2026
Next meeting: Thursday, 28th May
6:30p, HGMS Education Center
7901 Bailey Cove Road SE
Huntsville, AL
March Meeting Recap
During our March meeting, we learned about minerals and mineral testing. Thank you to Bill Friday, Matthew Sager, and David Miller for helping me get the juniors some hands-on experience testing minerals and teaching them what to look for when they are out on their own! The kids enjoyed seeing how the minerals are different when you really look at them and why you can’t always trust what you are seeing at first glance.
One of our goals this year was to get the Pebble Pups out looking for rocks more, and we are 
certainly doing that! After our meeting, we had a good turnout for our Brilliant Field Trip with a group of 20. The landscape was different this time, but the Brilliant wood was there and we found a lot of great pieces! The State Geologist of Alabama shared the history of the Wetumpka impact and how that impact created a trove of fossilized treasures for us to find millions of years later. The property owner made it extra special by helping the kids learn how to find it in the dirt. It was a great learning experience and a great time learning how to look for something special!
April Meeting
This month the Pebble Pups will be working on a jewelry project. They will be making beaded bracelets. All supplies will be provided by the club, so there will be no cost for this activity. If you are interested in helping the kids make bracelets, please let Suzanne Miller know. We would appreciate any help we can get!
We have been invited to join the North 
Mississippi Gem and Mineral Society for their field trip on 2nd May, 2026 to Twenty Mile Creek. Put on your water shoes, grab your sieves and buckets, and spend the day splashing around in the creek looking for shark teeth and other small Cretaceous fossils! Please use the Field Trip Form to sign up so we can let NMGMS know how many people to expect from our group. Reach out to Suzanne Miller at HGMSPebblePups@gmail.com with any questions.
The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS) sponsors the Future Rockhounds of America (FRA) program for kids under the age of 18. The HGMS Pebble Pups participate in the FRA Badge Program. You can check out all the badges that our Pups can earn by visiting the AFMS website at AFMS Juniors – The Badges.
Pups who complete activities outside of club activities can send an email to HGMSPebblePups@gmail.com to receive credit for their activities. If your Pup would like to share what they have learned, seen, or found with the rest of the group, please let Suzanne Miller know and we can give them time at the beginning of the meeting to talk to the group! Sharing will help Pups earn their presentation and communications badges. Is there a topic your Pup would like to learn more about?
Do you have an idea for an activity that our group would enjoy? Have you found a great place to hunt for rocks, fossils, or gems? Please email Suzanne Miller at HGMSPebblePups@gmail.com to share your ideas!
Would you be interested in sharing what you know about rocks, minerals, gems, fossils, or how to find/use them? We would love
to have you come lead one of our monthly programs! Please reach out to Suzanne Miller at HGMSPebblePups@gmail.com to discuss.
