Beneski Museum of Natural History

Both groups of campers visited the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College this week. What an amazing place! A student named Megan showed us around the dinosaur track fossils (the biggest collection in the world!) and the various prehistoric animal skeletons, and then we had a chance to explore the hallways with the mineral displays. Awesome!

 

Meghan showed us how the animals around us today have evolved from animals in the past. We saw the ancestors of deer, elephants, bears, wolves, horses, and cats!

 

We also spent time looking at the feet of dinosaurs, counting their toes and legs. Many three-toed dinosaurs were upright, two-legged dinosaurs, she explained, while dinosaurs with more than three toes probably walked on four legs.

 

We got a close look at some prehistoric animal teeth and skulls and explored the differences between omnivore, herbivore and carnivore dentition. Thanks Megan!