Yucaipa Valley Gem and Mineral Society Workshop 34861 Yucaipa Boulevard, Yucaipa, CA 92399

"This place is in itself a teue GEN for this community. A wonderful safe and learning activity for youngsters and a chance to have quality productive time with your children rhat everyone can hold on to as a treasure for a lifetime."

"Friendly and talented artists welcome all to create and learn jewelry making in one of the best equipped and maintained workshops in Southern California...working silver and Lapidary and combining the two are avidly pursued here..field trips and training classes offered throughout the year and all ages and families are encouraged to come.."

"Great place to learn how to work with rocks in all forms. Cutting, polishing, wire wrapping, beading, silver smithing and field trips to dig for rocks. Yucaipa Valley Gem and Minerals are very involved with the community and youth."

"All the people are very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful! There are so many skill-teaching workshops they offer that anyone cold be there for a very long time developing their jewelry making, polishing, faceting, lost wax and many more techniques."

"Just finished up a beginners silversmithing class this evening with Mr Jim Bowden, assisted by Mrs. Marla Reagle, volunteer teachers and club members... I have to say that this was one of the most interesting, informative and useful evenings I have ever had. Jim is such a patient, well spoken teacher . There were 4 of us in the class, most had zero experience in silversmithing. In around 5 hours each of us had created ( with plenty of constructive guidance by Jim) a beautiful and unique piece of sterling silver jewelry with a polished stone of our choice! Stones we're available at a nominal fee for those who didn't have one. All the silver and tools needed were already on hand for our use. I felt like I was receiving university level training yet even more one on one time, since they only allow 4 students at a time. If you've ever wondered how actual real jewelry is made, come take Jim's class! You will not be dissapointed in what you take away from his class. Not only a beautiful piece of high dollar sterling silver jewelry, but the lifelong knowledge that you can use to create any sort of jewelry you can imagine! I HIGHLY RECOMEND THIS CLASS The gem and mineral society also offers more classes, one of which is sandcasting sterling silver objects, which I plan on taking next. Come down to the club workshop, open most days and check out all the cool machines and friendly, helpful members who are always happy to share what they know and help you get started making your first beautiful polished stone to place into the wonderful custom jewelry you will soon create! Cost to play in the shop and use any of a plethora of lapidary tools and saws is only $10 for non members ... A phenomenal value when you think of how many thousands of dollars of equipment there is available to use there. Definitely worth bringing the family in for a nice cool evening of grinding and polishing stones. Did I mention it's nice and cool in the workshop? Kids really enjoy creating stones and the club is definitely family and kid friendly. Ask about special stuff and classes for kids too. Yucaipa valley gem and mineral society is my new favorite summertime hangout.... Come check them out!!"