The newest recreation activity at Jellystone Parks is
Gem Mining. Four locations recently added a mining sluice
and it’s fast becoming a hit!
The sluice is a
trough where water recirculates over and over again
by means of a pump. The kids purchase a bag of mining
rough enriched with gems, fossils, and emeralds and
rubies from all over the world. They take their bag
to the sluice and sift through it. The water washes
the sand away and what is left is all the pretty gems
and fossils that they get to keep. Each panner also
receives an identification brochure so they can take
it home and identify all their new gems. It is said
that at one time or another every kid in America will
have a rock collection of some sort.
This activity combines young people’s
sense of adventure and discovery with their continuing
thirst for knowledge. Kids love identifying what they
find. The best part is they keep everything
they reveal. Every bag is different so
it will be an activity they’ll want to repeat.
