Juniorsdisplay

NFMS JUNIOR DISPLAY EDUCATION TRAINING

The idea for this training originated from the concern that our NFMS Junior members are not learning about displaying or participating in competition. Displaying the material they have collected, whether self collected or purchased from commercial dealers, can be accomplished with this simple set of guidelines designed for Juniors. These guidelines are meant to be used at the Club level for local show displaying.

It is believed that this stepping stone or training facilitation needs to be different and not completely based on the current Uniform Rules. What matters is that Juniors of all ages have a chance to learn about competition outside the AFMS Uniform Rules in a structured environment that will eventually lead the Junior into competition. The highly detailed and refined AFMS Uniform Rules now in place are too complex for most Junior members to begin using with confidence.

What is desired is that our Federation Clubs will use these general guidelines to hold a simple and fun “competition” where any Junior can participate. The point here is not to “dumb down” the element of competition, but rather to facilitate interest in making the best possible display. The guidelines are designed with display categories, age grouping, judging, points and ribbons. Displays must be a Junior's own work and effort, with coaching from a parent, guardian, or sponsor. Rules of participation are kept simple and aimed at the Junior level. Simplicity will prevent intimidation and permit the Junior to be more confident and hence be more likely to begin competition. Juniors can participate as often as they want to practice. These guidelines are not intended to distract or prohibit any Junior from entering formal NFMS Show competition under the AFMS Uniform Rules any time they wish to start competition.

Judging will be education centered so the Junior will have written feedback for points taken off. If there are no experienced judges available at the Club level in local shows, then adult members who have display experience plus the ability to have patience and communication with Juniors or appointments by the Club President would be doing the local judging. Literally all judging criticisms would need to be fully explained so the Junior will have a primer to improve and work from. The main point will be the creation of a continuum of "soft" facilitation into the AFMS Uniform Rules now in place. People have fun when they are supported, but will usually not perform when there is negativity or fear that creates insecurity, even if it is just their hobby! This “practice” should build confidence in the Junior displayer to enter competition at Northwest Federation Shows.

NOTE TO PARENTS

We hope that you will work with your child or children if they have an interest in displaying their material. These guidelines are to assist you in understanding the process of entering a non-competitive display in your local club show. It is very important to have your support. Please ask questions and learn how to create an excellent display for the public to appreciate!

PART 1. GENERAL GEM & MINERAL NON-COMPETITIVE SHOW DISPLAY GUIDELINES

1.1 Decide what you want to display:

a. What do you like to collect?

b. Specimens from a special field trip?

c. What is the show subject or theme?

d. What will make your display “special”?
(unique, best quality, complete collection, dramatic specimen, favorite).

e. Examples of your lapidary skills? (carving, cabs, faceting).

f. Have you made jewelry or gem trees?

1.2 Communications from your display:

a. Present your display as if you are speaking to a new friend that you have not met yet. ("public speaking")

b. Purpose of your display is sharing the art of nature, public education and promoting your interests and club hobby.

c. Keep it simple without too much wording.

d. Coordinate colors that are pleasant to your eye & highlight your specimens.

e. Avoid use of excess “props” (feathers, sticks, photos, glass or plastics, wood, metal) in your case because they steal attention from specimens.

1.3 Specimens you decide to display:

a. All same material or different types of gems or minerals.

b. Size may be large, small, uniform or mixed.

c. Quality should always be the very best you can provide.

d. Number of specimens should be just enough to make your display easy to
view and not look too “busy” or over filled.

e. Large specimens in back of display case, smaller in front.

f. Always wash/clean your specimens before placing in case.

1.4 Labeling your display:

a. Always have accurate names, correct spelling, punctuation and information.
To help avoid mistakes, proof read twice, then ask someone to read labels.

b. Use uniform size of lettering on the labels and make letters large enough to read
at about two feet from the front of case.

c. Individual labels for each specimen should include correct name of mineral
and origin or where found. When found is optional if personally collected.
Also can include chemical composition, but difficult to print on labels.

d. If all material in case is the same, identify on label at back or floor of case.

e. All lettering should be typed or laser printed on durable cardstock type paper
rather than hand written. Plastic covered labels are too reflective.

f. Include your name & age in case UNLESS using AFMS Uniform Rules.

