Breckenridge Library program features Dinosaur Valley State Park program
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
A team of park rangers from Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose visited the Breckenridge Library last week to present programs about dinosaurs for kids and adults.
Park Ranger Gwen Brown, left, shows some fossils to Aizel Mitchell, right, Theory Mitchell, center, and their mom, Cass Coppenbarger, after one of the Dinosaur Valley State Park presentations at the Breckenridge Library. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The presentations were part of the library’s summer reading program, which featured the theme “Unearth a Story.” Earlier this month, the Creature Teacher brought a variety of wild animals to the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center as part of the summer events.
The park rangers from Dinosaur Valley State Park presented a program for kids in the afternoon and then another program aimed at adults in the evening. They brought with them a variety of interesting items, including a cast of a track of a Sauroposeidon – also known as Paluxysaurus Jonesi – the official State Dinosaur of Texas. The Sauroposeidon – whose name means “lizard earthquake god” – lived about 112 million years ago and may have been one of the tallest dinosaurs in existence.
Ranger Gwen Brown explained how the tracks were originally made as the Sauroposeidon walked in mud that had the consistency of Play-Doh, leaving the tracks intact. The tracks were filled in with sediment that later hardened into stone, preserving the original tracks that were made in the mud that likewise hardened. But, over time, the sediment/rock layer wore away, leaving behind the indentions where the original tracks had been made.
They also had a replica of a footprint of the smaller Acrocanthosaurus, which was similar to the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Brown and fellow Ranger Caitie Christina also showed a collection of fossils, and Ranger Colton Kroll showed the kids a variety of animal pelts and skulls from the same animals, such as coyotes, skunks, rabbits, bobcats, foxes, beavers and raccoons.
The children also had an opportunity to dig for dinosaur puzzle pieces and create dinosaur-related art. Click here to see the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery from the event.
The library’s summer reading program will wrap up on Tuesday, July 14, with the final story time at 2 p.m.
The Breckenridge Library is located at 209 N. Breckenridge Ave. It is open from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Park Ranger Colton Kroll, right, shows animal pelts to Ezra Wood, center, who attended the program with his grandmother, Shonda Wood, left. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: Rangers Gwen Brown, Caitie Christina and Colton Kroll present fossils and other items from Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Roseto those attending the program at the Breckenridge Library last week. Click here to see more pictures in the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
