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.

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. REGISTRATION DEADLINE: July 7, 2026

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 - Suggested Supplies:

-wagon or cart -hard hat

-hat and head netting -reflective vest

-sturdy boots -eye protection / safety glasses

-water shoes -garden or work gloves

-long pants -buckets and packing material for wrapping crystals (bubble wrap, newspaper, etc)

-flashlight / UV light -digging tools (hammer or mallet, screwdriver or chisel, spade or shovel)

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 on your own there. Contact the Copper Country Rock and Mineral Club at ccrmc.info for places to collect in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

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. Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club for show information.

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

Schedule of Seaman Museum Events:

Monday, August 3

9am – 6:45pm: Gift Shop Sale & Extended Hours – All customers will receive 15% off* their purchases in the gift shop - ONE DAY ONLY! *Admission not subject to discount. Some exclusions apply. Discounts cannot be combined.

7pm – 8pm: Evening lecture presented by Dr. John Rakovan, Senior Museum Curator at the New Mexico Mineral Museum. His talk will be about “New insights into the structure and formation of wire silver and gold.” This will be held in the building right across the parking lot from the museum called the Alumni Center (formerly the Advanced Technology Development Complex).

Wednesday, August 5

10am – 4pm: Annual Surplus Sale where minerals and other items will fall into 3 pricing tiers: price as marked, 20% off and 40% off. This will be held at the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum in our outdoor area just past the parking lot.

Friday, August 7

9am - 5pm: Non-perishable Food Drive to benefit the Husky Food Access Network at Michigan Tech. Bring in 3 items to receive free admission for 1 person!

Please see the Seaman Museum website for event details

Welcome to the Kalamazoo Geological & Mineral Society (KGMS)