Six Friday sessions invite families to explore the rock cycle, grow real crystals, sift for minerals, and more. Come for free and drop in all summer long!
BETHEL, MAINE — The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum (MMGM) is launching Science Fair Fridays, a free, six-week summer series of hands-on, drop-in science activities for kids, beginning Friday, July 10, 2026. Each Friday from 11 am to 1 pm, families can stop by the museum to explore a different earth-science theme. No registration or fee required.
Designed for curious kids and led by MMGM education intern Eli Budet, the series will make complex science concepts approachable. Each session pairs a different earth-science theme with a hands-on activity. Kids will crush crayon “sediment” into rock to model the rock cycle. They’ll build model solar systems, make eggshell geodes, create mica art, and grow real bismuth crystals. They’ll even sift for minerals like a working miner and take a close-up look at Maine’s quarries.
The full lineup runs each Friday from 11 am to 1 pm:
- July 10: Rock Cycle Re-Imagined
- July 17: Model Solar System
- July 24: Egg Shell Geodes & Mica Art
- July 31: The Miner’s Secret: Sifting
- August 14: Maine Quarries Up Close
- August 21: Bismuth Crystal Growing
The series pauses the week of August 7 and resumes August 14. Activities are designed to be drop-in, so families can come for a few minutes or stay the whole session.
“Science Fair Fridays is exactly the kind of program we love to offer. It’s free, welcoming, and genuinely hands-on,” said Kristy Griffin, Executive Director of the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. “We want every family in the Bethel area to know they have a place to spend a summer Friday where kids can do real science, get curious, and connect with the incredible geology right here in Maine.”
The series is hosted by Eli Budet, an MMGM education intern and lifelong rock and mineral enthusiast from midcoast Maine. Budet is studying elementary education with a middle school minor and a concentration in science at the University of Maine at Farmington. He brings experience from summer camps, pre-K classrooms, and AmeriCorps educational service. He’s back for a second summer as the museum’s education intern.
“I’ve been a rock and mineral collector my whole life, so getting to share that with kids every Friday is a dream,” said Eli Budet, education intern. “Every week is something different and totally hands-on. My hope is that kids leave each Friday a little more excited about science than when they walked in.”
“Programs like Science Fair Fridays make science approachable for the whole family,” said Deb Johnson, Education Outreach Coordinator. “Each week connects a simple, fun activity to the museum’s world-class collection and to Maine’s own mining heritage. Kids aren’t just watching science — they’re doing it.”
Science Fair Fridays is free and open to the public. No registration is required. Sessions take place at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum in Bethel, Maine.
For more information and the full summer schedule, visit: www.mainemineralmuseum.org/events or follow MMGM on Facebook and Instagram @mainemineralmuseum. Questions may be directed to info@mainemineralmuseum.org.
About the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum:
Nestled in the heart of Bethel, MMGM is home to the most significant collection of Maine minerals and gemstones in the world. A one-of-a-kind destination where geology, history, science, and education come to life, the museum also boasts one of the rarest displays of meteorites in the world, including Moon and Mars rocks. Through hands-on exhibits, expert storytelling, and cutting-edge research, MMGM inspires curiosity in visitors of all ages. Inviting them to explore the incredible story of our planet — and beyond.
