The Topeka GMS Junior Rockhounds program is a certified member of the Future Rockhounds of America, a program of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
The program consists of a series of classes and activities geared to teaching youngsters about various aspects of geoscience and lapidary arts.
The NUMBER ONE goal of the Junior Rockhounds program is to reach out to as many kids as possible to encourage whatever budding interest they may have in geology, rocks, fossils, and lapidary arts.
There are 20 different units in the program, and they cover the following activities:
- Rocks & Minerals
- Earth Resources
- Fossils
- Lapidary Arts
- Collecting
- Showmanship
- Communication
- Field Trips
- Leadership & Citizenship
- Earth Processes
- Earth in Space
- Gemstone Lore & Legend
- Stone Age Tools & Art
- Gold Panning & Prospecting
- Rocking on the Computer
- The World in Miniature
- Special Effects
- Fluorescent Minerals
- Reaching Across Generations
- Maps
TGMS Rockhounds receive a “Future Rockhounds of America” patch when they start the program. Each unit has its own badge, earned when the requirements for that unit are met. There’s another patch after you earn six badges, and those completing all twenty earn a cloisonne AFMS pin!
The Junior Rockhounds program is only one of the ways we reach out to kids. We are willing to provide demonstrations and activities for schools and other educational groups, such as Boy Scouts, 4-H, and the like. If you’re interested in one of these activities, contact us and we’ll see what we can do!
The AFMS Rockhounds Manual is available to download from their website.