Reservation and Planning a Trip

Coon Creek is by appointment only.

We host Community Days on the 3rd Saturday of each month.

The cost is $20 per person.

We also host private groups throughout the week by appointment.

The minimum cost for private groups is $200.

We cannot host your pet.

The Coon Creek Science Center is an outdoor experience. You should expect to walk a short distance, climb down into a creek, as well as getting wet and dirty. We wouldn't have it any other way. Digging for fossils is fully involved and a fun opportunity!

For reservations and general information about Coon Creek Science Center, please call The University of Tennessee at Martin - Selmer Center at: (731) 646-1636 or email: cooncreek@utm.edu.

Coon Creek Science Center is a compilation of buildings and designated sites along the property. These include: Museum and Mess Hall, Cabins, Paleontology Lab, Telescope Pad, Equipment Area, Fossil Cleaning Area, Fossil Dig Site, Decomposition Site, Excavation Site, ponds, and designated walking and hiking trails.

We offer unique experiences for K-12 and University programs, life-long learners, research, and educational training. We develop curriculum specific programs in biology, forestry, geology, astronomy, fossils & paleontology, meteorology, and much more!

• "Something Is Missing Here" Teacher Field Camp in Fossils and Taphonomy STEM GEM
• Did you know Tennessee has a state fossil?

Participants are encouraged to bring clothes they don't mind getting wet or dirty, shoes that are appropriate for hiking and creek-walking, sunscreen, bug repellent, and water for their trip to Coon Creek. Most digging and collecting supplies are available on-site; however, you may want to bring aluminum foil, zip-lock bags, some form of labels, and a small bucket or backpack to carry your fossils in if you wish. Tools to clean your fossils are available on-site. A camera is always encouraged (the fossils will pose for you without having to ask)!