The Kettle Krier

Artic

VOL 10 Issue 8

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Official Publication of Kettle Moraine

Geological Society

AUGUST

2026

2026 SPONSORS

Thank you to all our sponsors who support us in our educational mission!

VIP Sponsor!

MONTHLY MEETING NOTICE

The AUGUST meeting of KMGS will be held at the Pewaukee Public Library on Wednesday, AUGUST 19, 2026 at 6:30 PM.

**MEETING DATE CHANGE IN OCTOBER!

We were unable to reserve the library for our usual date, so the October meeting has been changed to  October 14th, one week earlier. Still at 6:30 pm.

AUGUST-Letter from President

I know many of you have already picked up your 2027 raffle ticket and started selling them. You can pick up additional tickets at any meeting or contact Gail at 262-707-9119.

If you are unable to make it to a meeting to get your pouch, contact Gail to make arrangements to get yours. The raffle is important to not only sustain but to grow our many educational projects. It is the support and growth of these programs that our club survived the Covid years and has even grown.

I thank all of you for your support of these programs as a program scheduler, speaker, demonstrator, or a helper to these people. But rising costs and larger group sizes come with added costs which make everyone’s support selling raffle tickets even more important.  

I know that I have grown from my involvement interacting with the members of our organization and it is that personal growth that makes me want to do more. But my greatest motivation comes from seeing new people, regardless of their age, discover one or more of the many facets (sorry for the pun) this hobby has to offer.  

As always, happy and safe rockhounding, can’t wait to see what treasures everyone has to share with us.

Tim Perrin

KMGS 2026 President

KMGS July Meeting Minutes 7-15-2026

(1) Meeting Called to order at 6:33 pm by VP Ashley Adair

(2) The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the 33 present.

(3) Guests: We had 4 (four) new guests present. Steve & Diana Webb, and Angella & Liana Scipior

Upcoming Programs

• August -

  Mary Nettesheim wil lhavea program on Dinosaurs of Arizona & Utah.

• September is Pot luck and what you did on your summer vacation. Don't forget a dish to pass.  

• October or November will be an “In House Rock Hunt”.

• December is the Christmas Party and Trivia.

   

  A heartfelt thank you to our amazing members who share their rockhounding adventures with the club! Your effort and dedication in creating and presenting programs truly enrich our community.  Keep those stories coming!

   

Here is your chance to glow!

I’ve decided that the 2027 Show will be my last show taking care of the fluorescent display.  After 25+ years, it’s time to pass the light to someone interested in taking it over.  It would be nice to have a club member continue the tradition of organizing and developing the fluorescent display as an attraction for the show.  If you are interested and want to work with me on the 2027 display, please contact me.

Richard Rosenberger

KMGS Annual Picnic - August 8, 2026

11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Nixon Park Shelter #4 - near the playground

Hartland, WI  53029

We enjoy each other's company from approx. 11 - 4.  There are picnic tables, but you may also want to bring a lawn chair.  Bring whatever you want to eat + your own plates/utensils.  Also, many of us bring something to share....a dessert, chips, salads, fruit, etc.  John R. likes to grill, so bring meat to grill if you want.

What is fun:  bring your summer "finds", stories of your travels, plans of where you are going next, anything of interest to any of us!

Rain or shine - we have a shelter - we haven't been rained on for many, many years.  Did you know we have been having out picnic there for over 40 years.

Public washrooms are nearby.

If questions or more information, contact Janet Schmitt.

CLUB SPONSORED FIELD TRIPS!

All members of the club are eligible to attend! Check out what Wisconsin has to offer….besides cheese!

Please register for the field trips, as the club will provide buses if needed.
Rockhounding Kenosha Beaches

Saturday, August 8th, 2026

10:30am 'till we get sick of it!

Starting at Simmons Island Beach House

5001 Simmons Island Road

Kenosha, WI 53140

Baraboo Syncline Discovery Day

Saturday, September 12th, 2026

11:00pm - 5:00pm

Registration closes Monday, September 7th.

On this adventure we will explore two locations:

First meetup location:

Ableman's Gorge and Van Hise Rock

Park at the Van Hise Rock Area

59 WI-136, Rock Springs, WI 53961
Our day begins at Van Hise Rock where we will discuss this amazing rock feature and how it tells scientists the story of how this famous area was created.

Second meetup location will be:

Parfrey's Glen

1377 County Rd DL, Merrimac, WI 53561

This is a spectacular location to explore! Plan on getting (at least) your feet wet. The .8 mile hike to the gorge entrance is very simple, but the trail disappears after that so our path lies on the stream bed. There area many tricky areas to scramble over boulders and through the rocks. The kids just love it, parents beware...you'll surely be scrambling over those boulders and through the stream after them.

Kettle Moraine Ice Age Center Tour

Saturday, October 10th, 2026

10:30pm - 12:30pm

HENRY S. REUSS ICE AGE VISITOR CENTER

KETTLE MORAINE STATE FOREST - NORTHERN UNIT

N2875 Hwy 67
Campbellsport, WI 53010

Registration closes Monday, October 5th

We will explore the exhibits to find out about the area’s glacial legacy and world-renowned landforms. It's a spectacular place to learn more about the impact of the last Ice Age’s glaciers on the landscape of Wisconsin. After browsing the visitor center, we will load up in our respective vehicles and rendezvous at Parnell Tower located at W7876 Co Rd U, Plymouth, WI 53073. The 60-foot observation tower rises above the treetops for a birds-eye-view of the glacial landscape. There is a great 3.5 mile hike that starts at the base of the tower for those who'd like to adventure a little more.

Upcoming Junior Rockhounds Events

THE LAST WORD

See you all at the Pewaukee Public Library, August 19, 2026 at 6:30PM

Please send all comments, submissions and ideas for articles to:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ori-anna and Regina, Co-editors

The Kettle Moraine Geological Society (KMGS) was organized in 1960 for the purpose of gathering and disseminating knowledge of geology and the earth sciences.

Our meetings are held at the Pewaukee Public Library on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM. Guests are always welcome. Persons interested in becoming members can obtain an application form from any of the officers. Visit our website at www.kmgsrocks.com and like us on facebook.

The Kettle Krier is the official publication of KMGS and is published each month. Articles for publication must be submitted no later than the second weekend of the month prior to publication.

KMGS is a member of the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies.