above you. One great source is the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’sSpaceCalendar, which lists when the events overhead will occur.Once you decide which astronomy events you want to witness, find a great campsitenear you that is away from light pollution, then head there! A Google search is often allyou’ll need to find campsites nearby.
Cave Camping
Cave camping is something that will amaze you because the majesty of caves hasremained hidden underground because of the nature of caves. But once you discoverthe world of caves, you’ll become a cave camper until you’ve explored them all.
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