Family Excursion Destinations  - in & around the GTA, Southern Ontario

Living in Southern Ontario, there are a number of places & events that are great for kids & families who love rocks.

 
Rock, Gem & Mineral Shows 
Museums   Rock Shops & Stores   
Commercial Rock Collecting Places 
Places to Go that have Rocks to Look At
Clubs around the Greater Toronto Area & in Southern Ontario
Web Sites for Ontario Rockhounds
Lapidary Classes

We will be adding information to this page as we get it. Check back frequently.
If you would like to be listed here, drop us a line.

Rock, Mineral, Gem & Club Shows

This list is not a complete list of all the shows that exist but they are ones we are aware of and make for easy day or weekend trips. Make sure you contact the web site of the hosting organization before you make your trip so that you are sure the information is accurate & current. Some of these shows are free and others charge admission.

January

February

March

  • Peterborough Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show ~ March 3 & 4, 2012 ~ The Evinrude Centre, 911 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough, ON  Put on by the Kawartha Rock & Fossil Club  http://www.kawartharockandfossilclub.com/
     
  • Brantford Lapidary & Mineral Society Show ~ March 31 & April 1, 2012 ~ Paris Fairground. 139 Silver Street, Paris, ON

April

  • Rochester Mineralogical Symposium ~ April 19 - 22, 2011 ~ This is for more serious rockhounds, not for beginning hobbyists. If that describes you, read up on the activities offered at http://www.rasny.org/mainframe.htm
     
  • Montreal Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show ~ April 15 - 17, 2011 ~ Center Pierre-Charbonneau 3000 Viau St. (Viau Metro) Montreal, Quebec  http://www.salonminerauxmtl.com/ang/index_en.html
     
  • Toronto Gem & Mineral Show & Sale ~ April 29 - May 1, 2011 ~ Don Mills Civitan Arena, 1030 Don Mills Rd., North York, ON  This is a show where beads & minerals can be bought. There are many dealers present. It is not sponsored by a local club. A number of rock clubs do have tables at the show in order to showcase their hobby.

May

  • Robert Hall Originals - Spring Open House & Demonstration Weekend http://www.roberthalloriginals.com/
     
  • KW Gem & Mineral Club Show ~ May 7, 2011 ~ 25 Regina Street South in uptown Waterloo

June

  • Central Ontario Gem & Mineral Expo ~ June 15, 16, 17 2012 ~ Barrie Rock Club Show @ Barrie Curling Club, Essa Road off Hwy 400 North
     
  • Niagara Penninsula Gem & Mineral Show ~ June 18, 2011 ~ Beamsville High School, 4317 Central Avenue, Beamsville

July

  • Sudbury Gem & Mineral Show ~ July 15 - 17, 2011 ~ Carmichael Arena, 1298 Bancroft Drive, Sudbury
     
  • Bancroft Gem & Mineral Club Show ~ July 24, 2011 ~ Bancroft Legion Hall, Station Street, Bancroft
     
  • Bancroft Rockhound Gemboree ~ July 29 - 31, 2011 ~ Bancroft - sponsored by The Chamber of Commerce

August

  • Robert Hall Originals ~ August 20, 2011  ~ 138 Sugar Maple Rd, St. George, Ontario N0E 1N0   This family run shop can be found at a booth at many local rock & gem shows. They also have Ontario’s largest rock shop, pewter studio, and bead store with over 2500 sq feet of showroom and many tons of rough rock for the collector. Check them out online at http://www.roberthalloriginals.com/  Plan a family visit on their Rockhound Family Day in August.

September

  • Scarborough Rock & Gem Club Show ~  September 17, 18 2011~  Come and visit the Gem and Mineral Club of Scarborough Show  at Don Montgomery Community Centre   2467 Eglinton Ave. E Scarborough ( beside the Kennedy Subway station ) http://www.scarbgemclub.ca/2011/06/2011-scarborough-gem-mineral-show/
     
  • Ancaster Gem, Mieral, Bead & Jewellery Show ~ September 30 - October 2, 2011 ~Ancaster Fairgrounds - Marritt Hall Complex, 630 Trinity Road, Ancaster Ontario  Presented by Robert Hall Originals -  http://www.roberthalloriginals.com/

October

  • Kingston Lapidary & Mineral Club Show - Gem Storm ~ October 15 & 16, 2011 ~ Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, 52 Yonge St., Kingston
     
  • Detroit Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show ~ October 14, 15, & 16, 2011  ~ Announcing the 67th annual Detroit Show in Warren, MI at the Macomb Community College-South Campus inside the Sports & Expo Center (SW corner of 12 Mile & Hayes Rd.)  Billed as the "Midwest's largest show under one roof" with over 50 dealers selling minerals, fossils, gems, gemstone jewelry, carvings, equipment, and more.  Fabulous museum and university displays, large animal skeletons, lectures, demonstrations, silent auctions, kids' activities, and MORE! A list of vendors/ dealers appearing can be found at www.michmin.org/show.
     
