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Rock collection of a lifetime |
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Wednesday, 07 January 2009 |
 Will Houser, a fifth grader at Washington Elementary School, has his rock collection on display at the school. Photo/Carol Anders By Carol Anders Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — Riverside fifth grader Will Houser thinks his love of rock collecting started when he was about 5 years old; however, his mother, Erin, was able to find a picture of Will as he entered pre-school with a rock in his hand.
Houser’s impressive rock collection is currently on display in his brother Patrick’s classroom at Washington Elementary. Teacher Chris VanVactor, who also had Will as a student, has a special table set up for the display.
He said he started collecting when neighbors were finding geodes in their backyard and gave him some.
Will said, “What really motivated me this summer was collecting rocks at Lake Monroe.”
He said he was even given specimens by a naturalist at Spring Mill State Park when his family was camping there.
Erin said Will has a lot of research books to help him identify specific rocks.
Will said, “Most of them I know and I can identify them right away.”
“The first teacher to encourage me to bring in my collection was Mrs. Roth in second grade,” said Will. “All of my teachers have encouraged me every year since then.”
Included in his collection are rocks that his grandparents brought him from Arizona and some that he found himself in California.
Houser said his family including Erin, Patrick, sister Becca and his father Dustin prefer that he keeps his rocks in his room.
He said, “But I think they really like them too.”
Will hopes that other teachers will want to have his collection for a showing. He said, “My traveling collection is always available.”
It’s not surprising that he plans to become a geologist when he grows up.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 January 2009 )
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