The program director at Friends of Dinosaur Ridge (16831 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison) takes pleasure in educating students and adults about the treasure trove that exists there - a unique dinosaur trackway where fossils were uncovered about 1877 and during a highway project in the late 1930s.

Moklestad, an Iowa native, was educated at Carlton College in Minnesota and the University of Oregon and worked for oil companies in Wyoming and Colorado before he went into his own retail business around 2001 in south Jeffco.

He became a volunteer at the Dinosaur Ridge store in 2003, handling school tours and special events as well as the gift shop. When the then educational director decided to move on in 2005, Mokleskad decided to try for it and was selected by the board of directors.

He and education programs assistant Erin Fair are the only full-time employees, and work with part-time employees for the gift shop and docent/drivers who take visitors up to the track ridge.

His day's work is always varied, Tom says, taking reservations, hosting custom tours for education levels from kindergarten through fifth grade up through college level research and adults.

Moklestad credits Fair with being a mainstay in handling the broad educational programs. She first came there at age three with her grandparents and was such a frequent visitor she eventually was hired, and now works full time while pursuing her education.

"...Her enthusiasm is just wonderful," Moklestad said, "and everyone around here is enthusiastic about the project."

A self-described "dinosaur geek," Fair enjoys her work with Moklestad

"He puts me to shame in terms of hard work - he's doesn't leave anything half-done," she said."

The tour requests this spring have been heavier than usual, putting demands on the staff. The special events - 10 per year - including Boy Scout Day in May and Girl Scout Day in October - as many as 1,500 and 2,000 scouts and leaders each - they require the assistance of outside volunteers organizations.

For Moklestad, the rewards of the job include utilizing his knowledge and seeing the spark of interest among the visitors.

"It's using my background, making good use of my experience. I think education is very important, I come from a family of teachers - mom, sister, wife, aunts - everybody's a teacher."

Moklestad teaches a spring and fall geology class at Community College of Denver as well as his work with Dinosaur Ridge..

"I think I'm in tune with the mission of this place," he said. "In addition to preservation of Dinosaur Ridge, it's education - we think kids should have outdoor experiences and we think they should have an introduction to the physical sciences."

The natural museum has five publications to its credit - two of which Mokleskad has authored and he's edited two others.

Dinosaur Ridge added a museum building which opened last summer and will soon add more dino models, including a life-sized Iguanodon and Stegosaurus, about 30 and 25 feet respectively.

For more information on Dinosaur Ridge, go to www.dinoridge.org or call 303-697-DINO (3466).