ESCONI will have a field trip to Flat Run Fossils in Mt. Orab, OH on Saturday July 11, 2026. There is an attendance limit of 16 people.

Flat Run Fossils is a new pay-to-dig site in the famous Mt. Orab trilobite beds. For many years, thousands of gorgeous Flexicalymene and Isotelus trilobites have been collected from this area. Other possible finds include brachiopods, graptolites, cephalopods, and crinoids. You will certainly walk away with trilobites – they are not hard to find!

You must register to go on this trip. See rule 5 below for instructions. This is the only way to register.

1. We will be collecting 8am – 4pm ET on Saturday July 11, 2026.
2. You and everyone in your party must be members of ESCONI. No membership dues will be accepted at the field trip site. Have your membership status resolved before the trip, no later than June 27. You can pay dues by mailing a check, or with a credit card using the PayPal link on the ESCONI website.
3. The fee for the site is $70 per person. Payment will be due two weeks before the trip, with refunds available up to 48 hours before the trip. I will send those who register a link to pay online. If you don’t pay by June 27, you don’t get to come.
4. You will be required to fill out a waiver from the property owners. By attending, you agree to follow the ESCONI Code of Ethics and Conduct (available on the ESCONI website) and agree to the conditions set forth in the ESCONI Accident Waiver and Release of Liability Form (sent by email to those that register). You don’t need to print it out, just know what you’re agreeing to.
5. To register for this trip, fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/ks1TyyTKqY5Td8149
6. You get to keep any and all fossils you find. However, large pieces of unsplit shale cannot be removed from the site.
7. The minimum age is 8 years. Children 8 to 15 dig for free with a paying parent, and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Anyone 16 or older must pay.
8. You must wear closed toed shoes at all times. When splitting shale, you must wear safety glasses. Follow any and all directions of the staff.
9. A waitlist will be kept in case of cancellations. If you register but can no longer attend, please let us know.

Note that Flat Run Fossils allows individual diggers to visit. However, by going with ESCONI, you get a special discounted price! You’ll also get to dig with experienced trilobite hunters who will help you find and safely collect your trilobites. This site will be a 4-6 hour drive for most ESCONI members. I recommend arriving the night before. There are a number of hotels ~25 minutes away in eastern Cincinnati. There are many good publicly accessible fossil sites nearby that you can collect too if you want to keep collecting on Sunday or longer. I will send a list with some recommendations to those who register.