Following a great first day at the Southern Nevada Mineral Workshop, educators reconvened at Faith Lutheran High School before hitting the road and visiting sites throughout Las Vegas and seeing first-hand what modern mining looks like, as well as the unique geology of Nevada.
Before departing, teachers met in age groups to discuss day one’s activities and brainstorm ideas on how to implement them into classrooms, which included a group of elementary school teachers suggesting incorporating the popular video game, Minecraft, into a general lesson about mining in Nevada.
Morning activities also included some great presentations. NvMA President Dana Bennett discussed the history of the Nevada Mining Association as well as what 21st century mining looks like. Afterwards, Garrett Wake from the Nevada Division of Minerals gave a description of the agency, highlighting their hard work of fencing off old, abandoned mines. Finally, NDOM employee Bill Durbin, who is retiring in June, was presented with a plaque, thanking him for his two-decades plus years of service to help educate Nevadans about geology, minerals, and the dangers of abandoned mines.
Events at the school concluded with the always popular gift raffle, were winning teachers received a host of gifts, including a microscope from NDOM and a gold splatter donated by Newmont.
Then it was time to grab lunch, get out on busses, and head out on trips.
Group one visited Pabco Gypsum, which produces an array of gypsum wallboard products, and Great Unconformity, where attendees had the opportunity to see a series of beautiful geographic formations.
Group two included a tour of the McCaw School of Mines, an interactive mock mine that also provides tours for fourth graders throughout Clark County annually, and a stop by Las Vegas Rock, a decorative natural stone designer whose work can be found at some of the most renown buildings in Las Vegas.
Group three’s first stop was Blue Diamond Gypsum, an area gypsum mine, and finished with a walk around Red Rock Park, which provides some of the best scenery in all of Nevada.
Thank you to the numerous volunteers, speakers, presenters and attendees who made this year’s workshop a success. The next teacher workshop takes place at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno, July 12th and 13th.
See highlights of the Southern Workshop, visit the Nevada Mining Association’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin pages, or search the hashtag, #nvmw16