Crater of Diamonds Newsletter

Mark your calendars for three programs coming up this summer at the Crater of Diamonds State Park. We are excited to offer to our visitors 3 pool parties, 3 day- camps, and our annual Prospectors Gemboree.

The pool parties, scheduled from 6:30-9:00 PM at our Diamond Springs Water Park, have become a popular way to enjoy the summer. On Saturday, June 9^th we will have a “School’s Out” party with a theme of Under the Sea. We will celebrate our country’s birthday with an Independence Day themed party on Saturday, July 7^th. Finally, on Saturday, August 11^th, we will wrap up the summer celebration with a Hawaiian-style Luau. Each of the parties will have music, games for all ages with prizes, refreshments, and festive decorations to set the mood. The admission price will be the usual water park fee of $3.75 for 42” and under and $5.50 for over 42”. Non-swimming adult chaperones are $2.00 and babies under 2 years of age are free.

Again this July we are offering three, day-long, day camps for children going into 4^th to 6^th grades. On three Fridays, July 13, 20, and 27, we will offer a day-long program with activities based on a theme, like diamond finding and nature photography. The cost, $30.00 per person, includes snacks, lunch, and tickets to the water park. Reservations and a deposit are due by the Friday before the chosen camp date.

Finally, be sure to put Saturday, June 16^th on your calendar for our second annual Prospectors' Gemboree. We will have games, treasure hunts on the search area, and door prizes. In addition, some of our most successful diamond hunters will display their Crater diamonds in the Diamond Discovery Center classroom during our annual Diamond Exhibition. The doors will open at 8:00 AM, with the Diamond exhibition beginning at 10:00 AM. The only entry fee will be our usual mine search area admission price of $7.00 for ages 13 and up, $4.00 for ages 6 to 12 and under 6 are free. So plan to come for a day of fun and a chance to win some of the great prizes donated by our area merchants.

Search area last plowed: March 29, 2012; Most recent heavy rain: April 20, 2012

April 17 - Bonnie Kasper, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 13 pt. white; Tim Hicks, Belleville, IL, 17 pt. white, Jim Graham, Prescott, AR, 5 pt. white, 6 pt. white, 19 pt. white, 81 pt. white; Daniel J. & Jessica Kinney, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 4 pt. white

April 18 - Stella Trent, Rusk, TX, 11 pt. yellow, 57 pt. white; Daniel J. & Jessica Kinney, 2 pt. brown

April 20 - Scott Michelich, Morrow, OH, 66 pt. brown; Jessica and Daniel J. Kinney, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 19 pt. yellow

April 22 - Carola Scharlach, Arlington, TX, 36 pt. yellow; Jeff Engle, Yorktown, TX, 7 pt. brown; Kenny & Melissa Oliver, Rosston, AR, 14 pt. white; Timothy Gray, Royal, AR, 8 pt. white