Are you a rock hound, geologist looking to study rocks or a student heading back to school? The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is offering the Pennsylvania Rock Hound Kit with samples of 12 rocks and spaces for six more you collect.

The kit also contains an insert that explains characteristics and the location of the 12 samples, as well as an interactive CD-ROM that includes lesson plans, educational publications, maps, a video and interactive games.

The cost for the box is $15 with a $4.95 shipping fee. The program, which includes periodic teacher workshops across the state on bringing Pennsylvania geology into the classroom, supports itself. For every rock box sold to the public, several boxes can be offered to teachers free of charge.

Support for the Rock Hhound Program is a partnership between DCNR, the Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association, state Department of Education and the Field Conference of Pennsylvania Geologists.

Pennsylvania has a number of clubs that organize field trips to collect rocks, minerals and fossils. A director of clubs can be found at the Penn Minerals webpage.

For more information and to print out an online order form, go to the Pennsylvania Rock Hound Kit webpage or call 717-702-2017.

8/26/2005