(City of Watsonville)
WATSONVILLE — Dinosaurs have been a frequent fascination among children since the first fossils were unearthed by paleontologists nearly 200 years ago. They’ve watched countless dinosaur movies and TV shows, made plastic Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops fight in sandboxes, and learned everything they can about these reptiles that ruled the Earth millions of years ago. I even want to learn the facts.
The City of Watsonville is hosting a series of dinosaur, fossil and reptile events throughout the month of November for dinosaur enthusiasts. It is aptly called “Dinovember”.
It all starts on November 3 at Seacliff State Beach, where kids can step into the shoes of a paleontologist. Park interpreters will explain marine fossils and how they came ashore in the Santa Cruz area. Children will also have the opportunity to search for fossils that are 2 million years old. The event will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 3 at the Seacliff State Beach Visitor Center on State Park Drive in Aptos. Suitable for ages 8 and up.
On November 9th, children will have the opportunity to hear bilingual stories about dinosaurs at Jurassic Park Storytime. There will also be arts and crafts, an obstacle course, and a dinosaur named Rex who roams the grounds of Franich Park. Her 2-year-old child is also welcome to participate in this event. Families are encouraged to bring blankets. The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 9 at Franich Park on Menasco Drive behind Ann Sordo Elementary School in Watsonville.
Once again, aspiring paleontologists can gain real-world experience as fossil workshops are held at the Marinovich Community Center. Children dig up fossils using real paleontologist tools, including toothbrushes, screwdrivers, hammers, chisels, nails, and droppers. Additionally, they will receive rocks from Wyoming, the same place where many dinosaur fossils are found. The program will be held at the Marinovich Community Center, 120 Second St., Watsonville, on Nov. 11 from noon to 3 p.m. Intended for children ages 8 and up.
Now, dinosaurs are no longer alive, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still scaly creatures crawling and creeping around the earth. His Python Ron of Modesto has a collection of them and plans to display some of them in an all-ages event at the Watsonville Public Library. “Python” Ron McGee has been displaying his collection of reptiles and other creatures for decades, and you never know what he will bring to the Watsonville Library. He keeps snakes of various sizes, lizards ranging from lizards to monitor lizards, and even insects such as tarantulas, scorpions, and centipedes. The event will be held at the Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main Street, on November 17th from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. All ages are welcome. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For information about these events, please call the library at 768-3400.