Looking for a fun family day out in Yorkshire? Come to Stump Cross and pan for gems with prizes to be won.
Here at Stump Cross Caverns, we're about so much more than just the caves. We see the caverns as a place for kids to learn, play and learn through play.
Take the Stump Cross Mining Co. This is our very own
gem sluice – a contraption straight out of the American Gold Rush. Kids are given a bag of mining rough. They then pan for gems in the water-filled sluice, taking home any sparkly specimens they find.
But there's more than mere gems to find. This Easter, we're hiding special golden shark teeth in the rough. If you find one, you can take it to our gift shop and exchange it for a special prize. (See it as a bonus for a hard day's work as a miner.)
It's a great example of how we cater for families here at Stump Cross. It's hands-on, outdoors and educational. What more do you want from a day out with the kids?
About the gem sluice
Ever wanted to be a miner for the day? With our gem sluice, you can have just that experience.
In the days of the American Gold Rush, people would pan the rivers for gold. The gem sluice replicates this experience – but it's gems you're after (and a golden tooth if you're lucky).
The sluice consists of a series of wooden troughs filled with water. This is the river, filled with gems amid the stones and mud. Each participant is given a bag of mining rough.
You then pour the contents of this bag into a tray. This is your version of the "miner's pan" of old. You hold it over the water and start panning. What will you find in your tray?
Well, whatever you find, you get to take home and keep it. And each day throughout Easter 2025, at least one lucky miner will find a golden tooth. This can be exchanged for a special gift.
Why book for the gem sluice?
At Stump Cross, we're firm believers in learning through play. We believe that kids are more likely to develop a passion for science if they're given fun, hands-on activities to complete.
Gem panning is a great example of this. Kids are fired up by the beautiful, many-coloured gemstones and the possibility of winning the golden tooth. But they also learn the names and properties of these stones.
It also gets kids playing outdoors – and not just any outdoors. We're not shy about saying that Stump Cross is located in some drop-dead gorgeous countryside.
On top of that, participants get to explore the caves themselves. They can even take part in the "UV tour", shining ultraviolet torches on the cave walls to uncover shimmering patterns in the rock.
So, if you want to get your children or students excited about geology, have a go at
panning for gems. It's quick and easy to
book your tickets online.
Our Golden Tooth promotion runs until the end of May 2025.
