September 17, 2009

Smithsonian Caption Writing Contest #6: Scoutosaurus

Image courtesy of Smithsonian Archives

Image courtesy of Smithsonian Archives

Dinosaurs have invaded the caption contest!  So get all Jurassic on this photograph and provide us with your best humorous caption describing what might be going on in the situation.  Here’s a few examples to get things started:

  • “Scouts, keep a lookout while I snap off one of these plates as a souvenir.”
  • The Scoutmaster had delivered on his promise of an 8-course meal to the Stegosaurus. They were finally even.
  • “Any more back talk out of you kids and you’ll wind up inside Mr. Stegosaurus!”

Just make sure to get your entry in before the contest goes extinct ends on October 12.  The winner will receive a virtual merit badge in captioning, along with a sense of satisfaction in knowing that his/her species is still in existence.



Posted By: Jeff Campagna — photo caption contest | Link | Comments (111)



111 Comments »

  1. Here doggy. Now that’s a good dog!!!

    Comment by Rob willsey — September 17, 2009 @ 11:36 am

  2. Here’s my caption entry:

    “And when Fred and Wilma’s car was in the shop, they took this one.”

    Comment by Robin Fritz — September 17, 2009 @ 11:53 am

  3. Now boys in my day this is how we got to school!

    Comment by Cheryl Lyons — September 17, 2009 @ 12:20 pm

  4. “Oh the shoulder bone’s connected to the plate bone…”

    Comment by Jeffrey Turner — September 17, 2009 @ 12:21 pm

  5. “No I wasn’t talking about myself, I mean THAT fossil is scary looking”

    Comment by Andy — September 17, 2009 @ 1:46 pm

  6. See these plates? This is what happens when you don’t get enough calcium.

    Comment by Mary Kalin — September 17, 2009 @ 8:04 pm

  7. You boys have it easy, all you have to learn to fix on your camping trips is groundhog. When I was a scout, this is what we had to catch and cook!

    Comment by Janet — September 17, 2009 @ 10:28 pm

  8. Look guys, when you poke him here, he giggles!

    Comment by Edward Cyr — September 18, 2009 @ 7:48 am

  9. Look!!! Right there he stole my wallet!

    Comment by Rayna — September 18, 2009 @ 12:13 pm

  10. Man, that looks like the armidillo I shot with my BB Gun last week..

    Comment by Ryan — September 18, 2009 @ 12:17 pm

  11. OH MY GOSH THAT’S MY WALLET IN THERE!

    Comment by Rayna — September 18, 2009 @ 12:18 pm

  12. I wish people would feed their pets better.

    Comment by Bill Herman — September 19, 2009 @ 5:43 pm

  13. OK men start taking it apart for the next show and tell class.

    Comment by Bill Herman — September 19, 2009 @ 5:44 pm

  14. Just wait until sunset, then we’ll see who dares to point and call me fat.

    Comment by Victoria — September 21, 2009 @ 4:56 pm

  15. These plates are actually small wings, it would flap them really fast and it would fly.

    Comment by Tom Moss — September 21, 2009 @ 6:51 pm

  16. When I was a Scout………you had to take care of one of these for you Pets Merit Badge…….

    Comment by dave — September 22, 2009 @ 2:17 pm

  17. This bone will make a perfect neckerchief slide.

    Comment by Mike Walters — September 22, 2009 @ 4:28 pm

  18. “If you look real close boys, I think you can see your Den Mother’s name up there.”

    Comment by Steve Laumakis — September 22, 2009 @ 7:52 pm

  19. This is why your mother tells you to drink your milk!

    Comment by Richard Wilson — September 23, 2009 @ 12:44 am

  20. “…and by replacing his current fleet of dinosaurs with the Stegosauras, Mr. Slately put an end to Fred’s quitting-time neck slide.”

    Comment by Mike Flaherty — September 23, 2009 @ 1:38 am

  21. “No, Scout Zappa, those are not prehistoric guitar picks.”

    Comment by Jean Boling — September 23, 2009 @ 4:55 pm

  22. …but if you look closely, you can still see a piece of his
    yellow neckerchief.

    Comment by Tim Mize — September 23, 2009 @ 7:17 pm

  23. You should publish.

    Comment by Tim Mize — September 23, 2009 @ 7:20 pm

  24. …but if you look closely, you can still see a piece of his yellow neckerchief.

    Comment by Tim Mize — September 23, 2009 @ 7:25 pm

  25. HMM. THIS REMINDS ME. TODAY IS MY MOTHER-IN-LAWS BIRTHDAY.

    Comment by humphry — September 23, 2009 @ 8:18 pm

  26. “See boys, this is what happened when Fred Flinstone forgot to feed Dino!”

