Owen just returned from a few weeks of sleep away camp, and this is our week to hang out together, as Sasha is busy with Adventure Theatre acting camp, and he doesn’t begin Camp Arena Stage until next week. We spent yesterday at Purse State Park with friends, wandering the shoreline hunting for fossils, picnicking on the beach, and swimming in the Potomac (the kids did, anyway).
A lovely view of the Potomac
We first visited Purse a couple of years ago after my friend Jody heard from a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum that it was a great place to search for fossilized shark teeth and other prehistoric marine life remnants. It’s one of the best adventure tips I’ve received for KFDC — we love visiting and always come home with a good haul of fossil finds, occasionally with some pretty interesting pieces. In fact, yesterday Jody found a very rare pygmy white shark tooth (confirmed on The Fossil Forum)!
Jody’s rare pygmy white shark tooth
You can read more about the locale in Charles County, MD, in this post, which also has logistics for visiting. If you like a little adventure in your beach outing, this is a perfect place to go; it’s actually more about fossil hunting than beaching, but there is sand and surf to enjoy during the warm months — just be sure to check the tide table to make sure there is enough sand! Get a look at it all in these scenes from yesterday.
See it?
Fallen trees add some obstacles (and climbing ops for kids)
The squish of toes in the sand
Crouch anywhere by the water, and you’re bound to find a fossil
More swimming than fossil hunting by these kids – they were so happy the water was warm enough!
Fossilized shells embedded in the cliffside
Can’t beat a beach picnic!
Not the usual wildlife you expect to see at the beach
Sightings of these little guys are more common
Another friendly critter
I always bring a container with a hole in the lid to stash my finds
A peek inside
Getting creative with the full haul at home
