Intergenerational In-Person: Minecraft-Inspired Geology

Ageless Wisdom: Sharing Wonder Across Generations
This class encourages you to share your childhood memories with a younger learner, creating an opportunity for you to experience the joy of discovery together. Bring your own childhood stories of rock collecting or cave exploration and get ready to delight in your young partner's curiosity. Encourage your enthusiastic learner to share their excitement about Minecraft and its virtual connections to actual rocks and minerals. Bridge the generational divide and embark on a fun afternoon experience of mutual learning. Registration covers one adult and one child. If your group is larger, please call us at 303-871-3610 to discuss options.

Digging Deeper Together: Minecraft-Inspired Geology Expedition, Scavenger Hunt and Field Trip
One In-Person Session
Sun., Nov. 10, 2024, 2-4 pm MT

Learning about geology has never been more fun! In this intergenerational experience, you and a younger learner enjoy a hands-on expedition, a guided tour and a scavenger hunt inside the Mines Museum of Earth Science on the Colorado School of Mines campus. First, your instructor will introduce some of the physical rocks and minerals that inspired the video game Minecraft, which has captivated players for years. In Minecraft, players encounter virtual geological features like mountains, caves, minerals and fossils reflecting real-world geology, and build creations of their own design using blocks inspired by real-life materials. During your expedition, you’ll encounter singular samples of materials from the game, including igneous rocks such as granite and obsidian, precious minerals like gold and emerald, and many more. Decide what real rocks and minerals might represent fictional materials from the game, like “glowstone” and “redstone.” Learn geological concepts to identify the most popular Minecraft-inspired materials, then test your skills for the chance to win prizes that rock. Following the activity, tour the museum and hunt for more Minecraft-inspired specimens. Throughout these activities, feel free to share your experiences with rocks and minerals, be it a childhood collection, an ancestor’s mining experience, or the story of an object made from gold, connecting a shared passion for the mysteries lying below our feet!

Mines Museum of Earth Science houses over 40,000 objects including rocks, minerals, fossils, gemstones and mining artifacts. Enjoy the Miss Colorado crown, two moon rocks and crystals from across Colorado. The museum is committed to fostering an appreciation of the Earth, energy and the environment through exploration, engagement and enlightenment.