    Comment by Bill Vaca — September 23, 2009 @ 9:06 pm

  27. The second fin on the stegosaurus is called “Guthsmusher” after Guth, a too inquisitive Paleolithic boyscout.

    Comment by Joyce — September 23, 2009 @ 11:49 pm

  28. “Now, if you’ll notice the first large plate at the base of the neck, kids. It’s important to remember that this is a very sensitive area and will stun him for a second if you happen to be threatened by one of these in the wild.”

    Comment by Brian Veverka — September 24, 2009 @ 12:44 am

  29. “He looks fierce, but he loves to be scratched behind the ears.”

    Comment by Scott Seely — September 24, 2009 @ 1:20 am

  30. Scientists have long been baffled as to the the purpose of the plates on a Stegosaurus. But Charles Fiorella, xylophonist for the Symphonie of Greater Washington, D.C., has a different take as a plinks one of the plates to demonstrate a high-C to a pack of Cub Scouts at the National Museum of Natural History.

    Comment by Craig Kosinski — September 24, 2009 @ 7:50 am

  31. O.K. Guys, let’s get a headcount before we leave.

    Comment by Katherine Weltner — September 24, 2009 @ 10:29 am

  32. The bathroom is right over there, between the bullet that killed Lincoln and the giant painting of Steven Colbert.

    Comment by Joseph Foulk — September 24, 2009 @ 1:59 pm

  33. “…so you see what happens when you fail to ‘Be Prepared’!”

    Comment by Robert Campbell — September 24, 2009 @ 6:47 pm

  34. “Well, Tracy, I can’t say for sure that they didn’t use Crazy Glue.”

    Comment by Robert Campbell — September 24, 2009 @ 6:48 pm

  35. “No, Trevor, I’m sure there is no merit badge for paleontology.”

    Comment by Robert Campbell — September 24, 2009 @ 6:53 pm

  36. “See, boys, that’s what will happen if you don’t eat your vegetables!”

    Comment by Paul Vetscher — September 24, 2009 @ 8:02 pm

  37. This once dominant creature on earth was not smart enough to realize that global climate change was occurring. However today, in the mid 20th century, we have many ways to measure even the smallest changes in the earth’s atmosphere and the intelligence to prevent a second ice age, or the other extreme, a severe global warming. This is an excellent example for you scouts about how important it is to be prepared.

    Comment by Mark Vranicar — September 24, 2009 @ 8:41 pm

  38. and those plates there taste just like potatoe chips

    Comment by Diane Bostrom — September 24, 2009 @ 9:33 pm

  39. “She loves me…she loves me not…”

    Comment by Kristen — September 25, 2009 @ 10:11 am

  40. “Now look over here, boys–even the dinosaurs were eco-friendly! By leaving the organs and skin off this Stegosaurus, scientists believe it may have been able to get 40 mpg. And these plates were actually solar panels that ran its air conditioning!

    Comment by Tim Bradley — September 25, 2009 @ 11:13 am

  41. “Now if you scratch him right here, he’ll sit up and beg for more bones!”

    Comment by Sue Clement — September 25, 2009 @ 2:22 pm

  42. ……..And kids this is a relic of the first Scout-O-Rama, held in 2354BC.

    Comment by Mike Danser — September 25, 2009 @ 7:04 pm

  43. Dr. Bone, Curator of Vertebrate
    Paleontology, instructs Cub Scout Pack #123 on the finer points of Stegosaurus skeleton construction–a necessity for completion of the Webelos Scout Activity Badge.

    Comment by ALong — September 26, 2009 @ 1:40 am

  44. Smoking did this to him, fellas. Smoking is bad !!

    Comment by Ed Belcher — September 26, 2009 @ 10:58 am

  45. ” Please notice the number of ArrowPoints and how they were displayed on this prehistoric Cub Scout.”

    Comment by Louis Thaler — September 26, 2009 @ 12:07 pm

  46. You’re right, Timmy! The front one really is a potato chip!”

    Comment by J Bristol — September 26, 2009 @ 5:29 pm

  47. I’ll point. You guys look interested. The guy will take our picture. I’ll get to keep my job and you can split the ten dollars any way you want.

