About

University of Chicago — Stones & Bones is a four-week, residential paleontology practicum offered through the University of Chicago Summer Session in partnership with The Field Museum of Natural History. The program combines academic museum-based study in Chicago with ten days of fieldwork in Wyoming’s Green River Formation, a region known for its exceptionally preserved early Cenozoic fossils. Students explore both laboratory research and outdoor excavation, gaining firsthand experience in collecting, preparing, and analyzing specimens using the same techniques employed by museum scientists.

Designed for high school students (current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors) who have completed at least one year of high school science with strong performance, Stones & Bones immerses participants in the full paleontological research cycle. In Chicago, students work alongside University of Chicago and Field Museum staff in labs and museum collections, studying geology, stratigraphy, evolutionary biology, and comparative anatomy. After the Chicago phase, students conduct field excavation in Wyoming, living camp-style and collaborating with scientists under rugged conditions.

Admission is highly selective with limited capacity (typically around 15 students). The program is fully residential; participants live in UChicago residence halls while in Chicago and in field accommodations during the Wyoming portion. The program is part of UChicago’s 4-Week Practicum offerings, which are graded and carry 200 units of undergraduate credit (equivalent to two courses). The total program cost for 2026 is $15,200, which covers tuition, room and board, and field travel. Financial aid is available for eligible participants, with an application deadline of February 11, 2026.