2026
Next meeting: Thursday, 28th May
6:30p, HGMS Education Center
7901 Bailey Cove Road SE
Huntsville, AL
April Meeting Recap
During our April meeting, the Pups worked on a jewelry project! The older kids learned the inverted round chainmaille technique with their bracelets, and the younger kids learned how to make bracelets with jump rings and seed beads. Everyone had a great time and there were some pretty impressive pieces of jewelry that came out of it!
May 28th Meeting
Next up: we are learning about weathering, erosion, and deposition. These processes are interconnected and act as nature’s recycling system breaking down old rock, moving the pieces, and building entirely new landmasses. Get excited – we have lots of hands on activities planned for this program so the kids are able to see each of these processes in action.
The Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies (SFMS) has announced they will be continuing their “Year in Rocks” contest again for 2027. Start thinking about how you can use your rocks, minerals, gems, fossils, or even lapidary equipment to showcase the year 2027 in a way that totally rocks! The deadline for submissions is November 21st, 2026, and you can visit www.southeastfed.org/contests-awards/juniors-year-in-rocks-contest for rules and guidelines for entries.
Are you or your child interested in learning more about lapidary techniques? The William Holland School of Lapidary Arts has a variety of unique courses to learn traditional techniques, jewelry-making, or more creative outlets like wire-wrapping, beading, or chainmail. You can visit their website at www.lapidaryschool.org for more information and to register for courses.
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.
*Glaciers are like giant bulldozers. They are so heavy they can push boulders, pick up rock debris, and turn the land behind them into massive u-shaped valleys. *The Grand Canyon is like a giant time-lapse. The 5,000-foot-deep canyon was carved out by the Colorado River over millions of years. *Beaches are created by erosion. All of the sand on the beach is created by ocean waves continuously pounding on rocks until they are broken down and deposited on the shore.
