On Saturday 12 July, our outreach team headed to Uttoxeter Racecourse for Magical Midlands – a huge full-day event organised by Girlguiding Midlands, where guides in the Midlands could come together for a day full of fun and adventure.
The Magical Midlands event was made up of three zones – Xcite, Xplore, and Xtreme – all offering a different activity for the girls to take part in. Our team was based in the Xtreme zone, which was designed to host activities the girls might not have tried before and push their boundaries. Joined by other local and national organisations, the STEM marquee gave girls the chance to take part in science experiments and STEM challenges.
Our Minerals in a Smartphone activity invited visitors to handle mineral samples that power modern technology and renewable energy, helping to build a connection between visitors and the natural materials that are used throughout the world. The fully hands-on activity allowed visitors to handle and inspect the materials, asking questions about where these materials come from, how they are extracted, and what their impacts are on our planet.
To complement this, we trialled a brand-new activity focusing on the materials used in a solar panel, challenging visitors to identify these materials and think about how they are used. This included copper wire, tin solder, 10p coins, and quartz samples – items they may recognise from their own experiences.
The aim of the activities was to get visitors to connect with natural materials and understand their importance in modern society, bridging the gap between us and the technology we use in our everyday lives.
Throughout the day, the team interacted with over 300 young people aged from four to 18 years, adapting the main activity to be suitable for all ages. Visitor engagement was fantastic, with lots of young people already recognising materials on display such as quartz, pyrite, and the very popular obsidian! The team got to answer all of the girls’ burning questions, such as how these minerals actually power their smartphones and how different minerals form. It was also great to hear young visitors using geological terms with confidence, such as 'igneous' when describing obsidian.
Magical Midlands was a very fun and inspiring event. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with young people and give them the chance to engage with geoscience. Thank you to the organisers for hosting the team and allowing us the chance to share our incredible rocks and mineral with a new audience!
Our Minerals in a Smartphone poster is available to download for free! Hard-copies are also available for an optional donation. Email education@geolsoc.org.uk to find out more.
