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). College students, field trip helpers and family members under 16 are free.
- Children must be 7 years of age or older and must be closely attended at all times. Children under 7 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)
January 18th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Jim Paquette, Local Historian and Archaeologist will present: "The Barnes-Hecker Mine: Where Miners Died and Families Cried." 2026 marks the 100th Anniversary of Michigan's worst mining disaster and Jim will review the development and the short history of the Barnes-Hecker Mine.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
February 15th, 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.
March 15th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Karen Brzys, The Agate Lady and World renowned agate expert will enlighten us on her new agate book, in the process of being published.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
April 19th, 2026 - Annual Silent Auction Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: Mineral Specimens from the local area, the Upper Peninsula and beyond, will be available to purchase through the Silent Auction process. All are welcome.
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
May 17th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: TBD
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
May 17th, 2026 - Program Meeting
Cliffs Shaft @ 1:30pm: TBD
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
August 1st, 2026 - 50th Gem & Mineral Show
More information will be posted here as time goes on. Only this date is established.
Field trips remain TBD. Usually they happen the day before and day after the show.
Upcoming Meetings & Events (2026)
Wow, looking pretty far ahead aren't ya? TBD