Ernst Quarry: Sharktooth Hill- Heartland Charter School

Registration window November 3, 10:00 a.m. -November 8, 7:00 p.m.

Come, and let’s dig up some fossils! Students will be provided with tools and can keep any fossils they find unless they are scientifically significant (e.g., skulls or assemblages of bones). There is a great chance of finding a shark tooth (basically 100%, but no guarantee). Upon arrival, we will drive 15 minutes to the site. The cars are parked 50 feet from the active bone bed. The most common tooth is a mako shark tooth, but other teeth from whales are also possible. There are picnic tables for sack lunch.

There will be a 45-minute paleontology tour featuring fossil identification and exploration of interesting paleontological exhibits. The students are then handed the tools and can start digging. They can dig for 3-4 hours.

Bring plenty of water and food. There is no food or water at the dig site.

The Ernst Quarries, located near Sharktooth Hill, California, are home to the world's largest deposit of Miocene marine fossils. The property sprawls over 260 acres and comprises three distinct quarries. Each quarry yields fossil specimens of various colors and varieties.

Ticket cost:

• Students ages 5+ $15.00
• Chaperones FREE

*The price for tickets paid with a credit card will be slightly higher due to the Ticketbud processing fee.

May I pay using my student's planning amount? Yes! You can pay for your student's ticket with your student's planning amount. Reminder: Only one chaperone ticket per family may be purchased using planning amounts. 

What are the check-in procedures? Please check in with Michele at 9:30 (Leave for the dig site promptly at 10:00)

Who may attend? Students must be at least 5 years old to attend. Younger siblings may NOT attend. Each family may bring up to two chaperones.

Is there on-site parking available? It is free. Families will drive cars to the site.

Can we pack snacks or lunch for this event or field trip? Yes, please bring food and water for your family.

How do I contact the event organizer?

Name: Michele Whitney

Phone number: 559-593-3909

Email address: [email protected]

You must have a student enrolled at Heartland Charter School to attend this event. We verify enrollment for all attendees.

How to Reserve Your Spot

To officially join us on this field trip, you must complete both steps of our registration process. Please follow these directions carefully:

Step 1: Check out on Ticketbud

Complete the checkout process here on Ticketbud. This initiates your reservation. *If you want to pay with your student funds, please reserve tickets labeled "Paid with student funds through Procurify".

• Confirmation: You will receive an email confirmation from Ticketbud once your order is complete.
• Tip: If you do not see the email within a few minutes, please check your Spam/Junk folder. If you cannot find a confirmation email from Ticketbud, you did not successfully reserve tickets.
• Action: Once you have your confirmation, move immediately to Step 2.

Step 2: Place your Order in Procurify

Your spot is not confirmed until an order is placed in the Procurify system for students who are enrolled in Heartland and their primary chaperone. You do NOT need to place an order in Procurify for siblings who are not enrolled or for additional chaperones.

• Search: Log in to Procurify, search the name of this field trip in the catalog, and complete your order as you would for any other educational resource.
• Note: Do NOT place a Procurify order for siblings who are not enrolled in Heartland.
• Deadline: You must place your Procurify order within 3 days of your Ticketbud registration.
• IMPORTANT! Registration Requirement: To avoid losing your spot, both steps must be completed. Failure to place an order in Procurify within the three-day window will result in removal from the attendee list, and funds will be manually deducted from your account.

Heartland events are designed for families to attend together. Students need to be accompanied by an adult chaperone. If your student will be attending with another family, please email the field trip host to let them know once you complete your registration. Chaperones must be the legal parent or 25 years and older. All chaperones must be healthy, ethical people with the skills to be responsible adult chaperones.

Please review our Field Trip Refund & Attendance Policy!

To ensure we can provide these experiences to as many students as possible, please review our commitment and refund guidelines before registering.

All Sales are Final

• No Refunds: Once a ticket is reserved or purchased, we cannot offer a refund for any reason, including illness, scheduling conflicts, or a change of plans.
• Non-Transferable: Tickets are tied specifically to the student account used at registration. They cannot be sold, gifted, or transferred to another family.

The "No-Show" Policy

Because Heartland pre-pays many venues based on Ticketbud headcounts, an unused ticket is a direct loss of school resources.

• Fund Deduction: If a family reserves a spot and does not place an order in Procurify, the student's planning amount will still be manually deducted from their Procurify account, and the student will be removed from the attendee list.
• Loss of Access: Families who are frequent "no-shows" may lose access to future field trip registrations. We track attendance to ensure that limited spots go to families who are committed to attending.

Professional Courtesy: If an emergency arises, and you truly cannot make it:

• Notify the Lead Teacher: Please email the organizing teacher as soon as possible.
• Why it matters: This prevents the entire group from waiting at the venue entrance for your arrival, keeping the educational program on schedule for everyone else.

Our Goal: By only registering for events you are fully committed to, you help us keep our field trip program sustainable and open to all students.