2026
Next meeting: Thursday, 23rd July
6:30p, HGMS Education Center
7901 Bailey Cove Road SE
Huntsville, AL 35803
June Meeting Recap
Our Pebble Pups group spent our meeting in June learning about Earth’s layers, plate tectonics, and volcanoes. The floor was lava as we moved through our stations. Our Pups made models of Earth using Playdoh as we learned about the different layers of the Earth. We learned how plate tectonics works using graham crackers and chocolate pudding. The highlight of the night was learning how volcanoes work with a model built by club member Matthew Sager!
28th July Meeting
This month we are learning about fossils. Get ready to talk about how fossils are formed, the types of fossils you can find, and where you go to look for them. We will finish the night digging for our own fossils! As a special treat, our very own Pebble Pup, Luna Ura, is going to share what she has learned about fossils! She loves fossils and learning as much as she can about them, so we are very excited to have her help with this program!
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, 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.
*Scientists discovered fossils of a giant frog, called Beelzebufo, that lived 68 million years ago in Madagascar that was large enough to eat young dinosaurs. Its giant bite could exert a force similar to that of a wolf! *The word fossil comes from the Latin word fossilis, which literally means “dug up.” *There are fossils on Mars! In 1996, NASA scientists found evidence of microscopic fossil life in a meteorite from Mars. *Fossils found in Wyoming show us that 50 million years ago, ants the size of hummingbirds roamed the area.
