I love activities that are also educational, so when our friends from Saunders Farm asked us to review their Prospector Gem Mining Kit, I was excited to do so. My niece and nephew were also up for the challenge, especially when I told them the kit included snacks and food. Read more to see how you can win a kit for your family!
Saunders Farm is one of our favourite places for family fun. It is a working farm, one of Canada’s greenest attractions, and has lots of mazes and activities in the summer and perfect Halloween and autumnal amusements each fall. (Fall Haunting Season begins Saturdays & Sundays starting Sept. 26/20. Campfires run Friday and Saturday evenings in September and October.)
Besides being a local attraction we love to support, we have been so impressed by how quickly Saunders Farm has adopted to the "new normal" of Covid protocols, while still being able to offer family fun in a variety of ways for local families.
This past summer, the Farm was open (at reduced capacity) offering camp fire experiences, an online local food shop, social distance farm camp and other ways to enjoy the Farm onsite and at home.
One of those included an enhanced online store with activities to do at home, including their Prospector Gem Mining Kit, an at home experience that piggy packs off their on-site gem mining activity.
With the help of Noah, age 8 and Maia, age 5, we went through the kit and played for over an hour.
The kit includes:
- Educational Gem/Fossil ID Card
- Sealable Collection Bag
- Instruction Sheet
- 100 Questions About Rocks and Minerals Book
- Mixed Gemstone Rocks in a Saunders Farm Velvet Bag
- Crack Open Geode
- Pirates Gold
- Regular Size Saunders Farm Kettle Corn
- 1/4 pound of Saunders Farm Fudge
- Rock Candy Lollistick
- Chocolate Rocks
- Miners Nugget Gum
Armed with a cookie sheet, strainer, bowl of water, hammer and screwdriver, we were all set to prospect and mine at home.
 |  |  |
The kids loved going through the pay dirt mining for treasures. We dumped the pay dirt into a large strainer and as we strained the dirt, we discovered different types of rocks (included in the kit) that we could research and verify from the included ID card. Noah was convinced he found an emerald, and Maia loved seeing all the "gold" in the rocks she discovered. We cleaned the rocks in the water and watched how they sparkled in the sun,
Cracking open the Geode was also a cool activity. Armed with a hammer and screwdriver (which was quickly abandoned for just the hammer) a few taps of the geode and it cracked open to sparkly glory. Using our imaginations, we thought the inside looked like ice diamonds from Princess Elsa, (which Maia was totally into). The rocks were also soaked and cleaned until they sparkled.
Noah went through each rock to identify and verify it's origin. The kit includes different types of rocks in various shapes and sizes and that spurred lots of scienc-y discussion about rocks and minerals.
The book was quickly perused but put aside for later, but included great facts and information about rocks, minerals, bugs and more.
The kit also includes kettle corn, fudge (which was delish), gum, chocolate rocks and other perfectly themed treats.
If you are home-schooling your kids this fall, this would be a great addition to a science unit. Both kids said they "loved" the activity and had lots of fun. If you are looking for a hands-on, engaging activity this is the kit you need. It also supports a local business we love that has had to pivot like so many others, so shopping and supporting a local business is just a bonus.
How to Win
To enter, you must be a Macaroni Kid subscriber. Email me (saralynne@macaronikid.com) with (Saunders Farm) in the subject heading. No substitutions or trade ins allowed. Open to Ottawa residents only. The winner will be contacted via email and announced in next week's newsletter. Good luck.
About the Giveaway
You must be a Macaroni Kid subscriber to be eligible. No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase of any kind will not increase your chances of winning. Odds of winning will depend on the total number of entries received. Void where prohibited by law. Do not enter this sweepstakes if you are not eighteen (18) years of age or older as of September 17, 2020 and a legal resident. Entry into this Giveaway begins Thursday, September 17, 2020 and ends Wednesday at 12 noon, September 23, 2020.
Bring a little Gem of Saunders Farm Home!
Available for pick up or delivery
