Dig Field School

The Discoveries in Geosciences (DIG) Field School is a unique, non-profit education and outreach program for K–12 teachers and students created by University of Washington Burke Museum paleontologists. The mission of the DIG Field School is to connect K–12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) teachers with scientific research and researchers through ongoing professional development and teaching curricula. Fossils spark student (and teacher!) interest and provide a fun and exciting way to engage with science, including field research methods, critical thinking, and examining evidence. The DIG provides teachers with a hands-on, immersive learning experience through a four-day program at an active field research site in the Hell Creek area of northeastern Montana, and provides students with year-round educational support and engagement, as well as participation in authentic research at the University of Washington (UW). This “real world” education and professional development is a critical to increasing teacher effectiveness and student engagement.