"SO YOUR CHILD LIKES ROCKS!"
By Ray Hill
Over the past fifteen years that I have operated Great South Gems &
Minerals I have had many parents call, write, or email me saying that they have a daughter or son that loves rocks. Welllll, I can relate
to that. I understand. I'm still a little boy at heart and like rocks myself.
The question most parents have is "how can I be of help to my
daughter or son in encouraging his/her interest in rock collecting?" "Where can I go, or, what can I do to help them enjoy,
learn and grow in their interest?"
When I was quite young my dad passed away. My mom remarried a few
years later to my step-dad who was a rock hound. I was 12 years old at the time and became fascinated by his rock collection. He had
mineral specimens, beautiful crystals, the likes of which I had never seen, and rocks from all over the United States, most of which he had
personally collected. Almost immediately I took an interest in rocks.
My step-dad was quick to notice my interest and, truth be told, I
think he was delighted that he now had someone that could share in his interest of rocks and rock collecting. From the very beginning
he went out of his way to promote and encourage my interest in rocks and rock collecting. By the time I went into the Marines at age 17,
I had learned quite a bit about rocks and minerals and had put together a not-too-shabby rock collection of my own. My step-dad
built a rock tumbler with a five-gallon drum. We kept it out in the shop behind the house and I was plum fascinated by, what I thought at
the time, was gorgeous tumbled stones, many of which he and I had picked up on some of our collecting trips. (See article in Ray's
Ramblings on Rock Tumbling) He also made a lapidary machine where we could cut and polish gemstones. By the time I was 15 I had
gotten pretty good at cutting gemstone cabochons.
I remember when I was 16 years old, I was asked to give
demonstrations on gemstone cutting to my science teacher's class in High School. In this class I cut a piece of rose quartz that I had
collected at the Hogg Mine in LaGrange, Georgia. I first cut the stone into a sphere, sanded and polished it to locate the star, and
then made matching cabochons. I mounted the matching pair of star rose quartz cabochons into a pair of earrings. One of the teachers
later purchased this pair of earrings from me for $20.00. Needless to say I was thrilled, not only in pride that I had made the stones,
but that other folks liked and appreciated what I did.
In 1959 my step-dad and I joined The Georgia Mineral Society in
Atlanta. We religiously went to every meeting they had and went on every rock collecting trip that the club sponsored. Through rubbing
shoulders with like minded folks within the Gem & Mineral Society, attending the meetings where they always had guest speakers, and
going on collecting trips each month was a big help in promoting my interest in this great and fascinating hobby. And, as you can see,
it has stuck with me all these years. And, I have found that the more I learn about rocks, crystals, fossils, and such, the more
fascinating they are. My interest in earth science, how the earth was formed, the changes that have taken place on our planet, how
living things turn to stone fossils, and the like, has only grown over the years. And, I credit my caring step-dad for having planted
that seed in my life as a youngster. When my step-dad passed away about 15 years ago, he left a flame that is still burning strongly, in me.
NOW! What is it that YOU can do to help YOUR child in their interest
in rocks? Do the same things that my step-dad did for me!
1) Encourage their interest. They may grow up to be geologist,
paleontologist, volcanologist, or, just a plain old rockhound hobbyist whos life in greatly enriched by their interest in
rocks and rock collecting.
2) Join your local Gem & Mineral Society. There should be one near
you in the US. Go on-line and type in Gem & Mineral Society. There should be a listing of clubs all over the USA
there. Most of these Gem & Mineral Societies have monthly meeting. They publish a monthly Bulletin that is sent to
their members. They go on monthly field trips where they collect as a group. The dues for membership in a Gem & Mineral Society
runs from $10.00 to $25.00 per year and entitles the member to attend the meetings, get the monthly Bulletin, and go on their
field trips. (Click here for The Georgia Mineral Society, Inc., located in Atlanta, Georgia.)
3) Go to Gem & Mineral Shows. Most larger cities in the USA have
at least one Gem & Mineral show a year. In Atlanta, we have five each year, sponsored by different groups. This is a
great place to look at all the rocks, minerals, fossils, carvings, and other rockhound, rock collecting, items available. I try to attend
as many of these shows as possible. It keeps me abreast of what is out there, what new items are coming into the American market
from other countries, how to identify items, what other retailers are charging for their material, and lots more. Going to the
Gem & Mineral shows is also a great place get items for your collection, and to learn.
4) Go on rock collecting field trips. If you as a parent are not
interested in rocks and don't have any interest in going with your child to a collecting site, then have one of
the other club members take your child. I'm a member of six different Gem & Mineral Societies. I go on lots of field trips. Often
times I take a couple of young people along on the trip. No, it doesn't slow me down or hinder me... it makes the trip more
enjoyable for me. It's a blessing to see a young person's face light up with excitement when they find a really cool specimen.
5) Purchase books on rocks, minerals & fossils. There's lots of
books out there on the subject. Get your child some basic books on rocks, minerals & fossils. There is many
publications written for the young person and beginner. Get them some material on the subject. (See our selection of books).
6) Get your child some basic collecting tools. You don't have to
spend a lot of money for this. A plastic pail, a cheap claw hammer, a long flat-head screw driver, a cold chisel, a small
garden-type scratching tool, and pair of safety glasses is about all they will need to get started. This is also a psychological
point! Once you get them some basic collecting tools, you have said in effect, "I see you are serious about this rock collecting,
and I want to help you." Thus, they will take it even more seriously.
7) Help organize his rock collection. You can get some type of
inexpensive display case, cabinet, drawer, frame, or such to put his/her collection in. You can get the small, fold-up,
specimen boxes for his/her specimens. (Click here for fold-up specimen boxes.) Show him/her label the specimens. this
will make the collection more organized, more valuable, and more "showy".
I hope this article will help you as a parent in helping your child
that is interested in rocks. Helping promote their interest in rocks will be something the child will carry with them for the rest of
their life, and recall with fondness the pleasure they had/have with rocks, minerals, and/or fossils.
Happy Rockhounding.
Ray Hill - Rockhound
ExtraordinaIre
Ray Hill
Great South Gems & Minerals, Inc.
www.greatsouth.net
888-933-GEMS
Note: Only rock clubs have permission
to print this article but must give credit to the author, Ray Hill,
and Great South Gems &
Minerals, Inc. For everyone else, please email
us for permission.
 |
38 Bond Drive
Ellenwood, Georgia 30294 USA
1-888-933-GEMS (4367)
FAX 770-474-4507 |
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