Trips & Meetings
Program Meetings are held at the Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum in Ishpeming. Doors open at 1:00pm to allow visitors time to check out our mineral collection displays.
Zoom is sometimes available for program meetings, and if so invitations will be sent to club members by email.
Here's a map for reference, you can also see the Elks Club location where the show is hosted:
See full area on OpenStreetMaps
Important notices for all Field Trips!
We love including all rock hounds on our trips. However, field trips can be dangerous if participants are not careful. We do not want anyone to get hurt or to lose our visiting privileges to private sites.
You are strongly advised to review and follow the full Field Trip rules:
Here are some highlights:
- You don't need to be a member to attend our trips. Trips are $10 for non-members and $5 for members, except for the Annual Show Field Trips (on these, everyone pays $10). All attendees must sign our release forms and follow all rules!
- Please reach out if you are a group (6 or more) planning to attend a field trip. We may need to make special plans to accomodate your group. Send us an email to irmc@ishpemingrocks.org
- Children must be 10 years of age or older and must be closely attended at all times. Children under 10 are not allowed on any field trip properties, period. One adult per child - they cannot be wandering off.
- Bring safety glasses. We may have extras available, but if you do not have them, you will not be able to join the trip. Eye protection should be on at all times.
- Wear real shoes and ideally long pants. Sandals or flip flops are not acceptable - dress for the dig!
- Always be careful. Especially watch out above and below you on rock piles, and around you if you're breaking rocks.
- No drones and no smoking. Yes, rock piles can be flammable!
- Follow all directions given by field trip coordinators and helpers!
- Have fun! If you don't know what it is you picked up, feel free to ask seasoned fellow rock hounds.
The rules will be presented again in full before any trip begins.
Upcoming Meetings & Events (2026)
August 30th, 2026 - Business Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 7pm: There will be no presentation, just review of the show and what's coming for the rest of the year. Drop-in attendence is welcome.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 - The Annual Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club Picnic
Members only -- be on the lookout for an email with further details.
September 20th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Scott Markert, one of the Founders of the Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club (along with his parents, Bob and Marian Markert) will present: “Mystery Minerals Collected--Every Rock has a Story.” Scott will present a variety of odd, unique, weird, rare and irresistible specimens, rocks and minerals that Scott and his family collected over the last century (and beyond). Scott will talk about the specimen itself, where it was collected (if known), its history and how his family acquired the specimen.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
October 18th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: The Lapidary Possibilities -- The IRMC Lapidary Committee Members of the Ishpeming Rock and Mineral Club's Lapidary Committee will present creations that they have made utilizing their lapidary equipment. They will give us options on what they can create with our finds.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
November 15th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Annual "Show and Tell Presentations -- IRMC Members Our Members have the opportunity to show their summer's collected rock treasures and share their rock collecting tales. Members will show off their new treasures and a panel of Club Members will be available to help identify local rock and mineral specimens brought by members and visitors.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
December 6th, 2026 - IRMC Christmas Party and Annual Officer Elections
Jack Deo will present a history of the UP through his vast array of historical pictures. Dinner and Officer Elections will follow. A formal invitation will be sent to all members.
Members must sign up in advance -- at the October and/or November regular meeting.
Upcoming Meetings & Events (2027)
Sunday, January 17, 2027 Program Meeting
Program Meeting: TBA
A business meeting will follow the presentation.