events

Scenes from Summer Festival 2015

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Summer Fest 2015 at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals was a resounding success with more than a thousand in attendance in spite of high temperatures and road closures in the area. Rock clubs and groups from around the Pacific Northwest were there to provide educational fun as well with geode cracking and gold panning among the many highlights. Vendors from around the country offered a wide range of rocks, minerals, and gems for every type of interest for collector or jewelry lover. The children’s area brought glue, paper, ribbons, and beads together with rocks for some creative artwork. Fred and Wilma Flintstone were there for the entire weekend, entertaining children in the Flintmobile and exploring the ancient rocks and fossils on display. Many children enjoyed exploring the rock cave. Curator Leslie Moclock and volunteer Barb Epstien kept the silent auction going through the busy weekend, with many auction winnings bringing treasures back with children and adults. Many people went home with more rock and jewelry prizes in the hourly drawings. Thanks to all the vendors, rock clubs, exhibitors, sponsors, and the many volunteers for a great weekend. Without all of you, this special annual event would not happen. Much of the thanks go to you, our members, and fans. Your continuing support keeps us going and helps to provide world class exhibits and diverse educational programs all year long. If you are not a member, consider becoming a member.

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2015 Fossil Fest Speakers and Activities

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The 10th Annual Northwest Fossil Fest at the Rice Northwest Museum is this weekend, sponsored by NARG, the North American Research Group. The Theme this year is The Pleistocene Epoch and they have a round of amazing speakers and presentations that will tickle your fossil fancy. The lecture schedule for Saturday is: 11:00am – “The Beringia Land Mass of the Ice Age” by Greg Carr/NARG member 12:30pm – “The Yamhill Pleistocene Project” by Mike Full, Director of the Yamhill River Pleistocene Project 2:00pm – “Ice Age Fossils in Woodburn, Oregon” by Dave Ellingson, Educator, Woodburn High School, Oregon David Ellingson, Willamette Valley Pleistocene Project David Ellingson will be speaking on the Pleistocene peat bog found on the campus of Woodburn High School, and founded the Willamette Valley Pleistocene Project. The project has gained national recognition and acclaim with articles like “Biology teacher has a bone to pick with awareness” and “Digging Up Dirt on the Past” in the Woodburn News locally. The high school science teacher is lucky to have an Ice Age dig site right on the school campus, and Ellingson uses it to bring to life their archaeology and geology studies. He leads fossil hunt field trips throughout the Willamette Valley. The students have found mammoth tracks, evidence of baby mammoths, possible horn core of a Bison latrifons, sloth, horse, and mastodon, and other animal fossils, as well as evidence of an animal with a seven-foot horn span. The following is a 30 second, time-lapse video of a dig in 2013 called the Woodburn Fossil Rescue Dig by NARG.

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Thanks to Our Summer Festival Sponsors

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Summer Festival 2015 is getting closer; August 1-2 is just a few days away. An event this large would not be possible without the generous support of our community friends and sponsors. We are proud to introduce you to some of those sponsors for our Summer Festival 2015. Pumkpin Ridge Golf Club Prehistoric, Lincoln City, Oregon New Seasons, Hillsboro, Oregon Elmers, Hillsboro, Oregon Resers Fine Foods Longbottom Coffee and Tea Harry and David, Lincoln City Oregon Hazelnuts Marketing Board, Aurora, Oregon Outback Steakhouse, Barnes Road Shari’s Restaurant, 185th Avenue Furrow Farm Tree Farm, Hillsboro Grocery Outlet – Hillsboro -Grocery Store on Facebook Thanks to their generosity, we have great raffle prizes and freebies for participants. These all help support the educational programming at the Rice Northwest Museum. Be sure and stop by these businesses and thank them for their continued support of the Rice Northwest Museum and rock and mineral community of the Pacific Northwest. IMPORTANT ROAD CONSTRUCTION ALERT:  Please note that Helvetia Road will be closed August 8, 2015 because of construction.  Not to worry!  Just follow our detour instructions and be alert for detour signs to guide you to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and the 2015 Summer Festival.

