Family field camp adventure at Zions Bank on Aug. 2

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The Utah Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah and Zions Bank will host a free Family Field Camp Adventure on Aug. 2, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., in conjunction with the Traveling Treasures: County Collage; Experience Utah’s Natural History exhibit currently at the Zions Bank in Castle Dale at 110 East Main. The exhibit will remain at the bank throughout the month of August.
From beautifully crafted wood and cordage snares made by the Fremont people to capture small mammals used 1,800 to 700 years before present to a tiny Northern water shrew that can run across the surface of the water by trapping air bubbles in the stiff hairs on its feet, the new exhibit showcases the fascinating natural history found in every county of the state.
The free family festival features dozens of hands-on activities like panning for $1 coins; making fossil trilobites or ammonites, and examining rocks and minerals under microscopes, to name just a few. Refreshments will be provided.
Traveling Treasures is sponsored by the Utah Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah and Zions Bank and is entering its 14th year of the partnership. The exhibit, which changes its theme every two years, has traveled to 143 communities, traveled approximately 19,000 miles, and has reached more than 400,000 of Utah residents through the exhibit and related free family events.
“Utah is an ideal place for scientists to study natural history,” said Sarah George, executive director of the Museum. “It is one of the few states that has rock exposures from every period of geologic time, offers remnants of life from ancient lakes and oceans, and areas where new dinosaur species are being discovered every year, and it’s all right here in our state. We hope this new exhibit offers a collage of fascinating natural history stories for residents to discover and enjoy,” said George.
The exhibit features Emery County’s direct connection to the state’s official fossil, the Allosaurus. Dating back to the late Jurassic period 148 million years ago, the exhibit boasts three sharp, curving Allosaurus claws. They are among the 15,000 fossils excavated by University of Utah and Museum paleontologists from the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, world-renowned for its specimens of Allosaurus and many other dinosaurs.
“As Utah’s oldest bank, we are pleased to support the museum and be a part of this statewide outreach to communities throughout Utah,” said Joel Hatch, branch manager of the Zions Bank in Castle Dale. “This exhibit is a great opportunity for our customers and the general public to experience the diversity our state has to offer right here in our lobby,” said Hatch.
The new exhibit will travel the next two years, visiting the following destinations this year: Salt Lake City, Brigham City, Randolph, Spanish Fork, Park City, Salina, Castle Dale, Panguitch, St. George, Provo, and Santaquin.