The Youth Section is supervised by an experienced youth leader and is for children from 5 through 17 years old. Concepts in earth science, shop and tool safety, and lapidary skills are taught. Activities during the first hour of each meeting can include making rock critters, jewel tree construction, bead work, and other jewelry design. Children are then allowed into the workshop to create individual projects under the watchful eyes of the shop supervisors. Parents must be present to supervise their children during the entire session. This is NOT a babysitting group.

The Youth Section meets on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. until noon. Each child must be a member of the Youth Section to participate in shop activities Dues are currently $25 per year per child. Family memberships are also available. A parent is not required to be a member.

The Youth Section is supervised by an experienced youth leader and assistant and is for youth from 5 through 17 years old. Concepts in lapidary arts, shop, and tool safety, and some earth science is taught. The main activity during a meeting is working in the shop using the grinding machines to shape and polish rocks. Activities during a meeting can include making rock critters, bead work, and other jewelry design. Children are allowed into the workshop only under the watchful eyes of the shop supervisors. Eye and clothing protection are provided, but you can purchase your own. The equipment used by the children is quite safe. Shop safety rules must be obeyed at all times. It is mandatory that a parent or responsible guardian must be present during the entire session. This is not a babysitting group. A parent does not have to stay in the shop area, but must remain in the building. A parent can observe during shop time. Any materials we use during activities are provided at no extra charge.

At most of our meetings, we do not have specific programs that need to be announced ahead of time. When we do plan a special activity, it will be announced via the club’s weekly email notifications.

The Youth Section also is active at the annual show in the Youth Section Booth. Our youth members and parents help man this booth. This interactive area contains two games (bean bag toss and a spinning wheel) in which we charge a quarter each game. The player always wins a prize which may be a rock, fossil, mineral, or jewelry made by our Youth members. There are also other educational hands-on displays that allow children to explore the earth sciences.

A very special event at the annual show is the Youth Member Cabochon Contest. We encourage all our Youth members to participate. Each entry is judged on an individual basis and not against another child. The contest stones are displayed in a special display case so everyone who attends the show can admire and marvel at what our kids have created. The comment most often heard is “I can’t believe a six-year-old could do that!”

Interesting Links

Rocks for Kids
The Australian Mineral Collector