2026
Next meeting: Thursday, 24th September
6:30p, HGMS Education Center
7901 Bailey Cove Road SE
Huntsville, AL 35803
July Meeting Recap
Our Pebble Pups group spent our meeting in July learning about fossils. I want to send an extra special thank you to our very own Pebble Pup Luna Ura for sharing her knowledge of fossils with the younger kids while HGMS member Gene Powers led the older kids. They learned about how fossils are formed and what we can learn from them.
27th August Meeting
This month we get an extra special treat. HGMS member Natalia Ura will be coordinating a program on wild clay. We will be covering how to look for it, how to prepare it, how to work with it, and how to finish pieces. Each child will have a chance to make a pinch pot using the wild clay! It is going to be a great program with a very unique piece of art to take home at the end!
If your Pup has a topic they would like to suggest for a meeting or would like to present what they have learned to the group for 10 minutes – or you would like to come share your knowledge with the group, please reach out to Suzanne Miller at HGMSPebblePups@gmail.com.
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.
*Clay is basically just “soft rock” formed as rocks break down. The ultra-fine particles composed of
silica, aluminum, and water form clay. *The earliest humans began using clay 30,000 years ago, but it has been part of Earth’s history since the beginning. *Clay is famous for its detox properties. It can be used to absorb toxins on the skin or internally. *Before it is fired, clay can be recycled by wetting and reshaping it.
September Birthstone: Sapphire- A variety of the mineral corundum, this gemstone occurs in blue, yellow, green, orange, pink, and purple depending on trace element content. This gemstone may even show a six-rayed star when cut as a cabochon. Source: 
Did You Know?