Our mission · Starting with elementary students
A Free Dig Kit in Every Kid’s Hands
Our mission is to put a free dig kit in the hands of every kid in America.
Every child deserves the thrill of uncovering something real. Every educator deserves exciting ways to teach without paying out of pocket. We’re building Excavating Adventures to help make both possible.
Born From 20 Years of Discovery
After 20 years of teaching science camps and in-school science field trips, one thing never changed: kids loved to dig, discover hidden treasures, and figure out what they found.
We took that spark and built a whole universe around it.
Science With a Mission
Meet the Gemlings.
Our characters teach the science and give children a reason to use it. Their rocks and minerals are missing, and they need young adventurers to help recover and reunite them.
Discover. Identify. Collect.
Children apply what they learn to uncover specimens, identify their discoveries, and build a collection with a story behind it.
Make learning an adventure.
Escape room challenges, scavenger hunts, trading cards, and hands-on excavation bring curiosity and purpose to the experience.
Explore beyond rocks and minerals.
The excitement of a dig connects with 36 elementary science adventures across Earth, Life, and Physical Science.
Free Learning. For Everyone.
All our printables, teaching resources, and online adventures are free for educators and families to use, whether or not they ever receive a dig kit.
No purchase required. Getting kits is not a condition of using the learning resources.
We’re committed to continually improving these resources and adding new ways for children to explore, learn, and discover.
Help Bring Discovery to More Kids
Teachers, PTA/PTO leaders, homeschool families, camps and educational community groups can join one Free Dig Kits program as Adventure Hosts. Every $250 USD in qualifying paid merchandise purchases attributed to your campaign earns 25 Free Dig Kits. Sales count after discounts and refunds, excluding tax and shipping. Partial progress carries forward, campaigns stay active, and goals never limit earning. No organizer purchase is required.
Secure redemption checkout currently supports U.S. delivery of 100 or more earned kits with FREE shipping. Smaller U.S. and all international redemption checkouts are temporarily paused while calculated shipping is verified. Earned kits never expire. When those options reopen, recipients pay Shopify-calculated shipping for U.S. quantities below 100 and for every international quantity; international duties and taxes may also apply. Contact info@excavatingadventures.com with your permanent campaign link for help completing a restricted redemption.
One discovery at a time, we’re working toward a free dig kit in every kid’s hands.