By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
September 18, 2003

Students learned some lessons about rocks and their faith at a Geological Education Day held Sept. 12 at the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend.

According to Audrey Niemann, executive director of the grotto, about 100 grade school students from four schools took part in the day. More schools will attend a second Geological Education Day on Sept. 26.

"The experience consisted of a geological lecture by Father Verne Stapenhorst. It was held in our grotto classroom. He talked about the Iowa geode," she explained.

The students were able to open a geode, which Father Stapenhorst has collected in the streams of southeast Iowa for nearly 30 years.

"They are the secrets of God - to open them and discover the beauty of the crystals inside their hollow cavity," explained the priest, who is pastor at Sacred Heart in Laurens.

These rocks are often unattractive on the outside, but full of crystals on the interior.

"They are much like people - we cannot judge their surface, but must look inside like the geode and discover their real and true beauty," said Father Stapenhorst.

Niemann said that when the children were able to break open a geode, it was a big hit with them all.

"He a good job about tying the message to a greater meaning," she said. "He brought forth was very meaningful messages and tied together our whole life with God and our life with nature and how those two relate to one another."

The priest also led a brief demonstration about the science of fluorescence. He told them that the naked eye often must be aided by the ultraviolet light to see the color in some rocks.

"Likewise, we cannot see God with our naked eye, but like the rock with light, we can see him in a world of darkness," said Father Stapenhorst.

Lastly, he had them look at the beauty, pattern, uniqueness and color in a cut and polished agate.

"I saw a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for what father was talking about in the classrooms," noted Niemann. "It was wonderful."

The workshop tied in well in the setting of the grotto.

She views rocks and nature as one of God's special gifts to the people.

"A greater appreciation of them is critical to having that fuller relationship in life," noted Niemann. "Today, we have become so focused on technology. It makes it all the more important to stay in touch with nature and the messages of nature. I think this was an event that helped our children do that."

In a separate presentation from Father Stapenhorst's, Ken Robinson of Humboldt displayed a wooden dinosaur - known as Annie May II - that he constructed. He made the 75-pound creation out of 500 pieces of cedar board fence with an outside covering of sawdust, mixed with glue.

"Once again, this offered children another educational opportunity. This man has had a lifelong interest in dinosaurs and this is something that he constructed over seven years," said Niemann. "It sends a message to children about what they can accomplish if they set their mind to it."

Students that attended the Sept. 12 Geological Day were from the following schools: Laurens-Marathon, St. Augustine's of the Des Moines area, West Bend-Mallard and Sts. Peter and Paul School. Fourth-graders from Algona Seton will be among the students attending the Sept. 26 presentation.

Fifth and sixth graders attended from Sts. Peter and Paul.

"The students totally loved it," said Elizabeth Ehn, fifth and sixth grade teacher. "They enjoyed learning about the rocks and enjoyed Father Verne."

The teacher found the comparison about the rocks and people to be a valuable lesson. And even though the grotto is practically in the school's backyard, she said the students all learned something new.

Ehn said the students were impressed when they saw the fluorescent rocks glow in the light.

Niemann pointed out that the grotto would be open to offering more educational opportunities such as this one to people of all ages including community and religious groups. This same school program will be offered in the spring. For more information, contact Niemann at (515) 887-2371.

As for the Sept. 12 presentation, Niemann said everywhere she turned, the children were smiling. She added, "It was a wonderful success."