1.5 Display case for your specimens:

a. Good cases are hard to find so begin by borrowing a club case for the show.

b. Typical cases are the Federation Model which are about two feet high, two feet deep
and four feet wide, with glass front. Dimensions vary slightly
because there are different builders.

c. Your case should always have a liner that is lighter color (white or pastels are
best) than the dominant colors of your specimens. Dark or “flashy” liners will
distract from the color effects of the displayed specimens.

d. Wash hands before installing liner in case to prevent finger prints.

e. Best lighting is clear, incandescent bulbs or tube fluorescent bulbs that are
“cool white” type, not to exceed 150 watts total per case.

f. After you have arranged and labeled the specimens, be sure to clean the inside
of the front glass before securing to front of case.

PART 2. DISPLAY AGE GROUPS

2.0 Age 4, 5, 6 & 7

2.1 Age 8, 9, 10 & 11

2.2 Age 12, 13, 14 & 15; Above 15 use AFMS Uniform Rules. AFMS Junior defined
as having reached 8th birthday & not yet reached your 18th birthday.

PART 3. DISPLAY CATEGORIES

3.0 Self Collected Specimens--any type, size or location. (must include name and location found. Date helpful if available)

3.1 Minerals--micro, fluoro or any size, type or location. (must include name and location)

3.2 Educational--any relevant to rockhounding or rock uses. (brief, to the point wording is best)

3.3 Lapidary--tumble, polish, slice, faceting or carving. (must include name of material)

3.4 Jewelry or Gem Trees. (must name stones, enamels or metals used)

3.5 Fossils--any type, size or location. (identify name (genus & specie), location, age, or era if available)

PART 4. JUDGING CATEGORIES AND POINTS

4.0 Showmanship--overall appearance, detail, arrangement 30 points. (Will your display stand out amongst the others?)

4.1 Workmanship-- lapidary, jewelry, specimen preparation 20 points. (How neat and distinct is your work?)

4.2 Labeling--individual labels, one label, group labels 10 points. (Accuracy? Deduct up to 2 points per error)

4.3 Quality--color, size, rarity, definitive/classic specimen. 20 points. (Are your specimens the best you can find?)

4.4 Educational Value--maps, graphs, print, history, uses 20 points. (Will the viewer learn something from your display?)

PART 5. AWARDS

5.0 Blue Ribbon 90-100 points.

5.1 Red Ribbon 80-89 points.

5.2 White Ribbon 70-79 points.
60-69 points. No ribbon, but a thank you for participating note along with the judging sheet of detailed explanations that are "soft". Below 60 points. Would not be judged, but the displayer would need counsel from judges or judging director/assistant along with the parent or guardian or sponsor all at the same time to insure that they would try again with support rather than hard feelings. There will be no trophies awarded until the Junior participates in competition under the AFMS Uniform Rules at the Northwest Federation Show. The points used for this program are for training only and are not equivalent to the points system used with AFMS Uniform Rules. Remember, this program is designed for beginners training, when you enter your display in competition at a Federation Show, be sure you ONLY use the current updated AFMS Uniform Rules that are available from your NFMS Supplies Chairman.

PART 6. REFERENCES - SOURCES FOR CORRECT NAMES, SPELLING AND COMPOSITIONS
(Available through your NFMS Supplies Chairman)

1. AFMS Mineral Classification List (most recent update)

2. AFMS Approved Reference List of Lapidary Material Names (updated)

3. AFMS Approved Reference List of Classifications and Common Names for Fossils (most recent update)

Field Trip "SAFETY FIRST"
by Gary Buhr

Rockhounds go on field trips to have fun, enjoy the outdoors and Rock Club prospectors, discover new specimens or dig sites and return with a greater sense of well being, regardless of how stiff and sore we may be the next day! The education and benefits of a field trip cannot be found anywhere else. To help your success, simply remember "ABC", Always Be Careful and employ the following generalized Safety Tips:

