watercolor
Silver Member
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2007
- Messages
- 4,112
- Reaction score
- 1,351
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Arlington Heights, IL
- Detector(s) used
- V3i, MXT-All Pro and Equinox 800
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
A few months ago our, local historical society asked if I would instruct a metal detecting class
for 5th - 8th grade kids. . . they only had 3 kids sign up but the program was a huge success
and the HS wants to repeat this program again next year. I fear word-of-mouth from the kids that
participated in this year's program will increase next year's enrollment to capacity.
The house I researched and received permission from the owner to detect was built in 1889 and
was on a 1/2-acre lot. With the time allotted (about 3-1/2 hours), we were only able to detect about
1/3 of the homeowner's back yard. One kid had his own detector (an Ace250) and I had 2 of my
own detectors that the kids could use.
After gridding off a section of the yard with utility flags, each kid had a portion of the yard to hunt
and when they got a good target, they would mark it's location with a small piece of cloth. After
they marked their target locations, I would dig their targets (since I didn't want any cut fingers).
I was totally amazed at their excitement, even when their target turned out to be a corroded Zincoln, or
a rusty nail. However, their values changed after one kid found a 40-cent pocket spill that included
two silver Rosies and a 1944 Merc
.
Some of the stellar finds that were made by these kids in only 3-1/2-hours of detecting . . (two kids
had never detected before). . . include a sterling silver ring with a blue stone, another silver Rosie,
an 1899 Indian Head penny, a Colorado Tax Token, and a cool souvenir from a Railroad Fair
exposition held in Chicago in 1949.
After spending the better part of the morning helping them clean yesterday's finds, we went back to the
property to show the homeowner what they had found during the previous day. The kids were on cloud
9 when the homeowner said they could keep their finds. (I'm almost certain these kids lost some sleep
last night thinking the owner would want what they found).
Here's a pic of some of the things they found (not including today).
for 5th - 8th grade kids. . . they only had 3 kids sign up but the program was a huge success
and the HS wants to repeat this program again next year. I fear word-of-mouth from the kids that
participated in this year's program will increase next year's enrollment to capacity.
The house I researched and received permission from the owner to detect was built in 1889 and
was on a 1/2-acre lot. With the time allotted (about 3-1/2 hours), we were only able to detect about
1/3 of the homeowner's back yard. One kid had his own detector (an Ace250) and I had 2 of my
own detectors that the kids could use.
After gridding off a section of the yard with utility flags, each kid had a portion of the yard to hunt
and when they got a good target, they would mark it's location with a small piece of cloth. After
they marked their target locations, I would dig their targets (since I didn't want any cut fingers).
I was totally amazed at their excitement, even when their target turned out to be a corroded Zincoln, or
a rusty nail. However, their values changed after one kid found a 40-cent pocket spill that included
two silver Rosies and a 1944 Merc
.Some of the stellar finds that were made by these kids in only 3-1/2-hours of detecting . . (two kids
had never detected before). . . include a sterling silver ring with a blue stone, another silver Rosie,
an 1899 Indian Head penny, a Colorado Tax Token, and a cool souvenir from a Railroad Fair
exposition held in Chicago in 1949.
After spending the better part of the morning helping them clean yesterday's finds, we went back to the
property to show the homeowner what they had found during the previous day. The kids were on cloud
9 when the homeowner said they could keep their finds. (I'm almost certain these kids lost some sleep
last night thinking the owner would want what they found).
Here's a pic of some of the things they found (not including today).
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