For most kids, a summer hike in the North Dakota Badlands might yield a few cool rocks, maybe an interesting bug, and if you're lucky, a sunburn that leaves you looking like a tomato for days. But for three adventurous boys, Jessin Fisher, age 10, his brother Liam, age 7, and their cousin Kaiden Madsen, age 9, their hike led to an astonishing discovery straight out of a prehistoric dream—or quite possibly, a Spielberg movie.

The Discovery

It was a typical July day in 2022 when the boys set out on an expedition that would make future Career Day presentations a breeze. Accompanied by Sam Fisher, the father of Jessin and Liam, the boys stumbled upon a bone sticking out of the ground. Initially assuming it was just a common fossil, the boys may have considered moving on to more pressing matters—like who could throw the flattest stone into a pond.

But curiosity, or perhaps a sprinkle of youthful stubbornness, got the better of them, and they proceeded to investigate. Lucky for them—and for paleontology enthusiasts everywhere—they found pieces of leg, hip, pelvis, tailbones, and even a chunk of skull.

An Expert Weighs In

Enter Tyler Lyson, a curator and paleontologist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Lyson confirmed that the fossil belonged to none other than a T. rex. And not just any T. rex, but a teenager estimated to have died around 67 million years ago at the ripe age of 13 to 15 years. Juvenile T. rex fossils are rare finds, offering unique insights into the growth and development of these incredible creatures.

A Not-So-Tiny Teenager

It seems teenage angst during the Cretaceous period may have come with quite a bit more weight and height than modern-day episodes. This young T. rex was estimated to be about 25 feet long, 10 feet tall, and weighing approximately 3,500 pounds—making your average high school quarterback look like a lightweight.

Beyond the Bones

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has been meticulously preparing the fossil and chipping it out of its rock cast, setting the stage for a grand reveal set for June 21. This spectacle will include a special exhibit titled "Discovering Teen Rex," showcasing the process and significance of this extraordinary find.

But the excitement doesn't stop there. The entire discovery and excavation process has been documented and will be featured in a Giant Screen Films documentary appropriately titled ‘T.REX’. Set to premiere alongside the exhibit, this film promises to captivate audiences with the thrilling tale of how three boys on a simple hike ventured back in time to find a T. rex that had been lost in the annals of history.

The documentary will not only feature the discovery but will also dive into the scientific processes involved in excavating and studying such ancient fossils. With the added bonus of a few “Wow, we really found a T. rex?” moments from our young discoverers.

A Family Affair

Interestingly, the fossil find added an exciting twist to what was meant to be a family bonding hike. Instead of sharing ghost stories or marshmallows around a campfire, the Fishers and Madsens now have bragging rights to one of the most remarkable paleontological finds in recent history.

As these young boys transformed from modern-day explorers to mini-paleontologists, they won’t have to worry about explaining their summer activities during the inevitable “What did you do during summer break?” essays. While the rest of us were still perfecting our rock-skipping techniques, they were busy uncovering a relic of the past that will likely contribute to our understanding of one of Earth's most formidable predators.

Conclusion

So, for those considering a hike in the North Dakota Badlands, you might want to think twice about dismissing that odd-looking rock or bone sticking out of the dirt. Whether you're a budding paleontologist or just someone who's more into binge-watching dino documentaries, the story of Jessin, Liam, and Kaiden is a reminder that sometimes, the most extraordinary discoveries are made by those brave enough to poke around in the dirt—even when you're really just out there to skip some rocks.

Remember, the next time you stumble upon a peculiar fossil, it might just be an extinct, flesh-ripping predator from millions of years ago. And hey, at the very least, it’ll make one heck of a show-and-tell!

For more details on the excavation and the documentary, you can visit the Denver Museum of Nature and Science's official page and catch the exhibit starting June 21.