Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals
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Welcome back to school from Rice NW Museum!
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Field Trips:
Field trip registration for the 2018-2019 school year is open! Visit our For Teachers page to book now. Rice Museum field trips adhere to Next Generation Science Standards for elementary students. We take group reservations for up to 120 participants for tours in the mornings while we are closed to the public. Financial aid is available for low income schools thanks to the generosity of our donors. Dates are filling quickly, so book soon to ensure availability! Tour dates are available through July 2019.
New! Small School & Home School Tours:
New this year, we are excited to pilot a Small School & Home School Tour program! It’s fulfills all the same educational benchmarks as our tours for large school groups, but you can purchase individual spaces on the tour for smaller groups. This program is designed with small, nonprofit private schools, Montessori Going Out, and families that home school in mind. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
Job Announcement: Curator
The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, seeks a curator to manage, maintain, and promote the museum’s collection of rocks, minerals, fossils, gems, and meteorites. The curator must have the technical and managerial skills and expertise required to maintain, display, and enhance the Museum’s extensive collections and associated records. The position requires a dynamic person with a proven ability to translate the mineral collection into accessible and compelling exhibits and teaching tools or programs.
Competencies & Experience Requirements:
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in geology, Master’s or PhD preferred.
At least 2 years technical experience in mineral sciences involving education, curation and/or collection management with a detailed knowledge of mineral collection management.- Proficiency in basic personal computer applications.
- Basic knowledge of scientific mineralogical equipment.
- Proficiency in the use of both verbal and written English language.
- An ability to convey excitement about the value of earth sciences to scholars and novices alike. The curator must be as comfortable with people as with minerals and be capable of introducing one to the other.
Full job description and details are available at https://ricenorthwestmuseum.org/contact/job-seekers/
TO APPLY: Please email your resume and cover letter to careers@ricenorthwestmuseum.org or mail job materials to Julian C. Gray, Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, 26385 NW Groveland Drive, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124. Application materials must be received by October 8, 2018. No phone calls, please.
Rice Museum’s Summer Fest – August 4 & 5, 2018
Our 15th annual Summer Fest 2018 will be at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals Saturday and Sunday, August 4-5, 2018. The hours are 10 AM – 5 PM. Admission is $6 for everyone ages 5 and up!
Geodes and other minerals and rocks for sale at vendor booths. The outdoor festival features a wide variety of rock, mineral, gem, jewelry, and fossil dealers. We will have food for purchase, live music, and plenty of fun family activities.
Rock clubs from around the region will be offering wonderful educational displays, demonstrations, and activities.
Come early and stay the whole day. The entire museum will be open during this event, so you can explore all our displays after browsing vendors’ tents and creating a “pet rock.” Bring a picnic lunch or enjoy the refreshments at the museum.
It’s a perfect event to spend with friends and family. Bring them all!
Win a Dream Trip to Tuscany!
Congratulations to our winner, Steve T.!
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals is offering a chance for a dream trip of a lifetime to Tuscany, Italy. This vacation is valued at $5600.00.
Up to six people can stay in the Tuscan countryside in a three bedroom Private Villa, right in the heart of Tuscany. Property perfectly nestled among the rolling hills surrounding the ancient Etruscan town of Cortona, the ideal place to spend a getaway in the spirit of nature, beauty, relaxation and wine and food. You’ll be hosted by locals who can assist with all your needs.
Trip Includes:
– 7 nights in a 3 bedroom private countryside villa
– Welcome with your local assistant and personal introduction to Cortona
– Walking tour of Cortona with a professional guide
– Private wine tasting in traditional enoteca in the town center with professional sommelier
– Pre-arrival and in-house local English speaking concierge and booking services
– All visitor taxes, consumption fees (heating etc)
The winner will be announced at 8:00 PM during at our July 14, 2018 Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction. Your attendance is encouraged, but not required.
These tickets won’t last long since there are only 100 tickets available, so get yours today!
Restrictions:
– Valid September 15- May 15.
– Subject to availability when you book (no more than 9 months in advance of
travel). NOT valid Christmas or Easter break.
– Vacation is transferable.
– Must book by May 31, 2019.
– Trip does not include airfare.
Volcano Day is June 2, 2018!
New this year, we are partnering with the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory to bring you science and family fun at Volcano Day at the Rice Museum.
On Saturday, June 2, 2018, CVO scientists will give short talks throughout the day on our Cascades volcanoes and volcano science. Have a question about the volcanoes in your backyard? Wondering what’s going on with the eruption in Hawai’i? Ask the experts!
Hands-on activities for all ages will take place in our galleries and on the lawn. And don’t miss Trash-Cano, the explosive eruption demonstration that will happen after each talk!
Local collector Mike Medvec will also be displaying his extensive collection of memorabilia from the famous 1980 eruption at Mt. St. Helens.
