The Fossil Rim Tradition Continues

What started out as a simple field trip to Fossil Rim has become a longstanding tradition for FWCD fifth-graders. In the 1981-82 school year, Dan Bloch H’06 had a student, Kendall Langdon Levy ’90, in his class whose mom knew Tom Mantzel, the owner of Fossil Rim. Her mom made the connection between Mantzel and Bloch and so the story began, even before Fossil Rim was open to the public.

“She arranged for me to take the fifth grade to visit the property, which was, at that time, just pasture land with no paved roads,” said Bloch. “The animals were tended to by Tom’s ranch hands.” 

While on the visit, the students rode around in hay trucks to look at the animals and ate lunch on the porch of the house, which is now the lodge. Fort Worth Country Day, along with the Glen Rose public schools, became the first to have the Fossil Rim experience. 

The story doesn’t end there. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center today is a nonprofit organization specializing in captive breeding programs for indigenous and exotic endangered and threatened species where schools and families can drive around to see the animals. 

Bloch’s connection with Fossil Rim runs even deeper with the center.

“I got to know Tom through the first trips, and, at one point, he asked me to write a letter supporting his application to make Fossil Rim a nonprofit,” said Bloch.

Because of this lasting relationship, FWCD has the reigning title of most field trip visits to Fossil Rim.

“Though the development of the property really enhanced the experience with the improved access to the animals and the addition of giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs and wolves, among others, those first trips, which blended the excitement of the safari with the aura of the Texas cowboy, were so unique,” said Bloch.

Fast forward 40 years to April 28, 2023, when the fifth-graders spent the day at Fossil Rim feeding the animals and learning they could potentially choose the next animal to live at the center. Science Teacher Angie Ogle-Manning shared the news the following week with the entire Middle School and just two weeks later the students decided on an animal. The fifth-graders picked the amur leopard, which is the rarest big cat in the world. They liked this particular animal because they studied them during their endangered species unit. There are currently only 70 amur leopards left in the wild.

Ogle-Manning submitted a presentation to Fossil Rim for consideration, outlining the fifth-graders choice. Regardless if the amur leopard is ultimately chosen, Fossil Rim will make a donation to Wildlife Vets International in FWCD’s honor to help save the leopard all because of a connection between a teacher, a parent and a rancher.