Fossil Collecting Event at Caesar Creek State Park
WAYNESVILLE, OH — Warren County residents can explore the world of fossils this month at Caesar Creek State Park as part of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) celebration for Earth Science Week.
Date & Time: Join geologists from ODNR for a guided fossil collecting event on Sunday, October 18, at 1 p.m. This program is part of a series of educational events across Ohio tied to Earth Science Week 2026.
Earth Science Week runs officially from October 11 to October 17, but the Caesar Creek event is scheduled for the day after.
Theme for 2026
This year’s theme, “Critical Minerals for a Thriving Society,” emphasizes the importance of geoscience in locating, mining, refining, and responsibly using essential minerals in our daily lives and economy.
ODNR Director Mary Mertz encourages Ohioans to engage with this annual campaign to foster a passion for earth science and an appreciation for our natural world.
Other Activities in Ohio
In addition to the event at Caesar Creek, there are several other programs, including:
- Sinkhole Hike: October 11 at Wellington Park, Dublin
- Fossil Tours: October 13 at the Ohio Statehouse, Columbus
- Geology Talk and Hike: October 15 at Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve, near Urbana
D. Mark Jones, division chief and state geologist of Ohio, highlighted the importance of Earth Science Week in linking geoscience to everyday life.
Educational Opportunities
ODNR is also providing limited Earth Science Week teacher toolkits for Ohio educators, including homeschool instructors. These kits contain experiments, posters, activity sheets, and other educational materials. They are free while supplies last, although there is a $5 shipping fee.
Teachers interested in obtaining a toolkit can reach out to the Geologic Records Center at 614-265-6576 or email geo.survey@dnr.ohio.gov.
For further details on Earth Science Week programs, visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.
