In a delightful turn of events for families visiting Sarpy County’s Schramm Park State Recreation Area, six‑year‑old Leo Youngdahl of Eagle unearthed a rare ancient fossil during the park’s popular Rafting and Rocks program.
Young explorer’s find
While searching the park’s outcrop, Leo hoped to locate his favorite fossil, a crinoid. Instead, he discovered a conulariid, an extinct marine creature that lived between 200 million and 500 million years ago, according to Nebraska Game and Parks officials.
What makes the fossil special?
Conulariids are exceptionally uncommon in eastern Nebraska. The specimen’s size and shape stood out immediately, appearing “fish‑like,” a surprising characteristic because the rock layer in which it was found typically yields only invertebrate fossils. “I’ve been leading programs at the outcrop for over seven years, and there are six main types of fossils we find,” said Kelly Ekue, the outdoor‑education specialist at the Schramm Education Center. “This fossil didn’t look anything like any of the species we see. It was larger and seemed fish‑like, which was ‘fishy’ because we only have invertebrate fossils in the age of rock we have and vertebrates weren’t here during that period of time.”
Educational impact
The discovery underscores the value of hands‑on learning experiences for children. Nebraska Game and Parks highlighted the find as a teachable moment about the state’s deep geological history and the importance of preserving natural resources for future generations.
“When kids get to touch history, it sparks a lifelong curiosity about science and stewardship,” Ekue added. The park plans to incorporate the fossil into future educational displays, allowing other visitors to learn about the ancient marine ecosystems that once covered the region.
Community response
Local families and park volunteers praised the event, noting that the Rafting and Rocks program continues to provide meaningful, family‑friendly activities that blend recreation with learning. The find also highlights Sarpy County’s commitment to promoting outdoor education and encouraging youth participation in science.
Schramm Park’s management expressed gratitude to Leo’s family for their enthusiasm and to the volunteers who help run the program. They hope the story will inspire more children to explore the natural world and perhaps make their own remarkable discoveries.
Looking ahead
Nebraska Game and Parks will continue to monitor the fossil’s condition and may collaborate with regional universities for further study. In the meantime, the park remains open for visitors eager to experience the same hands‑on geology activities that led to Leo’s exciting find.
Original reporting: KLKN-TV – News, Weather and Sports for Lincoln, Nebraska — read the source article.
