Crater of Diamonds Newsletter

We are looking forward to the special events that we have planned for 2012. So, mark your calendars and plan your visit. As the year goes along some programs may change, and we will announce those changes well ahead of time. Those programs that require preregistration are marked with an (R).

March - We lead off with a new program called Visit with an Expert Miner. On two Saturdays, the 17^th and 24^th, from 2:00 to 3:00 PM visitors will have a chance to meet and ask questions of some of the “regular” diamond prospectors. The programs are free.

April - Our photography workshops have become very popular. The Spring Photography in the Park Workshop (R) will be from 10:00-3:30 on Saturday, April 7^th. Cost is $20.00 per person. On Saturday, April 14^th we will present our first Girl Scout Crater Day (R) from 10:00-3:00. The program is for Junior Scouts, costs $8.00 per person, and will earn an event patch.

May - We start the month with a Boy Scout Badge Jamboree (R) on May 5^th from 10:00 to 3:00. Each scout will earn his Geology badge. For Mothers Day weekend, Saturday, May 12^th, a child and an accompanying adult can Build a Birdhouse for Mom (R) from 2:00 to 4:00 for $15.00 per kit. We will also present information about the park’s birds, and take a short bird watching walk. Finally, on Saturday, May 19^th at 3:00 PM we will offer a free program on Lapidary Wonders.

June - Always a busy month, this year will have four events. On Saturday, June 2^nd we will have the third of our series, Visit with an Expert Miner at 2:00 PM. Celebrate the start of summer with our first pool party of the year with games, refreshments, and music. The Schools Out Pool Party, will have an under the sea theme and will be from 6:30 to 9:00 PM on Saturday, June 9^th. Celebrate the start of summer at our water park with our games, refreshments, and music. We have moved the Prospector Gemboree and Famous Crater Diamonds Exhibition to Saturday, June 16^th. This day-long event features door prizes, old-fashioned games, and the orange bottle treasure hunt. Finally, teachers can earn six hours of professional development credit by attending our Teacher’s Workshop on State Parks on June 20^th from 9:00 to 3:00. Cost of $15.00 includes lunch and registration will be through the Dawson Educational Co-op.

July - We will start the month with an Independence Day Pool Party on Saturday July 7^th from 6:30-9:00. Then for the rest of the July Fridays, the 13^th, 20^th, and 27^th, we will host our day camp, Summer Friday Fun for Kids (R). Each Friday will have a different theme, and is open to children who will be in 3^rd to 6^th grade in the fall. The program fee of $30 includes lunch and the entrance fee to our water park.

August - On the first August Saturday, the 4^th, we have a free program, John Huddleston Heritage Day, which commemorates the first diamond found on the crater on August 8, 1906. The program from 1:00 to 4:00 will feature speakers talking about various aspects of the diamond field’s early commercial history. The next Saturday is the date of our final pool party, Back to School Luau. We will have Hawaiian music, refreshments and games, starting at 6:30. Finally, on Saturday, August 25^th we will host a workshop on those fascinating night bug catchers, bats. The Bat House Building Workshop (R) will cost $15, which includes the bat house kit.

September - As we have for the past 3 years, on Saturday the 8^th we will again take part in the Great Arkansas Cleanup with our own Great Crater Cleanup. This free event will start at 1:00 with prizes awarded for the most trash picked up. In addition we will have door prizes and refreshments. If you like geology, on Saturday the 15^th our resident geologist will give a workshop on the Geology of the Crater and the Surrounding Area (R) from 1:00-4:00. The workshop fee is $10.00 and we will tour the diamond field and some interesting sites in the Murfreesboro area. We are again giving a Wire Wrap Jewelry Workshop (R) on Saturday, the 22^nd. The cost and time have yet to be determined. Finally, we are moving the Crater Gem and Mineral Show to the last weekend of the month, the 29^th and 30^th. The show will run from 9:00 to 4:00 each day and the cost will be our regular mine admission.

October - We end our program year with another busy month. On Wednesday, the 3^rd we will celebrate Earth Science Day (R) with a free program for middle school aged children. Featuring guest speakers on earth science related topics, the program will run from 9:00 to 2:00. Saturday, October 6^th will have our final Visit with an Expert Miner free program at 3:00 PM. Our biggest 2012 event, the Fall Festival, will be held on Saturday the 13^th from 3:00 to 10:00. It will feature fun for the whole family, with musical entertainment, food booths, carnival games, a Halloween costume contest, air bouncers, hayrides and much more. Our final 2012 program is the Fall Photography in the Park Workshop on Saturday, the 20^th from 10:00 to 3:30. It will cost $20.00 per person.

Search area last plowed: October 20, 2011; Most recent heavy rain: December 26, 2011

December 29 - Karin Brantley, Rush Springs, OK, 48 pt. white; Jason &Brianna Kassel, Little Rock, AR, 14 pt. yellow

December 31 - Kenny & Melissa Oliver, Rosston, AR, 69 pt. white; Al & Ella Bell, Murfreesboro, AR, 7 pt. white