    Comment by Larry Horowitz — September 27, 2009 @ 3:27 am

  48. See, look right there. The proof of intelligent design. It’s stamped, “Made in heaven”.

    Comment by Larry Horowitz — September 27, 2009 @ 3:31 am

  49. See that glob of glue, that’s how we know the scientists are making it all up as they go.

    Comment by Larry Horowitz — September 27, 2009 @ 3:35 am

  50. When the X box is invented you scouts will become as extinct as this is.

    Comment by Larry Horowitz — September 27, 2009 @ 3:41 am

  51. See Boys! If you tickle him right here, he will wag his tail!

    Comment by Murray Suarez — September 27, 2009 @ 12:05 pm

  52. If you look carefully, boys, you can still see where his mother sewed on his troop number.

    Comment by Andrew Kersten — September 27, 2009 @ 12:34 pm

  53. See! That’s what happens to you when you don’t eat your vegetables

    Comment by Bob Gray — September 27, 2009 @ 4:20 pm

  54. The early pre-saddle era cowboys found that riding this creature was especially problematic.

    Comment by Robert Wardrep — September 27, 2009 @ 6:52 pm

  55. Now if that chromosone was over just a little to the right, this would have been a parakeet.

    Comment by Larry Horowitz — September 27, 2009 @ 11:02 pm

  56. MY SON ALAN’S LITTLE DOGGIE, HIS NAME WAS “CURIOUS” HE RAN AWAY AND WE NEVER COULD FIND HIM.

    Comment by GEORGE STIFF — September 28, 2009 @ 11:59 am

  57. So you see scouts, this is what happens when you don’t practice good hygiene and eat 3 square meals a day!

    Comment by ed guldenstern — September 28, 2009 @ 1:45 pm

  58. Look at the body, then the head–brain big as a Peanut M&M!

    Comment by Barbara Garro — September 28, 2009 @ 4:49 pm

  59. OK kids, the saddle goes right up there. Whose’s first?

    Comment by Roy — September 29, 2009 @ 9:20 am

  60. One needs to be prepared, uniformed, and have a leader, to find the location of the walnut-sized Scoutosaurus brain.

    Comment by Mary Majka — September 29, 2009 @ 12:56 pm

  61. First one to the top gets his “King of the Dinosaur’s” merit bag……Ready, Set, Go!

    Comment by Dave Popielski — September 29, 2009 @ 2:56 pm

  62. This display is “Scratch-N-Sniff”….see the spot you need to scratch is right up there…

    Comment by Dave Popielski — September 29, 2009 @ 2:59 pm

  63. and that boys is what happens when you get too close to fire.

    Comment by Eva Nolan — September 30, 2009 @ 2:29 pm

  64. At last the puzzle kit is complete but we’re missing this piece over here

    Comment by john naples — September 30, 2009 @ 3:43 pm

  65. And this what you’ll look like if you become a vegetarian!

    Comment by john naples — September 30, 2009 @ 3:46 pm

  66. “See boys, when you pulled this very top plate, gas was released from the other end!”

    Comment by Scott Ledford — September 30, 2009 @ 6:50 pm

  67. “You see, boys, that region beneath the thoracic vertebrae, encompassed by the 4th through 9th ribs? That’s what we paleontologists call “the tummy.”

    Comment by Brian Lies — October 1, 2009 @ 6:49 am

  68. “…and the little guy’s favorite spot to be scratched is right here behind the ears.”

    Comment by Mitzi ManWarren — October 1, 2009 @ 9:32 am

  69. ‘Bones’ ! If you wanna be our mascot

    you GOTTA get off of the table !!!

    Comment by Ron Fugarino — October 2, 2009 @ 11:00 am

  70. “This is where the meteor hit him.”

    Comment by andrea johns — October 2, 2009 @ 1:53 pm

  71. … And this is what happens to you if you don’t keep morally straight!

    Comment by Bob Dennis — October 2, 2009 @ 7:40 pm

  72. ” And this guy right here is called a Thesaurus “

    Comment by Norm Jacks — October 3, 2009 @ 4:50 pm

  73. ” This example is from the era Anorexia “

    Comment by Norm Jacks — October 3, 2009 @ 4:57 pm

  74. ” And this Specimen is from the Anorexia Era “

    Comment by Norm Jacks — October 3, 2009 @ 5:41 pm

  75. ” They weren’t able to recover all the pieces so they finished with legos “

    Comment by Norm Jacks — October 3, 2009 @ 11:33 pm

  76. Future dinosaurs?

    Comment by Thomas Buel — October 4, 2009 @ 1:36 pm

  77. And you thought your survival gear was heavy!

    Comment by Carol Miller — October 4, 2009 @ 2:39 pm

  78. To get your petroleum badge, start with one dinosaur carcass…

    Comment by Carol Miller — October 4, 2009 @ 2:39 pm

  79. Should you find such bones as these while hiking, the dorsal plates from the spine make handy shovels, the rib bones double as tent stakes, and the femurs are serviceable hammers.

    Comment by Carol Miller — October 4, 2009 @ 2:41 pm

  80. My suggested caption is: “Scouts observing scutes.”

    Comment by Marie Savage — October 4, 2009 @ 3:24 pm

  81. ” I am sorry boys, I didn’t realize this was the Nude animal exhibit “

    Comment by Norm Jacks — October 5, 2009 @ 8:45 am

  82. “Quit pointing at me and bring me my jacket.”

    Comment by Trina Lopez — October 6, 2009 @ 1:40 am

  83. “Now that we’ve gotten inside the barrier without the alarm going off, how about we all saddle up for a ride on our calcified friend? Go ahead, climb on up there!”

