Gem & Fossil Event & Expedition – Second Nature at Reads Creek Nursery

OUR BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR
This is Driftless outdoor education at its finest! Join us at the nursery to go on a journey through time, as you learn about the rocks and fossils found in the Driftless Area.

FUN FOR ALL
-View a trilobite collection, and a collection of fossils from the Driftless Area
-Redlou Bus will be here with all sorts of books on rocks, fossils, gems, and other related topics that you can check out
-We will be having flint knapping demonstrations on site from 9 am to 4 pm, and these amazing stone artists will also have unique items for sale
-There will be a large display of fossils and rocks mostly from Vernon and Crawford Counties
-Unopened geodes will be for sale, and we can cut them open on site to see what is inside
-For a little extra bling, Face Painting by Kwyn will be here painting fun designs on people of all ages for a small fee
-Fossils and assorted larger gems will also be for sale throughout the day
-We will have handmade soaps with embedded crystals for sale in the gift shop
-Kramer’s Kustom Blasting will be on site with samples of his sandblasted stone designs

PAID EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS

In addition to the above activities, the highlight of the day will be three fun and educational expeditions.

Retired geologist Al Scheer will be having mini lesson on trilobites to start the expedition, where participants can see fossils up close and ask questions. On a second stop along the expedition, our flint knappers will explain the process for stone selection and how they create arrowheads. Then Clint will give a presentation on druzy quartz and the fossils that can be found in the Driftless Region, and he will lead us on an on-site fossil and druzy quartz hike. Participants can ask questions about fossil hunting in the Driftless and learn more about druzy quartz.

After all of that excitement, there will be gem mining on the beach after the hike is done. (We will be seeding the beach between classes with an incredible collection of semi-precious gems and stones). Paid participants will go home whatever gems they find, a few rocks or fossils they can find along the way in Druzy Valley, and the satisfied glow of an afternoon spent exploring and learning in our beautiful valley.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR EXPEDITIONS
-Wear clothing that can get wet and/or dirty as we will be going into the water to pan for gems, and hiking across shallow creek areas
-Rubber boots or water shoes are a good option for footwear
-A good expedition hat for sun protection might be beneficial
-Bug spray
-A dry set of clothes for the ride home would be a good idea, especially for excited adventure seekers
-We will provide a small bag in which to take home your gem treasures
**Portions of the hike will be uneven and rocky, and there will be a few steep, rocky steps you may wish to climb, so please plan accordingly

FOOD OPTIONS
-RC TACOS FOOD TRUCK will be here with a wide range of authentic Mexican cuisine
-ICE CREAM ON 14 will have hand dipped ice cream and cool treats for us

SIGN UP FOR EXPEDITIONS

We will have a limited number of slots for expeditions at 10am, noon, and 2pm. Last year, these sold out very quickly. Expedition tickets are $15/person. Children under 4 can participate at no cost. You do NOT need to purchase a ticket to participate in all of the other fun activities listed under FUN FOR ALL above…only if you wish to do the educational expedition/hike.

For expedition tickets, go to: SecondNatureAtReadsCreek.com/store and choose your desired time slot.

QUESTIONS?
For more information or questions, please contact Karen at: karen@secondnatureatreadscreek.com
(608) 629-5975