The Tree Climbers Guild: Fossils Guide invites dads, mentors, and boys to become explorers as they investigate fossils and discover the amazing variety found throughout God’s creation. Through fossil digs, hands-on projects, games, stories, and Dad/Mentor Time, boys learn how fossils can help us understand creatures from long ago while discovering an important truth: we are caretakers of God’s amazing creation.
Practical Purpose: Give boys hands-on experience exploring fossils, observing the variety and detail of the natural world, and developing curiosity about God’s creation while building stronger relationships with dads and mentors.
Boys Will Learn:
- How fossils can preserve evidence of plants and animals that lived long ago.
- How the incredible variety of animals, plants, shells, fossils, and other natural objects displays God’s creativity and wisdom.
- How scientists and explorers carefully observe, excavate, identify, and record discoveries.
- How studying creation can teach us about God’s power, creativity, and care.
- How exploration, observation, and asking good questions can help them continue learning about the world God made.
Projects:
- Make Clay Fossil Impressions using leaves, shells, and other objects.
- Create a multi-week Fossil Dig Box, burying fossils in layers, carefully excavating them, identifying discoveries, and creating a display.
- Make Leaf and Shell Impressions and Fossil Rubbing Art to explore shapes, textures, and patterns.
- Assemble a Fossil Expedition Kit with tools for future outdoor exploration.
- Create and present a Fossil Discovery Display featuring the fossils uncovered throughout the unit.
Spiritual Goals:
- Understand that God created all living things and that His creation is good (Genesis 1:21).
- Recognize the amazing variety, wisdom, and creativity of God displayed throughout creation (Psalm 104:24).
- Discover that we can learn about God by carefully studying His creation (Job 12:7–8).
- Understand that God has good plans and adventures for their lives and that the Creator who cares for His creation also cares for them personally (Jeremiah 29:11).
- Grow in appreciation for their responsibility as caretakers of God’s creation.