    Comment by Trina Lopez — October 6, 2009 @ 1:45 am

  84. “… and then on the curves, they would catch the wind, allowing him to out-corner the T Rex.”

    Comment by Jim Wright — October 6, 2009 @ 11:15 pm

  85. Hey! L’eggo my Stego!

    Comment by Louis — October 7, 2009 @ 9:55 am

  86. See boys! I told yu the rib bone is connected to the back bone!

    Comment by Gordon West — October 7, 2009 @ 5:26 pm

  87. “Look kids. This is what happens when you don’t eat your veggies.”

    Comment by Tony Meek II — October 8, 2009 @ 11:24 pm

  88. The boys of Scout Troop 50 silently agreed. This trip was no Night at the Museum.

    Comment by Joseph Caputo — October 9, 2009 @ 8:46 am

  89. “… and this little thingie goes beep”.

    Comment by William Mauceri — October 9, 2009 @ 10:22 am

  90. That bone right there is his Woodland Badge, and the next one is……

    Comment by Rick Machuta — October 10, 2009 @ 9:47 am

  91. All us scouts were getting hungry, especially when we were shown the Steak-o-saurus that came with its own plates!

    Comment by Warren Walker — October 11, 2009 @ 2:36 pm

  92. If ’twere a live stego–
    ‘Twould be “touch ‘n go”
    For scouts in a row!

    Comment by Connie Butcher — October 11, 2009 @ 3:47 pm

  93. NOTICE: You Must Be This Tall To Ride This Ride.

    Comment by Don Bland — October 12, 2009 @ 7:19 pm

  94. See kids, this plate is just about the same size as the one in my head.

    Comment by Amy Kluge — October 13, 2009 @ 10:33 am

  95. “Just like any animal, Stegosaurus loved to be rubbed behind the ears.”

    Comment by Delia Smith — October 13, 2009 @ 10:39 am

  96. when they were passing out brains he thought they said trains and he missed his.

    Comment by darel ferguson — October 13, 2009 @ 11:02 am

  97. Take a look boys, this is what happens when you don’t eat your vegetables.

    Comment by Sharon Schafer — October 13, 2009 @ 11:03 am

  98. … and scouts, this kit is only $50.00 down, $50.00 a month, for only 50 months! Now who wants to be the first to order?

    Comment by Autum — October 13, 2009 @ 11:12 am

  99. “Hmm..I thought we were going to see “Bones”…guess i misinterpreted!”

    Comment by JS Daniel — October 13, 2009 @ 11:14 am

  100. That one there shows you that this dinosaur stood perfectly still so that each fin was perfectly placed. The one behind us is an artist rendition.

    Comment by Kathleen Pearlman — October 13, 2009 @ 11:16 am

  101. Boys, this is what happens when you go on the Atkin’s diet. Go home and tell your moms to have a cupcake.

    Comment by Lisa Gerardy — October 13, 2009 @ 11:17 am

  102. See that? That Stegosaurus didn’t eat its vegetables!

    Comment by Lola — October 13, 2009 @ 11:40 am

  103. ” That boys, is where you attach the collar.”

    Comment by Brooke Chamberlain — October 13, 2009 @ 11:48 am

  104. “Now see kids. If we would have sold more cookies,we would have been able to afford skin for him,like the display behind us.Better luck next year.”

    Comment by Patrick Todd — October 13, 2009 @ 11:48 am

  105. Now boys as you can see this is a Divorce-osaurus. The one behind us was his mate. Poor fella didn’t fare too well in the proceedings.

    Comment by Brad Wright — October 13, 2009 @ 11:59 am

  106. I thought you said your Stegosaurus didn’t bite! It’s not my Stegosaurus.

    Comment by Montey Spear — October 13, 2009 @ 12:16 pm

  107. Careful, boys – you can see the remains of the LAST one who got too close..

    Comment by Megan Cypher — October 13, 2009 @ 1:36 pm

  108. All right, boys, first one to the top gets the pre-historic badge of courage!

    Comment by Carmen R. Becera — October 13, 2009 @ 2:00 pm

  109. “And this proud little lady just received her merit badge in Anorexia!”

    Comment by Louise Palanker — October 13, 2009 @ 3:47 pm

  110. Look boys right here….who’s whistling Blue Oyster Cult’s “Godzilla”???

    Comment by Jeff Fergerson — October 13, 2009 @ 4:21 pm

  111. [...] sifted through over 100 pre-historic entries in this month’s caption contest, ranging from riffs on insufficient food consumption of some type to mother-in-law jokes, but Big [...]

    Pingback by Smithsonian Photo Caption Writing Contest #6: Winner Revealed | Around The Mall — October 14, 2009 @ 10:30 am

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