(1.) PLAN AHEAD and consider where you are going. Communicate your plans to someone and when you expect to return. Drive a dependable vehicle with plenty fuel. Is your field trip during bird or animal hunting season?
(2.) BE SURE you know where you are going or have a guide that does so you will not become lost. Go with a group like the WSMC who publishes a schedule annually in February. Maps or a compass help if you know how to use them.
(3.) MEDICAL --Known issues such as diabetes, heart or vascular conditions, high BP and seizure potential should have medications available. First Aid Kits should always be present. Cell phones should not be depended on for emergency communication unless they are satellite phones. Take work gloves and extra dry socks to prevent blisters. Bug & insect repellent is helpful if you can tolerate it on your skin. Can you cope with the degree of difficulty the trip may present?
(4.) WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING suitable for the weather. Long denim pants are most appropriate unless summer wading in shorts & tennis shoes. Long sleeved shirts are best. Sturdy footwear to protect ankles or rubber boots for creeks and standing water. Hard hat or bicycle helmut if danger of small falling rocks. Safety goggles if flying rock chips from chisel & hammer. Rain gear is popular to keep dry, but difficult to work in. Sun protection like a wide brim straw/ventillated hat, long sleeves & pants and sunscreen. Dry pair(s) of socks prevent blisters and always feel good. Work gloves help prevent blisters, pinching & cuts from flying rock chips. Warm jacket is useful for rest periods or hiking in and out if the season is cool.
(5.) ACCESS--Be sure you have 100% permission for ingress & egress of private property and always close any gates you open. Be a good steward of the environment and NEVER damage public or private property. Learn and practice the AFMS Code of Ethics.
(6.) NEVER ENTER old mining shafts. Unstable trails on ridges or ledges may require roping together or a "buddy" system with hands; these are very risky. AVOID shear or undercut cliffs, unstable soils around an excavated hole, known "falling rock" areas, ice bridges and swift or engorged rivers that look like chocolate milk. Tree roots or branches are always risky to depend on if climbing, better to depend on nylon rope which is light & durable. Always consider how you will pack the treasures out. Leaverite?
(7.) BE ALERT if anyone is working above you on a steep hill or below you that may be hit by rolling rocks, falling rocks or a tool that slips away.
(8.) WALK carefully NEVER run with excitement at a dig site. You may fall on a sharp rock, trip into a hole or trip on a tool or root or injure someone else if running.
(9.) FILL HOLES you dig so that other prospectors, hoofed wild animals or cattle cannot fall into them and break their leg!
(10.) NEVER "move in" on another prospector's dig site unless you are invited or they depart without a claim. Serious source of conflict that could end in injury.
(11.) TOOLS --When using a pick, shovel, hammer or metal bar always be aware of who may be close to you or behind you, so you do not hit them accidentally with a tool, rocks or dirt.
(12.) FOOD --Pack enough food to supply your entire time on the field trip. Snack type carbohydrates are good muscle "fuel". Heavy protein or fat foods will slow your productivity when digging for treasures. NEVER eat berries, roots, leaves, mushrooms or wild vegetation unless you are absolutely sure of what you are eating. NEVER directly lick a rock because of contamination or poison mineral content.
(13.) WATER --Be careful of dehydration in a desert climate or if doing hard work you are not used to. Bring enough bottled water to replenish from sweating, especially in dry hot areas or summer seasons. If there is a breeze blowing you may not realize how much you are sweating and losing water from perspiration that evaporates. NEVER drink from creeks, lakes, ponds or eat snow because of abundant contamination from animal wastes or pollutants in the ecosystem that may be airborne as well as terrestrial.
(14.) FIRE & LITTER --Do you know the fire conditions posted by the Forest Service? Use extra care if smoking or building a campfire only in a safe fire pit with no tree branches overhead and be sure there is water to put it our completely after spreading the ashes. Remove any unburned material or litter that you bring or create on the trail or at the dig site.
(15.) JUNIORS and young children need to have a parent, guardian or advisor in constant sight to help them "be careful" and learn about the outdoor environment and what kind of treasures they are finding or looking for.
(16.) BEST SECURITY is when you go in a group because the noise and sight of a group is prone to discouraging an encounter with untamed creatures such as bears, coyotes, cougars, rattlesnakes or human predators. We need to be ever vigilant these days and hot pepper-mace or a "peacemaker" may be indicated for maximum security, especially if prospecting solo.
Regardless of how exciting your discoveries on the field trip are, "Always Be Careful" and your results will be more positive. Have fun, learn, enjoy and write an article about your adventure!

also see: NFMS Slide Program Library #S198 ("Doggone Safety's Important") www.canadianrockhound.com (Marilyn Fraser, 1998) NFMS Website or Northwest Newsletter (AFMS Code of Ethics)

NFMS JUNIORS COMMITTEE--10 Tips to Start a Juniors Rock Club
by Gary Buhr, Chairman, Spring 2005

1.) A Juniors Club can be a separate entity/name or a part of your regular Rock Club. May need to modify Bylaws or Club Constitution to make it official. This model is based on the success of Everett Rookie Rockhounds during the past 7 years growth where the Advisor interacts and leads the meeting. Some Juniors Clubs run their own meeting with Juniors as officers using Roberts Rules of Order, but that seems to be the minority pattern.

