Remember when you used to love to dig in the dirt? Join the Central Oregon Rock Collectors and relive the experience!
The Central Oregon Rock Collectors (CORC) are a group of diverse individuals interested in collecting rocks and minerals and increasing their knowledge and enjoyment of their hobby. Our rock club serves the Central Oregon communities of Bend, Redmond, Madras, Prineville, Sisters, Sunriver, La Pine, and beyond. We welcome guests and new members to our monthly meetings!
CORC was recently featured on the Central Oregon Daily News “Get Outside” segment. Please check out the video here to see what we are all about!
The club meets on the third Wednesday of every month from March through October at the American Legion Park stage, 850 SW Rimrock Way, Redmond, with the exception of July or August when CORC has its annual picnic. In November, CORC has its annual holiday party. The club does not meet from December through February. (See CORC Newsletter for meeting details)
*There will be no more regular club meetings this year. Because of COVID restrictions,
the meetings this year have been held outdoors, and it’s too cold in October to have an
evening meeting. The November holiday party has also been cancelled. Thanks to all of
you who have been so flexible and willing to attend the outdoor meetings. We sincerely
hope that beginning in March, 2022, we will be able to meet indoors.*
Monthly meetings include a discussion of organized field trips, club business and door prize drawings for donated rocks and minerals. New members and guests are always welcome!
Monthly presentations have included the following topics:
✓ Collections of specific rocks and minerals
✓ How to catalog and document your collection
✓ Descriptions of collecting sites in Oregon and beyond that have been visited by club members
✓ Demonstrations and discussions of lapidary techniques
Rockhounding Field Trips are on the weekend. For upcoming field trips, see the club newsletter where you will find specific details. Trips have included the following:
✓ Collecting petrified wood at Bear Creek and Sweet Home, Oregon
✓ Collecting thunder eggs at Richardson’s Rock Ranch
✓ Guided tour of the Wildcat and Crooked River calderas with Ochoco National Forest geologist
✓ Multi-day trips collecting sunstones in Plush, Oregon and Virgin Valley opal in Nevada
Members receive a monthly newsletter which covers general information regarding club activities along with specific details regarding field trips, special events and monthly presentations. Members are also enrolled in the Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies and receive the Federation newsletter.
Annual membership dues are only $20 for individuals, $25 for household, and $5 for juniors. Join us!
Hi there. What are you doing meeting wise with the restrictions? I’d love to get involved, but am a little cautious about large gatherings. Thanks.
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The first CORC meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, June 17 at the Redmond Grange Hall. Everyone will sit outside. Bring your own comfy camping chair or you may use the Grange Hall chairs. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. and end around 7:30 p.m. We plan to conform to social distancing recommendations.
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Sorry to link from here but can’t find right way. Is there a rock show in Sister’s this weekend? July 4th 2021? Thank you
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The only rock show that was scheduled for this year, that I am aware of, was the Prineville Pow Wow. Will be glad to see all our shows return in 2022!
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We have been having the club meetings outside at the Grange (details are in the Clubs newsletter on the website). Members bring a camp chair and we practice social distancing. Members drive their own cars on field trips and it is easy to socially distance when rockhounding.
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Jimbo Cully
Is there a Aug mtg scheduled?
I currently am in my rv in Albany.
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No meeting in August. The club has a picnic. Details will be posted in the newsletter on our club’s website and on Facebook
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Hi, where do I mail the membership form? I’m in the FB group and am finally getting to wanting to sign up. I realize covid gets in the way of most things, but hope to be able to take a field trip one day. Thank you.
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Please mail membership form and check to: Central Oregon Rock Collectors (CORC), PO Box 6265, Bend, OR 97708
We look forward to you joining our club.
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Hello,
I have a rock that I found on the road and it was fastened with copper wire to the end of a piece of bamboo. The rock in it is such a deep blue it looks almost black. If you hold it to the sun its areal deep pretty blue. I tbought it might be glass but it has a little orange crystal embedded in it and a little bit of green coloring. Wondering if you could tell me what it is? I don’t see a place to include a photo.
Thank you for your time
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Without seeing it, it is difficult to identify. Maybe attend one of our meetings and bring the specimen
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My wife and I are traveling thru central Oregon and will be in Bend for a week starting June 4th. Is there a field trip planned for that weekend? It is also her birthday and would love to surprise her. Can out of town era join your field trips?
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All attendees must be members of our club to attend the field trips. I do no believe we have any trips planned for that weekend, However there are many collecting sites near Bend that you can visit on your own, refer to Garrett Romaine’s book Gem Trails or the Central Oregon Rockhounding map.
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I’m signing up for membership, I would love to go to the next field trip to the Ochocos, what time and place to meet? I know the date is October 9th . Also what do I need to bring?
Thanks
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We are meeting at the Ray’s Market parking lot at 8:30AM. I would bring a bucket, gloves, pick, snacks and water.
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