It is no secret that Pennsylvania is teeming with history and, fittingly, it is also teeming with all sorts historical tourist attractions. Going all the way back to the 1700’s, Pennsylvania has American history covered. But what about pre-history? Pennsylvania has that covered, too. If, that is, you know where to look. And college student Clayton Kern’s CoolClay’s Fossil Expeditions will help you find it.

Kern, a native of York County, PA, will spend this summer offering the tours while on break from Unity College in Maine, where he is earning his environmental science degree. This is the first year that Kern hopes to convert his lifelong hobby into an actual business.

“There were a lot of people interested in finding fossils, but there wasn’t much information on where to find them or how to find them. So, I thought what better opportunity to help myself through college and help other people have fun and find fossils.”

Kern, 20, does not claim to be a fossil expert, but he has some definite experience with fossil hunts. Since finding his first fossil on a North Carolina beach fifteen years ago, he has taken part in approximately ten expeditions.

Now, he hopes to transfer his interest to customers, particularly parents and their children. “It’s a great way for parents to do something fun and different with their kids--and to learn something, too,” Kern said.

The CoolClay tours take patrons on a prehistoric fossil hunt at one of three sites in Pennsylvania and Maryland, offering a unique and memorable--not to mention educational--way to spend the weekend. The closest site, in Perry County, is just over two hours from Johnstown. There, Kern’s customers can unearth marine fossils from the Devonian age, which occurred 375 million years ago.