Kate and the Wyoming Fossil Fiasco Read Online Free Page A

you could join us at fossil camp,” Megan said. “Enjoy the tour, and when you’re done, I’ll be at the bunkhouse to help you get settled in. We’ll be great friends!”
    “Thanks.” Kate had a feeling she was right. They were going to be great friends.
    The girls and their fathers walked to a sign with the words T OUR G ROUPS on it. Then they went on the tour, which Conner led. They started by touring the museum. Kate noticed a room near the front that was open to the public, but another behind it said E MPLOYEES O NLY . Curiosity got the better of her. She tiptoed to the door, slipping away from the others on the tour. Unfortunately, it was locked. She wouldn’t find out what was behind it. At least not today.
    Next Conner led the way to the quarry’s closest excavation site. He talked to the group about some great fossils that paleontologists had found there, and told them about a few that he had found as a teenager.
    “I used to love to come here as a kid,” he said. “There’s just something about this place that really gets under your skin.”
    “Under your skin?” Dexter whispered, looking at his arms. “What does that mean?”
    “He means once you come here you have to keep coming back … it’s that much fun,” McKenzie explained.
    Dexter pouted.
    Kate did her best to pay attention to Conner. He seemed like a great guy, and he certainly knew a lot about fossils! Maybe she could learn a few things from him.
    When the tour ended, she hugged her father. “Dad, thanks so much for letting me come here. I’m going to have a blast.”
    “You’re welcome, honey.” He smiled down at her. “It looks like you’ll be in good hands.”
    Both girls said their good-byes, and then headed to the bunkhouse to join Megan. She greeted them with a broad smile and a bubbly “Hello!” Once inside, she led them to their room, where three other campers were unloading their backpacks. Kate sized them up. The tall one with brown hair was probably twelve or thirteen. The short one with red hair and freckles was probably ten. And the one with the blond ponytail? She looked like the oldest of them all … maybe fifteen.
    Megan quickly made the introductions. She pointed first to the girl with the blond ponytail. “Kate and McKenzie, I’d like you to meet Lauren.” She gestured next to the blond. “This is Ginny.” Finally she pointed to the cute little redhead. “And this is Patti.”
    Patti nodded. “Nice to meet you.”
    “Nice to meet you, too,” Kate added. She couldn’t help but smile. Meeting these girls reminded her of that day at Discovery Lake Camp when she first met McKenzie, Bailey, Elizabeth, and the others. Camp was always such a great place to make new friends.
    After a few pleasant words, Kate and McKenzie started unloading their things.
    “Did you bring everything on the list?” McKenzie asked, opening her backpack.
    Kate went through the items, one by one. “I’ve got my sunscreen and sun hat. Comfy clothes. Sleeping bag and pillow. Backpack. Gloves. Hiking shoes. Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Shampoo.” She looked at McKenzie. “Did I forget anything?”
    “Yes!” Her friend looked shocked. “What about your gadgets?”
    “Oh, I have all of those in this bag.” Kate lifted her backpack where she’d put all of the good stuff—her laptop, the digital recorder, the text-reader pen, and much, much more. “I’ve got a GPS system on my phone in case we get lost,” she said. “And I brought my laptop. I hope they let me use it.” She looked at Megan, who flashed a smile.
    “Sure. Those things are fine. We’ve got no problem with technology at fossil camp. In fact, the people who run the place encourage the campers to use all the technology they can to learn more while they’re here. So Internet access is a plus.”
    Kate nodded. “Speaking of the Internet, we hoped to have a video chat with some friends tonight on my laptop.” She gazed at Megan, more curious than ever. “Is that