  • University of Waterloo Gem & Mineral Show & Science Open House ~ October 28 & 29, 2011 ~ University of Waterloo Campus, CEIT Building, Waterloo http://science.uwaterloo.ca/events/2011-science-open-house
     
  • Walker Mineralogical Club Annual Auction ~ October 22, 2011 ~ Knox United Church, Scarborough

November

December

 

Museums that have rock, mineral & fossil related displays

  • Arkona Lions Museum & Information Centre   Rock Glen Conservation Area, Arkona  This museum has a fossil display from the area with Devonian Era fossils datin back 350 million years.   http://www.lambtononline.com/arkona_lions
     
  • Ball's Falls Conservation Area Jordan, ON The Conservation Centre is hosting a travelling exhibit From Crystals to Gems from the National Museum of Nature at their site from May 5, 2012 to September 3, 2012  www.ballsfalls.ca
     
  • Bancroft Gem & Mineral Club Museum
     
  • Oil Museum of Canada  Oil Springs, Lambton County   A museum about the role of the petroleum business in Southern Ontario  http://www.lclmg.org/lclmg/Museums/OilMuseumofCanada/tabid/114/Default.aspx
     
  • Petrolia Discovery   Petrolia  A Canadian heritage public oil field. http://www.petroliadiscovery.com/
     
  • Royal Ontario Museum   Toronto  Teck Suite of Galleries: Earth's Treasures http://www.rom.on.ca/
    • Rock, Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Meteorite Identification Clinics are FREE and happen every few months. Bring in your rocks, minerals, gems, fossils, or suspected meteorites and have them identified by ROM experts at special ID clinics. Wednesdays 4 pm to 5:30 pm @ President's Choice Entrance on Queen's Park, doors nearest Museum subway stop. Dates for 2012 are: January 18, March 21, May 16, July 18, September 19 & November 21, 2012.
       
  • Stones 'N Bones Museum   Sarnia   A private Nature museum including fossils, minerals and a gift shop. http://www.stonesnbones.ca/
     
  • Wallaceburg & District Museum   Wallaceburg  This museum showcases the historical importance of the Brass & Glass industries in days gone by. http://www.kent.net/wallaceburg-museum/
     

 

Rock Shops & Stores

Things for sale can be rocks, minerals, fossils, lapidary & wireworking supplies and beads. Stone sculptures and decorative pieces are also often found in these stores. All of these shops have a home store, and some also sell at fairs and shows. Some offer hobby related classes. In general, it is fair to say that the owners of these shops are knowledgeable & friendly. As you get to know them, you will find that they are as passionate about your hobby as you are!;-)

Be sure to call ahead and make sure they are open when you plan to visit. Although there are probably many more, these are the ones we know of that are fairly easily accessible from the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario.

 

Places to Go that have Rocks to look at

Seeing rocks in nature is probably the best way to get hooked on how cool they really are!

  • Ball's Falls Conservation Area Jordan, ON This is a beautiful part of southern Ontario where rock formations are evident at the falls. Many interesting things to do in the area as well. www.ballsfalls.ca
     
  • Bonnechere Caves   Eganville, ON  Caves that have stalactites & fossils in limestone caves.  http://www.bonnecherecaves.com/
     
  • Killbear Provincial Park  Parry Sound, ON  Gorgeous outcrops of rocks surround the Georgian Bay Peninsula. The rocks here have inspired artists & rockhounds with their layered, flowing beauty.  http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/killb.html
     

 

Commercial Rock Collecting Places

Places you can go with your kids & collect rocks & minerals for a fee.

 

Clubs around the GTA & southern Ontario

Sometimes it is nice to know what other clubs are active within driving & or collecting range.
It is possible to make contacts with other club members and get to know other collecting locations better.
Many of these clubs have annual auctions, shows and field trips that you might be interested in attending.
Many rockhounds belong to multiple clubs in order to keep informed and meet new friends.
The annual membership fees are very reasonable.

Most of these clubs are oriented towards adults and often the meetings are too late for young kids. However the clubs welcome young families and often will offer activities for young people if there is interest from their members.

  • Bancroft Gem & Mineral Club
  • Barrie Gem & Mineralogical Society
  • Brampton Rock & Mineral Club (GTA)
  • Brantford Lapidary & Mineral Society
  • Kawartha Rock & Fossil Club - Peterborough
  • Kitchener-Waterloo Gem & Mineral Club - Waterloo
  • Kingston Lapidary & Mineral Club
  • London Gem & Mineral Society
  • Niagara Peninsula Geological Society - St. Catherines
  • Nipissing Lapidary & Mineral Club - North Bay
  • North York Faceting Guild (GTA)
  • Ottawa Lapsmith & Mineral Club
  • Oxford County Geological Society - Woodstock
  • Prince Edward County Rock, Gem & Mineral Club
  • Sarnia Rock & Fossil Club
  • Scarborough - Gem & Mineral Club of Scarborough (GTA)
  • Sudbury Rock & Lapidary Society
  • Toronto - The Walker Mineralogical Club (GTA)
  • Willowdale Gem & Mineral Club (GTA)
  • Toronto - YTMC ~ Young Toronto Mineralogists Club - for kids 9 to 15 (GTA) This is the best club for really keen kids.

Web Sites for Ontario Rockhounds

The Internet is a great way for people to meet other people who have similar interests. There are several really great web sites whose focus is on Ontario and Canadian Rockhounds. Through these web sites, your family can meet other families that like rocks and perhaps they can give you tips about where to go and what to do.

CanadianRockHound.com  http://canadianrockhound.com/  This web site helps rockhounds connect with each other by having a members section where people can post about their rockhounding experiences. Members also share their photos of rocks that they have collected.

OntarioMinerals.com  http://ontariominerals.com/  

 

 

 

Lapidary Classes

Haliburton School of the Arts  www.hsta.ca

Scarborough Gem & Mineral Club Workshops  

 

 

 

 

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