Spring 2026 Digging Information

We appreciate your interest in volunteering with us!

The Spring Semester digging schedule will run Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from January 17 through March 9, 2026.  Applicants will be given priority for scheduling in the order that they were received. The filled-out volunteer application can be submitted to vertpaleo@floridamuseum.ufl.edu. 

• The site is located on private property near Williston, Florida. On a typical day, volunteers are assigned a 1-meter by 1-meter digging square, excavate matrix and fossils with tools provided, and dump leftover matrix outside of the site. These activities can be physically demanding and occur in direct sunlight. Most people find several fossils in one day, including those of fish, turtles, alligators, and maybe our four-tusked elephant relative. With some luck, you can discover fossils of other mammals or birds, perhaps even a new species.
• We dig from 10 am until 4 pm and request a minimum of 3 hours per session, but there are no additional time commitments. Must be 18 years or older to be present at the site. Training is provided, and no prior experience or knowledge is required.
• While we currently have the staff available to accommodate those who are volunteering with us in the field, we unfortunately do not have the staff available to provide tours or observational trips for non-volunteers. We apologize for the inconvenience.
• There is no cost to volunteer for our fossil digs. However, if you wish to contribute funds to help us maintain our annual volunteer fossil dig program and to process and store the fossils collected, you can use this secure link to donate online. Donations through the UF Foundation are tax-deductible.
• More information about the site: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/montbrook/