Family Dig

Family Dig at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota, is a hands-on paleontology class that turns families into field researchers for an hour. Located at 1800 U.S. 18 Hot Springs, SD 57747, the program places participants on a simulated dig designed to mimic the Museum’s famous bonebed. Led by a qualified instructor, small family groups learn excavation techniques, practice jacketing replica fossils, and craft a take-home replica mammoth tooth—an ideal souvenir for budding scientists.

What you'll do is tactile and deliberate: map a grid, use trowels and brushes, uncover plastered replicas, and record finds. The site echoes the Pleistocene story of this landscape—sinkhole geology preserved a cluster of megafauna bones for tens of thousands of years—so the lessons here are grounded in real science. The Family Dig highlights include hands-on excavation, demonstrations of preservation methods, and guided interpretation about how fossils inform our understanding of climate change and extinction.

This experience is especially well suited to families with curious children. At least one parent/guardian is required per family, with a maximum of 6 participants per reservation. Museum admission is not included; bring your admission confirmation to check in.

The meeting point is the Museum entrance at 1800 U.S. 18 Hot Springs, SD 57747. Sessions typically run one hour, making it a compact addition to a day exploring central South Dakota’s badlands and historic Hot Springs downtown. Participants can pair the dig with a visit to the onsite museum displays that preserve ongoing discoveries, creating a layered day of learning.

The site’s education staff adapt instruction for different ages, emphasizing technique, documentation, and the ethics of excavation. Photographers should plan for bright open light on the dig pad and bring a kneeling pad for prolonged work. Groups with mobility concerns should contact the Museum ahead of time to discuss accommodations and parking near the entrance.

Why book it? The Mammoth Site is one of the few active paleontological sites that interpret recent excavations for the public. That proximity to an active bonebed, combined with trained staff and replica materials, gives young learners an authentic sense of what field science looks and feels like—without risking real specimens. For visitors curious about geology, ice-age fauna, or museum education, this program converts abstract displays into practiced skills.

Practical notes: wear closed-toe shoes and sun protection; expect light dust and kneeling. Purchase museum admission separately and arrive a few minutes early to present your confirmation. Reservations are limited; family slots fill first during summer months.

Book a Family Dig to let kids handle the tools of discovery, learn how fossils are found and preserved, and walk away with a small piece of prehistory—a plaster tooth and a fresh memory of science in action.