by Jane Hayes
Red River Gorge Discovery Zone popped up at the 2nd Annual Mission in Motion 5K at the Red River Outpost in Stanton on March 4th. The Red River Gorge Discovery Zone (RRGDZ) is a traveling pop-up learning experience focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM). Through hands-on activities and live presentations, it introduces students to the natural history and conservation of the Red River Gorge while connecting them to scientists working around the world.
Maria Reed designed and executed a set of activities centered around geodes, agates, fossils, and rocks found in nearby creeks. She taught the young explorers about the formation of geodes and fossils. A volcanic or sedimentary rock may have air pockets. These small hallow areas fill in with water and minerals through the cracks and fractures in the rock. Depending on the minerals that seep through, agate, quartz crystals, or calcite can form inside. She showed the explorers many geodes, of varying sizes and with varying sized crystals. She had many samples of agate and explained the banding and colors. With the assistance of her helpers Landry Clark, Deana Brooks, and Jane Hayes, she provided a take home kit for growing a crystal structure using Borax, either on the outside of a shell or on pipe cleaners.
David Davis, of David Davis Agates (https://www.facebook.com/DavisAgates/), provided each child with a polished agate. Josh Davis, of Davis Artifacts and Kentucky Agates (https://davisartifacts.com/), provided fossil specimens that contained both agate and quartz crystals. Maria provided each child with a shell.
Acknowledgements
The Discovery Zone event was coordinated with logistical support from Brad Smith.
Funded by grants from TC Energy, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, and Powell County Tourism Commission, and supported by fiscal sponsors Community Partners of Powell County and Powell County Tourism, the all-volunteer effort includes other organizations and team members not listed above. Organizations/individuals who donated or loaned items to assist the Discovery Zone in the 2026 season include Maria Reed, David Davis, and Josh Davis. Father Al Fritsch, may he rest in peace, formerly of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Appalachia Science in the Public Interest, Society of Jesus, and formerly of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church (Stanton) and of St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Ravenna), was the inspiration for the Discovery Zone.
Check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/rrgdiscoveryzone/ and our website at rrgdiscoveryzone.com. Join us at our next event on May 8th at Old Engine at the Red River Museum in Clay City!
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