El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society

The El Dorado Mineral and Gem Society promotes education about the earth sciences for all of its members and the public. The society maintains a library and has presentations at each meeting.

Society members collect rock and mineral material on field trips to identify and share with other members. The club shares material and information with the public at the county fair and at the club's Annual Gem Show by through displays and demonstrations.

The society members make and fill grab bags that contain samples of rock and minerals collected. Donated proceeds that the club receives from the bags go into a Scholarship Fund. The club contributes annually to an Earth Science and Lapidary Arts Scholarship Fund. See information about the club's Scholarship Program.

School Program:
The society's members make presentations to elementary students throughout El Dorado County school district to provide an informative and educational program.

The society advises students on how they can display their mineral collections at the county fair.

Contact us to schedule a presentation at your school, by telephone (530) 676-2472, by email, or by mail at P. O. Box 950, Placerville, CA 95667.

Junior Member Program:
The club has an educational program for its younger members. Meetings are again being held monthly at the Senior Center, 937 Spring Street, Placerville.

(See Junior Meeting schedule on the home page.) Members are notified monthly by email or telephone about the upcoming meeting. If you are not already signed up, please contact the program chairperson for further details.

There is usually no junior meeting in July, when all members are encouraged to attend the club's Annual Picnic.

Junior members have the opportunity to work on a merit badge program to become a "Future Rockhound of America," a program established by the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS).

Meetings include both study and craft activities. The objective of the activities is to help junior members understand collecting, earth resources, rocks and minerals, fossils, lapidary arts, showmanship in displaying collections and communications.

From time to time, special rock identification field trips are held for our Junior members. Junior members are also welcome to attend the club's regular field trips.

A parent or guardian must accompany the junior member on field trips. At meetings a parent or guardian must stay at the Senior Center. The adult may help with the Junior Program, do Lapidary machine work or visit with other members.

Children age 18 and under, can join as individual junior members or can be included in a household membership. Either way, they are eligible to participate in the Junior Program.

For additional information about Junior Program, please request information via our email or visit our Membership page to request an application form.

Become a Future
Rockhound of America

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