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Northwest Fossil Fest at the Rice Northwest Museum

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The Northwest Fossil Fest sponsored by the North America Research Group (NARG) will take place at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals on Saturday, August 8, 2015, from 10 AM to 5 PM. The Theme for the 10th Annual Northwest Fossil Fest is The Pleistocene Epoch! The event is free for families to learn about fossils, fossil collecting, preparation, identification, and display. The event includes lectures and demonstrations, including presentations by Mike Full and Dave Ellingson.  Mike will discuss some of his recent important discoveries from the Yamhill River Pleistocene Project and will have some of his Ice Age mammal bone discoveries on display.  Dave, a science teacher at Woodburn High School, will talk about major fossil discoveries from a bog deposit on grounds of the Woodburn Campus.  The Woodburn discoveries are part of the exciting Willamette Valley Pleistocene Project.  The lecture schedule will be published soon. Paleontologists will be on hand identify fossils and to show kids of all ages how to clean and prepare fossils.  There will be lots of hands on activities and this is a great event for families and fossil fans.  Attendance for the Fossil Fest includes free admission to the museum. For more information and up-to-the-minute information see Northwest Fossil Fest. IMPORTANT ROAD CONSTRUCTION ALERT:  Please note that Helvetia Road will be closed August 8, 2015 because of construction.  Please follow our detour instructions and be alert for detour signs to guide you to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and the 2015 NW Fossil Fest.

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2015 Summer Festival: A preview of our vendors, exhibitors, and food

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The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals’ Annual Summer Festival is right around the corner on August 1-2, 2015, and we have a fantastic list of vendors, exhibits, and rock clubs coming to dazzle everyone. We are honored to have exhibits and representatives of the following rock, gem, and mineral clubs at Summer Festival. They will be presenting a variety of demonstrations with activities for children and families as well. Tualatin Valley Rock and Gem Club Clackamette Mineral and Gem Columbia Willamette Faceters Guild Mount Hood Rock Club Northwest Mineral Prospector’s Club (NWMPC) OAMS – Oregon Agate & Mineral Society Fred and Wilma Flintstone will be there the whole weekend with their Flintmobile giving “rides” to kids of all ages. Come get your photograph taken with these amazing living cartoon characters and rockhounds. OMSI will have an exhibit exploring the science of rocks and minerals. We have a wide range of vendors bringing their beautiful rocks, minerals, fossils, and gemstones for you to buy as well as demonstrations of lapidary and jewelry making.  Our exhibitors include the following: Sharleen Harvey “Days Past” with Marian Carroll “Earthly Treasures” with Jim and Sherry Smith “Fred and Wilma Flintstone” with Mitch Metcalf “Global Mineral” with Krista Dennis “Grand Products, Ltd” with Boris Chen and Ellen Law “Nature’s Art” with Mikala Eslinger “Rare Earth Exploration” with Austin Arp Steve Falconbury “The 3rd Rock” with Alise Lundmark “Treasures by Tilgner” with Lamar and Merlia Tilgner “Viper Lapidary” with Tiffany Jackson “Art and Artifact” with Paul Foulon “Lost Viking” with Eric Chilson “Camelsmith Gems” with Len Rummel “Martell and Martell Rock Shop” with Brian and Peggy Martell “F-R-O-G Creations” with Sandy Metheany “The Hummingbird Kisser” with Kimberly Brown Food trucks by  Momo’s Hawaiian Shave Ice (Saturday) and Alvaros Tacos (Sunday) will be there for the hungry masses.  And we are thrilled to have Jerico Road joining us for some lively musical entertainment Sunday as well. The fun starts Saturday, August 1, at 10 AM and goes through Sunday, August 2 at 5 PM. We look forward to seeing you there! IMPORTANT ROAD CONSTRUCTION ALERT:  Please note that Helvetia Road will be closed August 8, 2015 because of construction.  Not to worry!  Just follow our detour instructions and be alert for detour signs to guide you to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and the 2015 Summer Festival.

