Southern California Paleontological Society

Southern California's long-running society for amateur fossil lovers, founded on January 5, 1960. Members meet every month for a lecture by a paleontologist and go on fossil collecting field trips to sites in Southern California, working with museums and scientists to help preserve the fossil record. Meetings are held at the Exposition Park Constituent Service & Training Center in Los Angeles: check their website for the dates. A great first step if you want to learn where and how fossils can be collected legally.