Field Trips

Check out the Event Calender for upcoming field trip dates.

The club has two field trips almost every month except the summer months when the club is closed. We go to the Vulcan limestone mine north of Brooksville on the second Saturday of the month to collect fossil sand dollars. We go to the Peace River, mostly on the third Saturday, to collect shark teeth and mammal fossils. We have several trips a year into the phosphate mines for shark teeth and mammal fossils, and these are announced in the newsletter. Attendance is very limited and dates are not put on the web calendar to avoid unregistered attendance.

Vulcan Field Trips:

To reach Vulcan (16313 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613), take I 75 north to Exit 301, Brooksville/ Rt 98. Go ten miles to Brooksville and follow the signs for Rt. 98 north. Go another ten miles north of Brooksville on 98 and watch for the CEMEX/Vulcan signs on the left side. Wait by the highway entrance. We go in at 9:00 AM, so don't be late.

If you would like a map or specific directions, try our map function which can give you turn-by-turn directions from your door to to their gate!

Here is some information about fossils we commonly find on our trips to Vulcan. (as an image and as a PDF). Here's some info on echinoids which are a very common find at Vulcan.

The Peace River:

Open to everyone.

Here is some information about Recommended Tools for screening in Florida rivers.

The water level for the Peace River - Zolfo Springs Florida can be monitored: At the US Geological Survey site - Here

If the water level is 6 feet or lower, you can hunt fossils using the shovel and screen method in the shallows. There are several places to put in and just walk, boats are not needed. One is the Peace River Camp Ground at Arcadia, ask at the desk, when you check in and pay for a $15.00 pass that covers 2 days, for the wilderness area beach. Another site is 6.3 miles north of Arcadia on Brownville Rd which goes out to a county Park on the river, park at the boat ramp and walk upstream to the island and hunt the shallows. Yes, it is free.

Zolfo Springs Trips:

Location: Thousand Trails RV Park (255 HWY 17 South, Wauchula, FL 33873) is one mile north of Zolfo Springs or 3 miles south of Wauchula, on the east side of Highway 17. Most folks will probably get off I 75 at Brandon and take Route 60 about 30 miles to Bartow, then take Rt. 17 south another 30 miles to Zolfo Springs. Meet at the main lodge at 9:00 AM. Bring screens and shovels plus personal items like lunch and drinks and dry clothes. They charge $5.00 per car for a Day Pass to hunt fossils. We park at the bottom of "C" street. Please remember to be courteous of the campers and respect the privacy of their rented space. Enter the river through empty spaces or the landing area to the right.

If you would like a map or specific directions, try our new map function which can give you turn-by-turn directions from your door to to their gate!

Gainesville Area:

If you are in the Gainesville area you can try Hog Creek, and while there, don't miss the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University, it is first rate.

Venice Beach:

There are some beach spots, south of Venice at the end of Harbor Drive is a park with good beach hunting, also Englewood and north to Manasota is OK, but I find the shark teeth pretty worn by the waves. But it is nice to sit at the waters edge and pick out little teeth or use a screen.

Field trips are open to Club members only, with a signed release form on file (unless overwise noted). For more information on trips contact our Field Trip Director Fred Hendershot