Welcome to the Kalamazoo Geological & Mineral Society (KGMS)
The 2026 KGMS Rock & Gem Show is May 1-3, 2026, more info on the Show page
Kalamazoo Geological and Mineral Society (KGMS) sponsored field trips are open to those members in good standing. Attendance may be limited for some trips and prior registration may be required. Safety gear and protocols MUST be followed by all who participate. Contact Linda for more information regarding field trips or ideas for trip locales.
May Field Trips
May 16, 2026 (Saturday), Sylvania Fossil Park, Sylvania OH Time: 10am - 2pm (KIDS DAY)
Hosted by: Kalamazoo Geological and Mineral Society
Please email lindabergeon@yahoo.com to let Linda know you plan to attend
Location: Sylvania Fossil Park, 5705 Centennial Rd, Sylvania, OH 43560. This site is ADA accessible. There are benches, picnic tables and restrooms at this location. No trees or shade in the collecting area.
Cost: Free
What You Will Find: 375 million year old marine fossils such as brachiopods, corals and trilobites.
What You Will Need: a brush to scrub your fossils (water provided), chair (optional), sunscreen, beverages and a brown bag lunch. Also, bring a container to put your fossils in. Egg cartons work well.
Dress Code: Wear sturdy shoes, hat. No safety gear needed.
Lodging: Not Needed. This is a day trip.
Other Notes: Tools prohibited. This is a great time for families to have fun fossil hunting. Parents and Grandparents- bring the special kids in your life for a day of treasure hunting. Linda will be available to identify fossils. Linda will have first aid kit and may bring a canopy for group.
June Field Trips
June 27, 2026 (Saturday), Lighthouse Park, Port Huron Area Time: 10am
Hosted by: Kalamazoo Geological and Mineral Society
Please email lindabergeon@yahoo.com to let Linda know you plan to attend
Location: Lighthouse Park. Linda will provide directions as we are not going to the main area that charges for parking. There are picnic tables and restrooms at this location.
Cost: TBD. There are no entry fees or parking fees where we will be going.
What You Will Find: Petoskey Stones, Horn Corals, Pudding Stones, quartz, quartzite, green jasper, granite, flow agate and more!
What You Will Need: We will be parking along the road so a wagon of sort would be advisable. Water shoes (optional)
Dress Code: None
Lodging: Not Needed. This is a day trip. It's approx. a 3-hour drive one way. This would be a good trip to carpool.
Other Notes: Bring a dish to pass for a picnic. Make it cold items that can be kept in your cooler. Linda will provide brats and dogs to grill. We will hunt, have lunch and hunt more. Spend time as little or long as you like. No attendance limit or age restriction. Families are encouraged to participate. FOR SAFETY, THERE WILL BE NO SWIMMING ALLOWED DURING CLUB SPONSORED EVENT.
July-August Field Trips
July 25-August 2 Around Lake Superior United States/Canada
Hosted by: Kalamazoo Geological and Mineral Society
Please email Lindabergeon@yahoo.com to let Linda know you plan to attend
Location: Various sites around Lake Superior including Sault Saint Marie, MI, Marathon, Ontario, Thunder Bay, Canada, Keweenaw Peninsula and Ishpeming, MI
Cost: TBD
Lodging: 2 nights in Marathon, Ontario, 2 nights in Thunder Bay, Ontario, 1 night in the Keweenaw, MI area, 3 nights in Ishpeming, MI
What You Will Need: TBD
What You Will Find and Other Notes: A schedule of stops is below. Ishpeming, MI is the heart of Iron mining district, Keweenaw Peninsula is the heart of Copper mining district
Saturday, July 25 --Travel Day Meeting at "Antlers Restaurant" in Sault Ste. Marie for lunch but not mandatory. Time TBD. North into Canada I have a short excursion I am working on for the afternoon (TBD), on private property, for a couple hours. We then will head to Marathon, Ontario, Canada, to check into our accommodations for 2 nights and meet for dinner.
Sunday, July 26 --Hunting for Yooperlites. Daytime and evening.
Monday, July 27 --Travel to Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. You can travel at your own leisure and make unplanned stops.
You will check into your accommodations for 2 nights.
Tuesday, July 28 -- Collect Amethyst as long as you like at Thunder Bay. Name of mine TBD
Wednesday, July 29 --We will make a stop in Wisconsin for concretions then travel to the Keweenaw Peninsula and do some hunting there.
Thursday, July 30 -- More hunting in the Peninsula and possibly visit to the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum. We leave late afternoon for Ishpeming, where we will meet for dinner at 6:30 PM kick-off dinner at Jerzi's 41 which is located at 9965 US Highway 41, Champion, MI. with those that will be going to the UP fieldtrip only.
Friday July 31 -- Collect in the Ishpeming area.
Saturday Aug. 1--. Rock Show at Ishpeming Elks Club, 597 Lakeshore Drive, Ishpeming, MI. 9:00 am - 3:30 pm, Free Admission and door prizes and collecting afterwards.
Sunday Aug 2-- This may be a travel day for those that want to head home or possibly a collecting day for those that want to stay. TBD.
Keweenaw Week 2026
Dates: August 3, 2026 to August 8, 2026
Host: Copper Country Rock & Mineral Club
Locations: Keweenaw Peninsula, MI (Copper Country)
What You Will Find: Copper, Prehnite, agate, Datolite, Epidote and Copper related minerals
Dress Code: Long pants and sturdy boots. Water shoes or high rubber boots if hunting along the shoreline are strongly suggested
Lodging: There are several choices from hotels to camprounds in the Houghton/Hancock area and you may stay where you wish.
Details: The Copper Country Rock and Mineral club' s schedule is posted on the club website ccrmc.info