2.) It only takes one or two Juniors and a durable, consistent Advisor to begin. Growth will depend on demographics or population, convenience of meetings and how fun/enjoyable the meetings are. This is our hobby so be sure not to make your Juniors meetings seem like “boring” academic school class. A “hands on” meeting will occupy minds and prevent disturbances.

3.) Empower the imagination of the Juniors by making their meeting participatory rather than observatory. Making lapidary or rock/fossil related projects should be a top priority. If not making items for the Juniors to take home, then play a game that all ages (4 to 17) can understand and win rock prizes to take home.

4.) The general Rock Club membership must have ongoing generosity where they or the Rock Club funds are continually donating items for the Juniors to utilize, work with or win as prizes at every Juniors meeting. The Juniors need to take something home from each meeting to appreciate, ponder and add to their collection or simply to be the “carrot” on a stick.

5.) Juniors meetings should be the same date and time as the regular Rock Club meetings because of transportation and the Juniors should meet in another room of the same building because of noise levels. Preferably during the “boring” (to Juniors) part of the regular Rock Club meeting which is the program or the business parts, usually during the first hour.
Then after the Juniors complete their one hour meeting they (quietly) come into the regular meeting to enjoy show & tell, the sales table, socialization and treats with the rest of the general membership. Each Juniors meeting should be different to maintain vitality during the year, but can be repeated on an annual basis unless it is something the Juniors really enjoy and ask for more often. Also is healthy to do an annual poll of the Juniors about how you are doing, what they like, what they do not like and what they would change in their meetings. This feedback helps guide the Advisor with a “pulse” of what the Juniors want.

6.) The Juniors Advisor should be fairly creative and spontaneous while enjoying the Juniors meeting. Always have a plan for the one hour meeting, but entertain questions as they come up because that is when the best learning happens according to each Juniors interests and abilities. Keeping the mood of the meeting fun and happy will create a positive experience for the Juniors and that will maximize the learning. With many ages present at the same table a briskly paced meeting will be more fun and without the prospect of boredom/noise. The same Advisor at each meeting creates a familiar face which gives the Juniors a sense of security plus a stable environment that allows more fun and freedom to participate. Success for your Juniors Club will never be built on excuses but rather being there every month with a fun program so the Juniors have an expectation of fun while learning.

7.) If there are Junior Guests, introduce each at the start of your meeting, ask how they found out about your Rock Club and what they like about rocks. Many times this will spawn a (curious) conversation amongst the Juniors which helps compatibility and cohesion of your meeting group so they will want to come back each month to interact with their new friends the Rockhounds.

8.) Besides a monthly meeting, create the opportunity for Juniors to attend a Field Trip (indoors or outdoors) or a lapidary workshop. Modern schedules are nearly hectic, but you need to offer these opportunities or the Juniors will do something else since we live in a culture of so many choices. Time is the big challenge for parents and the Juniors only want to do what is fun or interesting.

9.) Promote the Juniors who participate. After each meeting or Juniors activity the Advisor or volunteer scribe should write an article and photo if possible about what happened at the meeting or event. Actually taking notes helps develop an interesting article and promotes accuracy of name spelling. In the verbiage, print the names of the participating Juniors in CAPITAL LETTERS to emphasize how special they are in your next newsletter or on your website. This communication will empower the Juniors and the future of your club.

10.) Resources List to give you ideas for projects, but it is always best to use your own thoughts and creativity because they may be easier for you to develop with affordable resources at hand and more compatible with your local community. No matter what you are doing or what project is at hand, always treat every Junior with respect and recognize their importance as the future leaders of your Rock Club.

a. Websites
(amfed.org/nfms/juniors)
(Canadian Rockhound: Junior Rockhound Web-Magazine)
(Rock Hound Kids.com)

b. Printed publications
Geology Crafts for Kids--50 nifty projects to Explore the Marvels of Planet Earth by Anderson, Diehn & Krautwurst/Sterling Publishers, NY.
Rock & Gem Magazine--Rock & Gem Kids centerpiece by Steve Decker.

c. Contact your NFMS or AFMS Juniors Committee Chairman

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