THOMPSON NICOLA PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Thompson Nicola Paleo Society
We are the only independent paleontological society in the Province of British Columbia. We are located in the central interior of the Province in the City of Kamloops, but we have members from well beyond our regional boundaries. We meet on the second Tuesday of each month, September through June, in the Geology Lab of the Thompson Rivers University. Meetings start at 7:00 PM and generally run until 9:00. Our members are all paleo-enthusiasts who share a love of all things fossilized. Some of our members collect and display fossils from international and national locations. Others collect, conserve and study the wide array of fossils found in our province and regional area. Some others focus their attention on only a few locations or geological ages. Our winter months are spent educating each other, working on display or conservation projects, and selecting locations to visit in the spring and summer. We put on fossil displays at the University, for Kamloops Exploration Group activities like Mining Week, and at the local Science Center and museums. We are a welcoming group that enjoys each others' company, helps new members learn how to find, identify, and catalogue fossils, and shares many good laughs. We are a voice for amateur paleontologists in this province.
Thompson Nicola Paleontological Society Membership Information
The benefits of membership include our monthly meetings, our monthly newsletter,
fieldtrips and general liability insurance while involved in Society activities.
$15.00 yearly per household
Contact tnpskamloops@gmail.com.
You can join at one of our regular meetings at TRU.
Our Philosophy, Position and Purpose
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The members of the Thompson-Nicola Paleontological Society believe that understanding, preserving and presenting the fossil evidence of evolving life on earth contributes to the public interest. We believe that disciplined fossil collecting by amateurs stimulates interest in and can make a direct contribution to the science of paleontology.
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The purpose of our Society is to encourage interest, understanding and participation in paleontology, and to contribute both to the knowledge base and appreciation of the science by:
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Promoting public awareness of the scientific importance of fossils.
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Encouraging learning through the safe and responsible collection of fossils.
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Contributing to the collections of accredited museums and universities by donating scientifically important fossil specimens.
Our History
TNPS formed in 1995 when a TRU geology instructor put out a call for like-minded individuals to begin a new society focused on fossils. Several members from the local Thompson Valley Rock Club answered the call and our Society was born. From 5 members the first year, we have steadily grown.
The TNPS is not a member Society of the BC Paleontological Alliance. Since 2012, we have been the only society in the Province which is dedicated to exploring our fossil heritage and is governed by amateurs.
We work to have a voice at the provincial level when the topic of fossils is discussed. We represent the amateur paleo-enthusiast when it comes to fossil collecting in this province.
Our goal has always been to make learning about earth's history exciting and fun for all ages and backgrounds.