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July 10: Photomicrography Techniques at Geological Society of Oregon Country Meeting

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Julian Gray will be presenting “Digital Specimen Photography for Geologists,” a presentation on macrophotography and photomicrography, the photographing of things at the microscope level. The event will be at the Portland State University as part of the Geological Society of Oregon Country events. Geologists constantly need to depict rocks, minerals, and fossils for presentations and publications. Digital photography has extended the range of possibilities in illustrating samples. One common problem, reduced depth of field at high magnifications, is easily overcome using stacking techniques. This technique uses sharply focused portions of sequential photographs focused on different slices or stacks to produce a synthesized images in which the subject is crisply focused. Julian Gray, executive director of the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, is a geologist and semi-professional photographer specializing in photomicrography. He has experimented extensively with photographing through microscopes and using stacking techniques and others to produce stunning images with extensive depth of field, bringing sand, crystals, minerals, and even salt to life and shine like diamonds. Julian’s images have been published in mineral magazines and books. He is also the co-author and contributing photographer of the upcoming book, Minerals of Georgia. For more information and directions, see their site for details.

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July 7: Columbia Willamette Faceter’s Guild Lecture

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NOTE: TIME AND PLACE CHANGE The event begins at 7PM at the Rice Northwest Museum NOT at OMSI Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Mineral’s Executive Director, Julian Gray will be speaking at the July 7, 2015, Columbia Willamette Faceter’s Guild on the history of the museum founders. The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals began as the personal collection of two avid rockhounds: Richard and Helen Rice. Richard and Helen’s love of rock collecting began on Agate Beach, were they discovered that ordinary pebbles could be turned into beautiful gemstone treasures. They collected rocks and minerals and learned to polish gems. They also became active in local and regional rock clubs. But their legacy is the museum that bears their name. Richard and Helen built their dream home with built in display cases for their collection and rooms dedicated to polishing gems and making jewelry. The museum’s director, Julian Gray, will take you on a visual tour of the Rice NW Museum and the unique building that houses this remarkable collection. The event will be at 7PM at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro. 7:30PM at OMSI in Portland, Oregon. For more information, see the guild’s site. Julian Gray is a geologist, former curator of the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, and co-author of the upcoming book, Minerals of Georgia. He holds a Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in geology from Georgia State University. He relocated to Oregon in 2014 to take the reins of the Rice Northwest Museum.

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2015 Summer Festival August 1-2

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Join us for the 12th Annual Summer Festival on Saturday and Sunday, August 1-2, 2015, 10AM to 5PM, at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals. The weekend event includes vendors with minerals, fossils, gems, jewelry, gold panning, lapidary demonstrations, geode cutting, and a variety of activities for the young and old. There will be local food available for purchase and live music, and the famous Flintstones Mobile will make an appearance. On Saturday only, from 11 AM to 1 PM, Mrs. Delicia Wistrand, Mrs Oregon America will be attending Summer Fest. A silent auction, raffles, and door prizes will be held throughout the day. Admission is $5 for adults, free for students 17 years old and under. A great experience for the whole family! Bring your inner rock hound and join us for a fabulous Summer Festival. Belong to a local school or rock club? Download and print and share the Rice NW Museum 2015 Summer Fest Flyer. IMPORTANT ROAD CONSTRUCTION ALERT:  Please note that Helvetia Road will be closed August 8, 2015 because of construction.  Not to worry!  Just follow our detour instructions and be alert for detour signs to guide you to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and the 2015 Summer Festival.

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Thunder-Egg-Stravaganza April 4, 2015

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On Saturday, April 4, come to the museum for our thunderegg hunt! Find whole thundereggs and plastic eggs to redeem for prizes. We will have free thunderegg cutting all day so you can discover what lies inside your find! Additionally, come see a talk on Thundereggs of the Pacific Northwest at 11 AM or 1 PM, as well as our regular museum tour at 2 PM. Event details: Saturday, April 4, from 10 AM – 5 PM $5 admission (children 4 and under are free) We will cut up to two thundereggs per visitor. Please no outside eggs.

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Tualatin Valley Rock and Gem Club 57th Annual Rock and Mineral Show

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The Tualatin Valley Rock and Gem Club will be hosting the 57th Annual Rock and Mineral Show on March 13-15, 2015, Friday – Sunday, at the Washington Country Fairplex in Hillsboro, Oregon, near the Hillsboro Airport. The show features a wide range of rocks, minerals, gems, jewelry, fossils, dealers, and supplies, with exhibits, demonstrations, door prizes, and a kid’s corner. The rock show is open to families with general admission $1, children under 12 free with adult.

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