The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)

Earth Sciences 1997 Archive.

Table of Contents.

1. MAY - SEVEN DAYS AT ZZYZX;
2. MAY - ZZYZX INCLUDING AN ADVISORY;
3. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER - EARTH SCIENCE STUDIES AT CAMP PARADISE;
4. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER - A GREAT OPPORTUNITY - CAMP PARADISE THAT IS!!

May.

SEVEN DAYS AT ZZYZX
By Colleen McGann, President,
Peninsula Gem & Geological Club.

We came a very long way, driving down for two days.
Arriving in time to make it inside for Isabella's orientation.
Tom and Jo and Colleen and Maryann.

ZZYZX offers so many activities
for us to grow in new and wonderful ways.
Field trips for fossils and rocks
And history of Indians and early settlers.
Craft hounding of all sorts--
Silversmithing, beading, wire wrapping,
Fimo art, cabbing and carving.
Evenings of desert learning from Cowboy Poets
And desert stories to park history,
From plants and animals to fossils and micro-crystals.

We sampled them all and have treasures to share.
Jo, a first time carver, has a desert gecko
And a new magnifier for wire wrapping.
Tom, a true rock hound, collected bucket after
Bucket, after bucket of rocks to sort,
And rocks to cab, and rocks to swap.
Maryann, our jeweler, has many new wire wrap creations--
Rings and bracelets and ear rings
And hours of sharing ideas.
And she is now our newest rock hound.
Colleen samples as many activities
As she could squeeze in;
Carving her first animal, a hedgehog,
Cabbing a Marin poppy jasper for a bola
And gathering more jasper and agate.
Times like these seven days at ZZYZX
expand us all seven ways to continue
--Sharing our memories in our Club Bulletins,
--Sharing new ideas in our workshops,
--Sharing tips from cabbing and carving,
--Sharing new rocks on the auction table,
--Sharing items we made ourselves,
--Sharing with new friends for years to come,
--Sharing our fun and knowledge.
We learned here with newcomers
at our shows or in our schools.

ZZYZX for me will always mean
Building enthusiasm for Earth Sciences
In Seven Short Days.

     Shared by Florence Meisenheimer.

Table of Contents.

ZZYZX INCLUDING AN ADVISORY.
     If you read Colleen McGann's "Seven Days at ZZYZX" you will know we really had seven wonderful days. There never was time to be bored or have time on your hands. The long evenings were filled with relaxing or interesting programs and speakers.
     Isabella Burns, on the Desert Advisory Council to BLM, spoke on the history of land usage from pioneer days to the present, a very interesting account.

     Isabella also reported on the mis-use of the desert, since the "Desert Protection Act" was forced into law by Diane Feinstein.
     Since no border patrol officers can enter Wilderness areas, the illegal aliens in the Otay Mountain area cross the border into California by the thousands. They have trashed and contaminated hundreds of acres, trampled deep paths, and set hundreds of fires from untended camp fires. A total of 68,000 acres were burned in the past year, as no fire fighters could enter.
     This past winter a number of illegal persons froze to death on the mountain crossing, and it was days before permission could be granted to bring out the bodies. In the summer several persons died from heat exhaustion and dehydration crossing the mountain. Again, it was days before they could be removed.
     Recently permission was granted to construct a short, narrow road, just inside the California border to try to control the influx of people wanting to come into the United States.
     Another subject Isabella touched on was the number of National organizations that help control our land. The Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, National Preserve Service, National Forest, National Monument and National Wilderness Service all have similar goals for protecting and preserving our land and resources, but each one has their own set of rules, which makes it difficult for an ordinary citizen to keep track of them all.
          Florence Meisenheimer,
          Federation Director.

Table of Contents.

October/November.

EARTH SCIENCE STUDIES AT CAMP PARADISE.
     Including the kitchen staff, one hundred people enjoyed a wonderful week at Camp Paradise. The weather was perfect--warm days and cool, clear nights with big stars and a moon. The air was so clean, sky so blue and the puffy clouds so white, it was really beautiful. Camp is nestled among tall stately pine trees.
     Every one was busy, busy. Eventually nearly every one who panned for gold got some flakes or nuggets. Other material collected was Yuba Blue and soapstone for carving, argulite and petrified wood (one one hundred pound log).
     In camp, 19 stones were faceted, 17 Ming trees created, dripping with turquoise, amethyst, garnet, peridot, quartz, etc. Upwards of 100 rings, pendants and bracelets were fashioned from the casting oven. (Lost Wax Casting) An untold number of cabochons of every color and shape were made. The saws and grinders were busy all day long. Evening programs and lectures were very interesting. The home cooked meals were delicious, and servings as large as you wished.
     Two of our energetic young men even got up at the crack of dawn Sunday before leaving to nab a few trout in a fresh water stream.
     It was truly a wonderful week.
          Florence Meisenheimer.

Table of Contents.

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY - CAMP PARADISE THAT IS!!
     The old bell was ringing! We (85 of us) scurried toward the main dining room, it's 7:00 am and our day at Camp Paradise is beginning. After a meal of sausage, omelette, cereal, fruit etc. we are ready to meet the day.
     Our choice of classes are many - faceting, carving, ming tree making, bead stringing, cabs, or gold and silver casting. All of the classes were taught by experienced "pro's" and were all great people.
     There were also a number of field trips offered. One went to Downeyville over the Oregon Hill Road to gold pan on the Yuba. Unfortunately this is the site of a recent fire.
     The evenings were filled with entertainment - a local historian lecture on gold panning, opal mining and our Graduation! My husband, Gordon, and I had a wonderful week under the pines at Camp Paradise. A Great Opportunity!!
          Contributed by Sharon Cunningham.

Editor's Note: Thanks for sharing your experiences, Sharon. It sounds like a wonderful week and wish I had been there! Next year!! Ann Doherty also attended from VGMS.

Table of Contents.

Return to the Earth Sciences Archive Page. You may also go to the VGMS Home Page.