MONROE - Are you suffering from wintertime isolation and cabin fever? Are you looking for a weekend activity that the whole family can have fun at and not have to spend much money at? Then come to the Badger Lapidary and Geological Society's 40th annual, jewelry, mineral, fossil and gem show, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 27-28 at the Monroe Senior High School.
The society believes the event should be an educational experience, as well as an entertaining show, and will present several programs and demonstrations pertaining to the earth sciences, and nature. The show has also been compared to a "traveling museum" because most of these items are only seen in this area once a year at our show.
Returning this year will be an actual walk-in fluorescent mineral room, just like you would see at the big museums. Fluorescent minerals get their name because ordinary looking drab colored stones will glow fluorescent colors of greens, blues, yellows, and reds when special longwave and shortwave black lights are turned on. This will surely astonish young and old alike if you have never seen this phenomenon before.
The speaker schedule includes:
• 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Tyrel Rouse, a BLGS member, "Radioactive Rocks and Minerals"
• 3 p.m. Saturday, Steve Simpson of Highland Community College, looking at the question "Earthquakes: California, Haiti ... Could it happen here?"
• 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sandy Fuller of Rock Biz, introduction into the "World of Fluorescence"
• 3 p.m. Sunday, Kim Anderson of Cave of the Mounds, presentation on the "Geological Education at the Cave of the Mounds"
Demonstrations will be ongoing in the art of lapidary and wire working by numerous club members, as they turn rough stones into polished beauty, and lovely jewelry. There are always several educational activities for the children of general interest, but also specially designed to help 4-H'ers, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in their program areas of geology. The "Rock Wizard" will be on hand both days of the show, to help both children and adults identify any rocks or fossils they may have. Kids will also be challenged to a scavenger hunt, to locate and describe minerals found among many dealers. A "Hands on" area for creating jewelry starting from rough material and hand polishing to create a finished jewelry piece that they can keep should be an exciting area for kids.
Ten dealers will offer fine specimens, from around the world, including an exciting array of minerals with beautiful colors and captivating crystal formations, fine jewelry, plant and animal fossils, polished, cut and rough stones, lapidary supplies, and books, and much more. Prices range from just a few pennies for beginners items, to thousand dollar museum pieces. Dealers are coming from as far away as Missouri and Minnesota this year. In addition, the club operates a silent auction table with a changing array of items, many to be had at bargain prices, and gives out free, hourly door prizes to show visitors.
The Badger Lapidary and Geological Society is a non-profit organization formed in 1965 with the purpose of stimulating the interest of its members and the general public in the study of geology, paleontology, archeology, and the lapidary arts. The first rock show was held in 1970.
Each year since that time, the club has given a scholarship to a student graduating from an area high school, who will be studying earth sciences in college. Periodicals and books have been provided to local libraries and schools to further the publics' interest in the sciences. The club also has educational materials, and lapidary equipment for use by its members. There are also club sponsored field trips and an award-winning newsletter with articles of interest by both members, and other contributors. The club is a member of the American Federation and Midwest Federation of Mineral and Geological Societies.
Anyone interested in joining the club can sign up at the membership/club table at the show. Meetings are held starting at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month in the second floor meeting room of the Monroe Public Library, located at 925 16th Ave., Monroe. Visitors are always welcome.
For more information about the show or organization, contact Show chairperson Terri Marche at (608) 835-2653 or e-mail her at tmarche@eduction.wisc.edu and find a way to get out of your cabin.
The society believes the event should be an educational experience, as well as an entertaining show, and will present several programs and demonstrations pertaining to the earth sciences, and nature. The show has also been compared to a "traveling museum" because most of these items are only seen in this area once a year at our show.
Returning this year will be an actual walk-in fluorescent mineral room, just like you would see at the big museums. Fluorescent minerals get their name because ordinary looking drab colored stones will glow fluorescent colors of greens, blues, yellows, and reds when special longwave and shortwave black lights are turned on. This will surely astonish young and old alike if you have never seen this phenomenon before.
The speaker schedule includes:
• 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Tyrel Rouse, a BLGS member, "Radioactive Rocks and Minerals"
• 3 p.m. Saturday, Steve Simpson of Highland Community College, looking at the question "Earthquakes: California, Haiti ... Could it happen here?"
• 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sandy Fuller of Rock Biz, introduction into the "World of Fluorescence"
• 3 p.m. Sunday, Kim Anderson of Cave of the Mounds, presentation on the "Geological Education at the Cave of the Mounds"
Demonstrations will be ongoing in the art of lapidary and wire working by numerous club members, as they turn rough stones into polished beauty, and lovely jewelry. There are always several educational activities for the children of general interest, but also specially designed to help 4-H'ers, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in their program areas of geology. The "Rock Wizard" will be on hand both days of the show, to help both children and adults identify any rocks or fossils they may have. Kids will also be challenged to a scavenger hunt, to locate and describe minerals found among many dealers. A "Hands on" area for creating jewelry starting from rough material and hand polishing to create a finished jewelry piece that they can keep should be an exciting area for kids.
Ten dealers will offer fine specimens, from around the world, including an exciting array of minerals with beautiful colors and captivating crystal formations, fine jewelry, plant and animal fossils, polished, cut and rough stones, lapidary supplies, and books, and much more. Prices range from just a few pennies for beginners items, to thousand dollar museum pieces. Dealers are coming from as far away as Missouri and Minnesota this year. In addition, the club operates a silent auction table with a changing array of items, many to be had at bargain prices, and gives out free, hourly door prizes to show visitors.
The Badger Lapidary and Geological Society is a non-profit organization formed in 1965 with the purpose of stimulating the interest of its members and the general public in the study of geology, paleontology, archeology, and the lapidary arts. The first rock show was held in 1970.
Each year since that time, the club has given a scholarship to a student graduating from an area high school, who will be studying earth sciences in college. Periodicals and books have been provided to local libraries and schools to further the publics' interest in the sciences. The club also has educational materials, and lapidary equipment for use by its members. There are also club sponsored field trips and an award-winning newsletter with articles of interest by both members, and other contributors. The club is a member of the American Federation and Midwest Federation of Mineral and Geological Societies.
Anyone interested in joining the club can sign up at the membership/club table at the show. Meetings are held starting at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month in the second floor meeting room of the Monroe Public Library, located at 925 16th Ave., Monroe. Visitors are always welcome.
For more information about the show or organization, contact Show chairperson Terri Marche at (608) 835-2653 or e-mail her at tmarche@eduction.wisc.edu and find a way to get out of your cabin.