How Fossil Hunting Taught this Indoor Girl to Embrace the Great Outdoors
With tips, resources and printables to help you connect with nature anywhere.
I stepped out of the car sipping an iced lavender mocha. I’m wearing new hiking pants purchased for this occasion and tidy white Adidas sneakers. It is my first fossil hunt, an adventure sparked by the discovery of my first shark tooth last summer. I’d plucked it from against a surf battered railroad tie and felt like Indiana Jones himself. As an adult, those moments of discovery are as rare as they are euphoric. Though I identify as an Indoor Girl, it was a high worth chasing. Leaving my cozy world of cats, books, red wine and doom scrolling, I journeyed north to the banks of the Potomac River. Though Montross, Virginia is a sleepy little town now, millions of years ago it was a shallow sea teaming with ancient marine life including the most feared predator of all time - the Megalodon. Thanks to some unique geological processes, fossils from the former seabed are locked in the cliffs along the shore which spill their treasures into the river as they erode.
When I’d purchased my “paleo excursion” I’d pictured myself along with a family or two chatting casually as we made our way down the beach in search of shark teeth. Imagine my surprise when I arrived to an absolutely slammed parking lot. Looking around, it was clear I was out of my depth. A bearded fellow in chest high camouflage waders was approaching the sign-in table. Surrounding him, a group of 50 folks crowded the table brandishing a variety of screens, scoops and rakes. I glimpsed a license plate reading “I DIGG”. To my left, a woman in shark print leggings. I was acutely aware of the glittery Starbucks “water bottle”sticking out of my backpack. It feels like a scarlet letter.
The group caravan-ed from the parking lot to the base of the cliffs where we were given a brief safety talk, issued sexy orange vests, and set free to explore. The air was electric with excitement as the group slipped under the rope separating the publicly accessible beach from the vast off limits shoreline. Half of the crowd went left and I followed the other half right. Soon the beach disappeared, the high tide instead sloshing directly against the cliff. A thin path of shale rose above the water, slippery as a seal. I’ve taken mere steps when I tumble into the river. A fellow fossil hunter casts a cursory look over his shoulder and continues on his way, walking stick at the ready.
Wet and sporting skinned knees, I realized something. This was fun. We’re talking 1990’s McDonalds Playplace levels of fun. Remember climbing through those sticky tubes, the joy of ducking around and under obstacles in that plastic maze? This was the grown up version. I shimmied under fallen trees and skipped over streams. The sun shining on my back, I collapsed into the sand with my cheapo sand sifter. The process was simple, meditative. Scoop sand onto the sifter. Shake, shake, shake. The sound of gravel clattering against the metal grate. Next is the moment where you tune out the world, your gaze fixed towards your pile of beach detritus as you poke through the smooth stones focusing your efforts on discovering that prized tooth or bone. And when you spot that blackened, sharp tooth or turtle shell or whale bone… there is a pure rush at being the first to touch this material in millions of years. I feel the connection in my own bones. I am a part of this world - me, the trees whose roots capture these ancient organic treasures, the river that laps against my heels and the sand under my feet. I matter and so does (gestures broadly) all of this and I want to protect it.
As the day draws to its conclusion, the group drew together on our way back. A man shares his finds from the day, two iridescent Mako chompers that dwarf my modest findings. A volunteer tells me it’s one of the worst days he’s seen for fossil hunting due to the quality of the water, the tides, the wind. Most of the other adventures have enjoyed the day but don’t seem over-enthused about their finds.
Here’s the best part of being new to a hobby: it’s all still incredible to me. I only had one tiny tooth before this weekend and I’ve just (pause while I see if there’s a word for “multiplied by 10”) decupled that. Arriving home that night, I was tired and sore in that wonderful way you get after a full day in the sun. I researched my finds, drinking in the trip reports from fellow beachcombers. I’ve already booked my next fossil expedition. This Indoor Girl has tricked herself into enjoying the great outdoors.
If you, like me, are seeking a connection with the natural world but the couch calls to you like a siren, here are some ways you can find your inner earth goddess.
Tips
Focus on fun
If you’re trying to trick yourself into getting outdoors, make it easy on yourself to build the habit. If you hate the heat, get outside early in the morning or in the evenings. If you're not a morning person, bribe yourself with a trip to your favorite coffee shop on the way. Respect your physical limitations and don’t force yourself into situations beyond your abilities.
Start local
See what’s in your backyard! You don’t have to spend tons of time and money in search of an Instagram adventure. I was pleasantly surprised to learn how many different parks are near me and the variety of activities they offer. For example, my hometown parks hold pine needle basket weaving classes, conduct ranger led nighttime hikes, hearth cooking demonstrations and stargazing events just for starters!
Gamify your exploration
Did you know you can collect special stamps when you visit US national parks (link)? Treat yourself to a parks passport and challenge yourself to collect them all! How about turning your morning walk into a Bingo game, keeping your eyes and ears out for things you would miss otherwise? Check out the printable Bingo cards in the Resources section of this newsletter for ideas!
Get creative!
Create a nature journal. Keep an eye out for leaves that would make cool rubbings and wildflowers to press. Make sketches of things you see. Here’s some inspiration and some more.
Stay curious
It's a little weird, isn't it, how separated we are from nature that many of us have no clue what the various birds, flowers or trees around us are or what makes them special. Next time you're out, keep your eyes peeled for interesting flora and fauna and try to identify it.
Resources
Your local parks: If you’re in the US, visit this National Park Service database of parks which you can filter to hone in on your interests. Don’t forget to also check our your state and city parks. Look for ways to get involved, including events and volunteer opportunities.
Bring on the apps: There are a ton of them out there so poke around and see what you like.
Merlin Bird ID - I especially love the feature that allows you to compare a recording of your bird’s song to help identify it by sound.
Night Sky - Excellent app for naked eye astronomy.
Sky Guide - Another great option for identifying constellations, stars and other space objects.
iNaturalist - Identify plants and animals and connect with the community.
Google Lens - My go-to for identifying common plants and flowers like this beauty from my backyard!
Free Nature Walk Bingo Cards! I threw together a few Bingo cards to help inspire you to connect with your surroundings whether you live in the ‘burbs, a city or rural environment. Making your own would also be a great way to get thinking of the different senses you engage when out in nature!
To summarize, did I write an entire newsletter because I wanted to tell you about finding a shark tooth? Yes. And I’ll do it again.
Always with the recs…
Baby Reindeer - Binged this series in a day (see why I needed to get off my couch?!). I’m kind of distrustful about anything based on real life so I take this story with a grain of salt. It was super absorbing though.
Maggie Antone’s Johnny Moonshine - Playful, youthful y’allternative singer/songerwriter that's midway between Dolly and teenage Taylor.
Cocktail toppers - Okay, this is only new to me right?? I’m a simple woman who lives for a gimmick so imagine my delight at a recent happy hour when I ordered “The Monarch” and this was placed before me. It has no taste but looks so cute. You could do butterflies, but also summer ready citrus or maybe you just want to make a drink that has a giant squid. I don’t know, you do you.
Until next time I remain your intrepid explorer,
Gabriella
This was so fun to read, Gabriella! Those shark teeth are some awesome finds, I've always wanted to find one, but haven't. I have a lot of sea glass instead, I know it's trash. :P I am so glad this adventure has made you appreciate the outdoors! Night Sky and the Bird ID are apps I've used before and I enjoy using the bird one and google to identify which birds visit my balcony feeder. :)