Families can channel their inner archaeologist at a Fossil Safari sponsored by the Lancaster County Fossil and Mineral Club (LCFMC).

The educational event will be held Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, 450 W. Main St., Mountville. There is no fee for admission. Preregistration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information or to register, email LCFMC@LancasterCountyFossilAndMineralClub.org.

LCFMC, which was founded by Catherine and Chris Haefner, held its first Fossil Safari on a Thursday night last November and will hold this one on a weekend due to popular demand. "It was well received," said Sue Garrett, who is one of the event organizers. "The kids absolutely loved it."

The Fossil Safari will feature a variety of fossils collected by Sue and her husband, Chuck, from Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Florida, along with educational displays, including a hands-on activity where kids use small shovels to scoop up dirt and gravel and search for shark teeth.

Club members will guide kids and their families "state by state" and educate visitors on the various fossils found in that specific state as well as collecting techniques.

Participants can arrive anytime between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The kids will join the Fossil Safari in progress at the current speaker location and rotate with the speaker and group, visiting each state fossil table during the safari rotation.

It is estimated that visitors will spend between 10 and 15 minutes at each station, and the entire safari will take an average of an hour and a half, depending on interest and participation. "It's a family adventure," Sue said. "Families follow their kids along."

After the families complete their safari, they are welcome to revisit any booths on their own while a new safari rotation starts again.

Food by the Trinity Church Guild will be available for purchase.

Sue, who lives in Lancaster, rediscovered her love of fossil hunting with Chuck. "It's a childhood passion and hobby that I've had," she said. "We have always been interested in it. We were looking for something to be able to do together. We have met so many interesting people all across the United States doing this. It's interesting when you make friendships based on the same passion you have."

Sue noted that introducing fossils and minerals to young people is beneficial on a couple levels. "It's important to get kids involved with science," she said. "Then our club can continue on in the future. You always have to have new interest. It's really interesting to see this spark passion. Some of the kids who come in might not be interested (at first), but they have siblings who are interested. Once they're there, they're very excited about it."

She hopes the Fossil Safari encourages a new generation of fossil hunters. "I'm sure someone sparked our interest when I was young," Sue said. "I was a fossil hunter when I was little. Then I took a break because of my (nursing) career. I needed something that I'm interested in again, so I went back to something from my childhood. You never know who you are going to inspire."

The Lancaster County Fossil and Mineral Club meets the last Thursday of each month beginning at 7 p.m. at Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ. Everyone is welcome to attend a meeting. There is a fee to become a member. Sue said the meetings feature monthly speakers with diverse educational backgrounds and visits from geologists and others knowledgeable about fossils and minerals. The group also takes field trips.