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 OSU Extension Service Building, 3800 SE Airport Way Bldg. 3 “The Annex”, Redmond, OR at 6:00 PM with the exception of 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)
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!
Central Oregon Rock Collectors Club CORC 
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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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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Hello Someone came To Waldorf School of Bemd and spoke to the 6th grade class, Hailey us excites for us to join. Can we turn in form and pay at the first meeting? And checking in to see if March 16th is still as scheduled in Redmond?
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Hi Nicole! You are very welcome and can absolutely join at the meeting on the 16th at 6pm, doors open at 5:30pm. It was my pleasure to speak to her class! Great group of kids!
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I have several rockhound and mineral books from my Dad 1960s-1980s. I would like to donate rather than trash. Notify me if interested.
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Hi Dennis! The club would welcome our donation to our library. Feel free to bring them to the August picnic or our next meeting!
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Does the membership/insurance fee I paid at the Prineville Rock show (I bought an annual membership) make me part of this group? How do the two groups differ? Please and thank you
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Hi Lori,
The Prineville Pow-Wow is an entirely different club. We have our own form and fee. The Pow-Wow membership only allows you to go on their field trips during the show. CORC meets monthly from March-November, with monthly field trips. We would love to have you join us!
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To the president, librarian and members.
I am sorry I missed you. Due to a delay and trouble finding the right building I got there after the meeting started Wednesday. I placed the two boxes of gemology and rockhound books on a back table. I hope they make it into your library and give the members as much happiness as they did my family over the years. Thankyou Ken Lawson for your assistance.
On another note, I have a lot of lapidary equipment and literally a ton of rocks mostly from Oregon. When I have more time to get to it I would like to make it available. If interested I can be contacted at the listed email address or phone: 541-923-0286.
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