Dunes photos and rockhounding class

First, here are the last few photos from last Sunday's dune hike. Each section of the dunes has its own unique beauty.






As many of you know, the Gitche Gumee Museum offers a rockhounding class. Although the specific design of the class varies slightly depending on the needs and desires of the group, there is one arrangement that has proven the test of time. Here are a few shots from the field trip portion of the class I ran for a family from Cadillac, MI this past Monday. This normal itinerary starts at the museum using a microscope. The more people understand beach rocks -- the more successful they are in finding agates. We use the microscope to learn about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Then we use a box of specimens to teach agate characteristics. Next we head to the beach to compete in a friendly game to collect and present a list of rocks. Then, we return to the museum where participants pick out a free Lake Superior agate. Finally, we show the "wowser" rocks, which are my favorite rocks. These specimens facilitate more learning about agates. The charge for the class is $25 per hour for groups up to 6 people.