MONROE - The Badger Lapidary and Geological Society will host the Jewelry, Mineral, Fossil and Gem Show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 at the Monroe High School, 1600 26th St.
Admission is a free-will donation with many of the children's activities either free or costing no more than $1 to participate.
New this year is an interactive show theme called the "Agata Crystally Mystery." The show will lead visitors through all facets of the show on the Quest for the Crystal Badger. Like a scavenger hunt, the quest will have a series of clues that contain puzzles and games that inform visitors about rocks, gems and fossils, as well as local mines and mining lore. Those who successfully discover the location of the Crystal Badger will receive prizes.
Back this year is the walk-in black light room, where ordinary minerals will fluorescently glow colors of greens, blues, reds, yellows and a combination of all the colors. Experts will be on hand to explain the science behind it.
The speakers schedule includes:
n 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Stephen Ballou, technician in the geology department at Beloit College. He will present an account of his experiences in "Meteorite Hunters in the Great Alone: The Search for Cosmic Visitors in Antarctica."
n 3 p.m. Saturday, Mike Riesch, BLGS club member and owner/curator of Earthaven Museum, Gillet. He will speak on "Mineral Giants: The World's Largest Mineral Crystals."
n 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Kevin Ponzio of Earth Prospecting and Mining Co., Plymouth. He will speak on a program he gave for a club meeting last year.
n 3 p.m. Sunday, Aaron Laurent, a senior student in the geology department at Beloit College. He will present work he is currently doing on The White Rock Pluton of Colorado.
Kids' activities include fossil casting, a fishpond, rock wizard, spinner game and miner's quarry. All children will receive a special ticket at the door that they can use for one free turn at the fossil casting or a chance to dig in the miner's quarry.
Ten dealers from around the Midwest will offer specimens and jewelry from around the world. Items for sale includes minerals, fine jewelry, plant and animal fossils, polished and rough stones, lapidary supplies and books.
Food will be available from the Green County Homemakers.
The Badger Lapidary and Geological Society is a non-profit organization with the purpose of stimulating the interest in the study of geology, paleontology, archeology, lapidary arts, beading and mineralogy. Anyone interesting in joining the club can sign up at the membership table at the show or attend one of the monthly meetings held at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month at the Monroe Public Library, 925 16th Ave.
More information is available at www.badgerrockclub.org or by contacting Teri Marché, the show chairman, at (608) 835-2653 or tmarche@usnetizen.com.
Admission is a free-will donation with many of the children's activities either free or costing no more than $1 to participate.
New this year is an interactive show theme called the "Agata Crystally Mystery." The show will lead visitors through all facets of the show on the Quest for the Crystal Badger. Like a scavenger hunt, the quest will have a series of clues that contain puzzles and games that inform visitors about rocks, gems and fossils, as well as local mines and mining lore. Those who successfully discover the location of the Crystal Badger will receive prizes.
Back this year is the walk-in black light room, where ordinary minerals will fluorescently glow colors of greens, blues, reds, yellows and a combination of all the colors. Experts will be on hand to explain the science behind it.
The speakers schedule includes:
n 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Stephen Ballou, technician in the geology department at Beloit College. He will present an account of his experiences in "Meteorite Hunters in the Great Alone: The Search for Cosmic Visitors in Antarctica."
n 3 p.m. Saturday, Mike Riesch, BLGS club member and owner/curator of Earthaven Museum, Gillet. He will speak on "Mineral Giants: The World's Largest Mineral Crystals."
n 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Kevin Ponzio of Earth Prospecting and Mining Co., Plymouth. He will speak on a program he gave for a club meeting last year.
n 3 p.m. Sunday, Aaron Laurent, a senior student in the geology department at Beloit College. He will present work he is currently doing on The White Rock Pluton of Colorado.
Kids' activities include fossil casting, a fishpond, rock wizard, spinner game and miner's quarry. All children will receive a special ticket at the door that they can use for one free turn at the fossil casting or a chance to dig in the miner's quarry.
Ten dealers from around the Midwest will offer specimens and jewelry from around the world. Items for sale includes minerals, fine jewelry, plant and animal fossils, polished and rough stones, lapidary supplies and books.
Food will be available from the Green County Homemakers.
The Badger Lapidary and Geological Society is a non-profit organization with the purpose of stimulating the interest in the study of geology, paleontology, archeology, lapidary arts, beading and mineralogy. Anyone interesting in joining the club can sign up at the membership table at the show or attend one of the monthly meetings held at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month at the Monroe Public Library, 925 16th Ave.
More information is available at www.badgerrockclub.org or by contacting Teri Marché, the show chairman, at (608) 835-2653 or tmarche@usnetizen.com.
