Field Trips
Collect, Tour, and Explore!
⛏️ Field trip attendance is only available to paid-up Members.
🙋♂️ RSVPs are handled on a first-come first-served basis.
📈 Each trip allows a certain number of attendees, but if a trip fills up a wait list is created.
🔍 If you would like to attend one of the field trips listed below: As soon as you are reasonably sure you will be able attend, send an email to the given address. If you can no longer attend a trip let us know as soon as possible so we can give your spot to someone on the wait list.
Upcoming Field Trips
Chivo Canyon (Simi Valley)
September 14, 2024
Zach Mekelburg will lead SCPS members in Chivo Canyon in search of Eocene marine fossils, including Turritella and bivalves.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE SCPS MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE TRIP.
Pine Mountain (near Ojai California)
October 19, 2024
We will be collecting fossilized sand dollars from the late Miocene to early Pliocene (12 - 5 million years ago)
NOTE: Moderate hiking through hilly terrain, some dense brush and no trails.
ATTENDANCE LIMIT: Because of a shortage of parking, there is a 10-car limit and a 3-car Wait List. We will try to facilitate car sharing. To increase participation, members may be able to rendezvous a few miles from the site and then ride together.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE SCPS MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE TRIP.
Patrick Hsieh and Dennis Rainey
Trip Leader:
Active Members, RSVP to Attend:
Sharktooth Hill, Caruso property - FULL - The limit of 30 has been reached.
November 9, 2024
Collect Miocene marine fossils, like shark teeth and vertebrae, etc. The Caruso family has invited SCPS to collect Miocene marine fossils on their property. Fairly easy walking.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE SCPS MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE TRIP.
Dennis Rainey
Trip Leader:
Active Members, RSVP to Attend:
Newport Aquatic Center, Newport Back Bay
January 25, 2025
Meet at the Newport Aquatic Center (Newport Back Bay) in search of 100,000-year-old Pleistocene shells in the Palos Verdes Sand formation.
Bill Ungar will lead the trip. Joe Cocke has, once again, agreed to co-lead and share is vast knowledge and experience.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE SCPS MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE TRIP.
Bill Ungar
Trip Leader:
Active Members, RSVP to Attend:
Sean and Lisa Tohill's Sharktooth Hill property
March 15, 2025
Sean and Lisa have invited us back to collect Miocene marine fossils, like shark teeth and vertebrae, etc.
As of 9/1/2024, attendance is near the limit.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE SCPS MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE TRIP.
Mimi Anaya
Trip Leader:
Active Members, RSVP to Attend:
Capitola Beach, near Santa Cruz
April 5, 2025
Members will walk the sandy shoreline by Capitola Beach in search of late Pliocene marine fossils in the Purisma Formation. On April 5, at 12:30 pm, there is a .49 negative tide, which is good for walking the shoreline in search of fossils. At higher tide, significant parts of the beach are inaccessible.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE SCPS MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE TRIP.
Tanielle Redman