Penn Dixie site open to public

The Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center in Hamburg will be open to the public to collect fossils over spring break (April 16-23).

Beginning April 30, the site will be open Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (through October). During the summer (June 11 through Sept. 6), the center will be open every day (Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday). 

Penn Dixie will be closed July 4 and Labor Day.

During April 2011, Penn Dixie has several events planned:

• Earth Day cleanup at Penn Dixie on Saturday, April 23, at 9 a.m. Volunteers are welcome.
• Spring bird walk at Penn Dixie on Saturday, April 23, at 9 a.m. Free program featuring Mike Morgante.
• "Birds of Prey in WNY" by Marianne Hites and Judy Seiler of Messinger Woods on Wednesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. in the Gateway Executive Office auditorium, 3556 Lake Shore Road, Blasdell. The cost is $4 per person (free for Penn Dixie members).

Visitors will be introduced to the remains of the ancient creatures that once roamed the oceans that covered Western New York. Guests can collect and keep the fossils they find.  Penn Dixie has an inexhaustible supply of fossils that preserve the remains of animals that once roamed a warm tropical sea when this area was 20-30 degrees south of the equator.

No pre-registration is required for visiting during public days. Penn Dixie members enter for free. Call 627-4560 or visit www.penndixie.org for directions and additional program information.

During 2010, families from 39 different states, the District of Columbia and 11 countries visited the Penn Dixie site. More than 71,539 children and adults attended more than 392 Penn Dixie programs, events, field trips, exhibits, presentations, science nights and other activities.