Rock and fossil lovers of every age have a free reason to head to Alum Creek State Park next month. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey is hosting Ohio Geology Discovery Day on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the H. R. Collins Laboratory and Core Repository, with hands-on activities built around rocks, minerals, fossils and more.
The free event is described as perfect for learners of all ages who are excited about earth science, according to a listing from visitdelohio.com. It takes place at the laboratory, listed at 3307 S. Old State Road. The lab itself is no ordinary building — it houses the Ohio Geological Sample Repository, which holds thousands of geological samples collected from Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, as reported by CityScene Columbus.
What Visitors Can Expect Onsite
Hands-on learning is the centerpiece of the day, with visitors able to engage directly with activities covering rocks, minerals, fossils and related topics, per the same visitdelohio.com listing. Organizers also note that attendees can grab lunch at an onsite food truck and relax at a picnic area beside the laboratory, and the event will come stocked with giveaways, maps and educational publications for guests to take home.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources event is free and offers hands-on learning for learners of all ages interested in rocks, minerals, fossils and more.
A Lineup of Scientific and Conservation Partners
Organizers have lined up a wide roster of activity-station hosts spanning state government, academia and industry. The ODNR Division of Geological Survey and the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves will both staff stations, alongside H2Ohio, the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, and the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, according to the visitdelohio.com listing.
Higher education and industry groups round out the list. The Ohio State University's School of Earth Sciences and its Byrd Polar and Climate Center are both participating, as are the Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Association and the Ohio Natural Energy Institute, per the same event listing.
Part of a Broader 2026 Schedule
This isn't the only time this year that the laboratory has opened its doors for Geology Discovery Day. CityScene Columbus's events roundup documented a June 13, 2026 Ohio Geology Discovery Day at the same laboratory, describing it as a free event where visitors of all ages could learn about the state's rocks, minerals, fossils and more. That same roundup noted that another Geology Discovery Day would take place in November, pointing ahead to the November 7 date now set at Alum Creek State Park.
Admission remains free for the November event, which offers a hands-on, all-ages approach to earth science set against the backdrop of one of Ohio's key geological research sites.