Don’t miss the fun! Event runs 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Included with regular museum admission.
2018-2019 Beginning Gemstone Faceting Class Schedule
This class introduces the theory and techniques of faceting gemstones. During the course, students will facet one or two gemstones with material and equipment provided by the Columbia Willamette Faceters’ Guild. Students will gain sufficient knowledge and techniques to continue faceting on their own.
Where: Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Faceting Lab, 26385 NW Groveland Drive, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Class Fees: $150.00 per person and advanced payment is required to reserve your spot.
When: Consists of four classes from 12:00 PM -5:00 PM for a total of 20 hours of instruction. Classes are either 4 weeks of all Saturdays or 2 weeks of 2 Saturdays/2 Sundays. New this year! Session 5 (January) is a class of 4 Sundays.
You can cut, polish, and keep your own gemstone. All equipment and materials are provided.
2018-2019 Class Schedule:
First Session: September 15-16, 22-23, 2018- FULL
Second Session: October 3, 13, 20, & 27, 2018- FULL
Third Session: November 10-11, 17-28, 2018- FULL
Fourth Session: December 1-2, 8-9, 2018
Fifth Session: January 6, 13, 20, & 27, 2019
Sixth Session: February 16-17, 23-24, 2019
Seventh Session: March 9-10, 16-17, 2019
Eighth Session: March 30-31, April 6-7, 2019
Ninth Session: April 27, May 4, 11, & 18, 2019
2018 Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction Tickets on sale now!
The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals is hosting a benefit dinner. Please join us July 14, 2018 at 5:00 PM as we honor Mary and the late Dennis Murphy for their contributions and many years of support of the Rice Museum. Visit our event page to purchase tickets.
Dr. Terry C. Wallace, Jr., Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory and president of Los Alamos National Security, LLC, will give a presentation about the creation of gold in the universe through the collision of neutron stars. Other evening highlights will include a silent auction, a special appeal (paddle raise) to support our educational programs, a tribute to the late Rudy Tschernich, and dinner from The Hive Catering Co.
Tickets are $100 per seat. The event will take place at the Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center in Hillsboro.
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Margaret & Bob McMillan |
William H. & Diana Dameron |
Gail & Jim Spann |
Sharleen Rice Harvey & Family |
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Bruce Carter |
Fine Mineral Show
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Cedar House Media |
Gene & Roz Meieran |
Build My Baby Blanket |
The Hive Catering, Co. |
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Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce |
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Sponsorship Opportunities are available!
Sponsor a table to list your business on this page.
Thunder-Egg-Stravaganza 2018!
This event is SOLD OUT
Museum members contact us for advanced registration.
The egg hunt that “rocks” returns once again! Join us at Rice Museum on Saturday, March 31, 2018. Admission is $6 for everyone ages 5 and up, and includes admission to the museum galleries.
Your mission: locate 4 eggs of different colors around our property and redeem them for prizes. Our prize table includes 2000+ WHOLE thunder eggs and mystery bags of mineral goodies. We’ll have volunteers on site all day to cut your thunder eggs open for FREE so you can be the first to see the surprise inside.
Educational talks on thunder eggs in the Northwest will take place inside the museum at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Egg hunting is available all day.
NEW – ADVANCED ONLINE TICKET PURCHASE REQUIRED
Due to the overwhelming popularity of this event, we are requiring pre-purchased tickets to enter the museum grounds for this event. Members are admitted free, but must still reserve tickets. Since members get free admission and early registration opportunities, this is a good time to consider purchasing a membership. Your membership supports our educational programming and comes with great benefits.
NEW – MORNING AND AFTERNOON ADMISSIONS
We are limiting the number of tickets sold and offering two opportunities to attend Thunder-Egg-Stravaganza: a morning and afternoon admission window. If you purchase an AM ticket, you can get in through the front gate any time between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. If you purchase a PM ticket, you can get in through the front gate any time between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. We have plenty of thunder eggs and will not run out. The event will be the same all day long, regardless of whether you show up at 10:00 or 3:30.
This event is sold out!
Mystery Mineral Day- February 24, 2018!
Mystery Mineral Day is happening Saturday, February 24, 2018 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the museum.
A participant at Mystery Mineral Day 2017 had her treasures identified by Bruce.
A panel of experts will be ready and waiting for you to bring your unknown rocks, minerals, fossils, gems, and potential meteorites for identification.
Have you always wondered what to call that cool crystal you picked up on a hike that one day? Did you inherit a collection, but it’s missing some labels? Do you think you may have found a fossil bone or a rock from outer space? Our experts are volunteering at this event just for you, so don’t be shy. Come on by!
This event is included with general admission. Admission is $12.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors, and $8.00 for students (ages 5-17) and veterans/active military. Children 4 and under are free.