Surf City Rocks

Description

Kids sift buckets of gem and fossil material in an outdoor water trough at Surf City Rocks in Hampstead, hunting for shark teeth, crystals and geodes to keep.

Families buy a bucket at the register, choosing from sizes that run from small to jumbo. A staff member then shows kids how it works at the trough, where screens, trowels and a bag for finds are set out. Scoop material into a screen, rock it through the moving water to wash the sand away, and see what is left behind. Past buckets have turned up fossil shark teeth, fossilized clams, arrowheads, fluorite, citrine and rose quartz, and buckets typically include a geode to crack open at home. An identification card helps kids name what they find. Contents vary from bucket to bucket, so no two digs turn out the same.

The method takes about half a minute to learn, which suits younger children as well as older ones, though adult supervision is recommended. The trough is long enough for several families to work at once, with shade and a bench nearby for parents. Groups, homeschool families and birthday outings can make a morning of it. Inside, the shop carries crystals, fossils, minerals, jewelry and gifts, and the family that owns it is on hand to answer questions.