YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.
Ask a longtime OGMS member what they value most about the club and they'll almost never say the rocks first. They'll say, the people.
That's not nothing... it's actually the whole thing.
This club has been running for decades because it attracts a particular kind of person: curious, kind of nerdy, generous, unpretentious and genuinely delighted by the world. You'll meet retirees who have been collecting for longer than you've been live, sitting across from a someone who just picked up their first rough stone.
You'll find people who Zoom in from out of state and people who can walk here. You'll find quieter types who let their specimens do the talking, and storytellers who can describe the day they found a spectacular piece like they're recounting a wondrous adventure, because they are.
Every member, donor, and rock lover who walks through our door makes this community what it is.
Thank you, for being a part of our story.
Curiosity becomes craft
The Durley Workshop is where the the beating heart of the Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society go to exercise our creative passions, and self-expression in a community of safety and acceptance.
This active, hands-on space to start where your curiosity is, and let the craft take you where you want to go.
Whether you've never touched a lapidary wheel or you're ready to cut your next cabochon, workshops are open to everyone, at all skill and confidence levels.
Our equipment is maintained by experienced volunteers who love nothing more than showing a newcomer the ropes. You'll find all the tools you need to take a rough rock from the field and transform it into something genuinely beautiful.
Artisan necklaces and photo credit by teacher and Shop Steward, Jean Smith
A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT,
GAIL SANFORD
The rockhounds are coming home. After over four long years of rebuilding, planning, and holding tight to the friendships and passion that have always defined this club, our workshop is coming back, and we're thrilled to announce our reopening.
The fire of 2022 was a devastating loss. We lost equipment, materials, and the space where so many of us first learned to cut a stone or set a cabochon. But what the fire could not touch was the knowledge, the creativity, and the spirit you all carry.
None of this happens without you, the members who stayed in touch, shared support, and kept asking "when are we reopening?" Your patience and loyalty mean everything to me and to everyone who has worked to make this comeback happen.
Watch this space for class schedules and celebration details. I cannot wait to see your faces and your stones, under those workshop lights again. Classes at all levels are in the works, and a grand reopening celebration is just around the corner. Thank you for your patience and loyalty.
We can't wait to see you at the bench again... You ROCK! ~ Gail
Photo Credit: Gail S.
Was your dad too cheap to grant your one wish to get one of those emotional support companion rocks, back in the day?
Do you want to join Kpop Superstar Jeongham (Seventeen) in adopting a geological companion of your own?
It's your opportunity to fulfill that wish at the next OGMS meeting! Our Rock adoption program is $10.00,
includes an adoption certificate, a ventilated habitat, and the rock. Come as a new guest to a monthly meeting and after the Ways
and Means door prize, you can take your pick of the litter. You still get your free rock as a guest, so your
new family member will have it's own emotional support companion.
Sample selection of adoptable rocks, your
selection will vary, but they'll be equally
interesting, well behaved and, yes, cute.
Just $10.00 for a forever companion that
needs no chores, cleanup or training.
An ideal choice for 5-105 year olds with
a curious and humorous disposition.
FIND US HERE...
Oxnard Performing Arts Center
800 Hobson Way
Oxnard, CA 93030
First Wednesdays, except July, August and December
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Durley Park Workshop
910 Hill Street
Oxnard, CA 93033
Outbuilding in back of the baseball diamond, by parking lot
See calendar for hours, classes and events
About the CFMS
The California Federation of Mineralogical Societies is AFMS's West Coast chapter, representing clubs across California, Nevada, and Hawaii.
Beyond the standard club benefits, member clubs also get group liability insurance, opening doors to collecting sites that would otherwise be off-limits. As part of the national AFMS network, we bring together hundreds of local clubs, but with West Coast (Best coast!) swagger.
Member clubs offer field trips to some of the most spectacular collecting sites in the country, hands-on lapidary and jewelry-making classes, and programs for all ages including a dedicated youth program with its own badges and achievements.
We support the next generation of earth scientists through scholarships for students pursuing geology, mineralogy, or the lapidary arts.
If you love rocks, gems, fossils, or the art of working with stone, there's a place for you here at OGMS.
About the AFMS
The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies connects rock, gem, mineral, and fossil enthusiasts across the country through hundreds of local clubs. If you love rocks, there's a community
here for you.
We abide by their Code of Ethics:
Respect the land. Always get permission before collecting on private property. Know the rules for public lands and follow them.
Collect responsibly. Take only what you'll actually use. Don't damage specimens, structures, or the landscape. No firearms or explosives.
Leave no trace. Pack out your trash, and any you find. Fill dangerous holes, protect water sources, and be fire-safe.
Be a good ambassador. How we act in the field shapes how the public sees our whole community.
Ready to dig in? Join us if you're in the Oxnard and beyond; or find a club near you! See you out on a dig!
Join the fun!
Whether you're a lifelong collector or just picked up your first rock, there's a place for you in our community. Members enjoy access to lapidary equipment, field trips, workshops, and a welcoming group of fellow enthusiasts who share your curiosity. Our club is built on the belief that everyone has something to learn and something to share, no matter where you are in your journey.
From kids joining Pebble Pups to seasoned rockhounds hunting California and beyond's best collecting sites, we grow and learn together. Join the Oxnard Gem & Mineral Society today and start exploring what the earth has made.
Two Pebble Pups holding a massive 6-figure gold nugget Photo credit: Refugio Lira
Copyright oxnardgem.com. All rights reserved
Privacy Policy
