Crater to host Boy Scout Badge Workshop Weekend

by Waymon Cox

  Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park!  On Saturday, May 5, Boy Scout troops from Arkansas and the surrounding area are invited to take part in the park’s first ever Badge Workshop Weekend!  From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., scouts will enjoy fun outdoor activities as they explore an ancient, diamond-bearing volcano and complete requirements to earn the geology merit badge!

  Space is limited to the first 40 scouts and leaders registered for this event.  Because of group size restrictions this year, we encourage smaller troops interested in attending to sign up as soon as possible!

  Workshop fee is only $8 per person and includes all activities, admission to the diamond search area, and a special Crater of Diamonds State Park patch.  Scouts should bring a sack lunch for the day, and come prepared to have fun and get dirty!

  Troop leaders will be admitted to the workshop at a ratio of one leader per ten scouts for $8 each; additional leaders not taking part in the workshop may search for diamonds during the day by purchasing admission at the visitor center.

  Saturday, April 28 is the deadline to sign up for this event.  For more information, or to register your troop for Badge Workshop Weekend, call Crater of Diamonds State Park at 870-285-3113 and speak with a park interpreter.  We hope you’ll join us for this fun day of hands-on learning at Crater of Diamonds State Park!

Search area last plowed:  March 29, 2012

Most recent significant precipitation:  April 3, 2012

Diamond finds for April 1 - 7, 2012 (100 points = one carat):

April 1 - Kenny & Melissa Oliver, Rosston, AR, 3 pt. brown, 3 pt. brown, 4 pt. white, 6 pt. white, 52 pt. white; David Anderson, Murfreesboro, AR, 10 pt. yellow, 20 pt. brown; Andy Parsons, Omaha, NE, 40 pt. brown; Stephen Carter, Hot Springs, AR, 2 pt. white; Tim Gray, Royal, AR, 13 pt. brown

April 2 - Ron Jenkins, Carlisle, AR, 7 pt. yellow

April 3 - Brooke & Mike Klawitter, Berlin, WI, 1 pt. yellow; Clifton Love Jr., Jackson, TN, 6 pt. yellow

April 4 - Brooke & Mike Klawitter, Berlin, WI, 1 pt. white, 3 pt. yellow

April 5 - John VonWald, Madison, WI, 7 pt. brown

April 6 - Jim Graham, Prescott, AR, 4 pt. white, 15 pt. white