In The Community

Rocks Build Our World

As a leader in the aggregates, asphalt, and ready mix concrete industry, Staker Parson Companies is committed to educating the community about the vital role aggregate resources provide in improving quality of life. For this reason, the company developed an educational program called "Rocks Build Our World." This program is designed to introduce people to the aggregates industry with the goal of helping people understand the importance of these natural resources and how they relate to each of us in our every day lives. The "Rocks Build Our World" program is custom-designed to the age of the participants and immerses them in a hands-on learning experience that has proven to be very effective. The program can be offered at school facilities or can be hosted at one of the company's locations.

The classroom visits start with some basic information on geology, mining methods and the uses of minerals in every day life. Students then enjoy a "cookie mining" session where they remove the chocolate chips from cookies (while reclaiming their site by placing all crumbs back into a designated area). Winners of this game receive Rocks Build Our World tee shirts and other prizes. Students see a miniature aggregate operation, demonstrating the mining to material production to reclamation process. They also watch the "Rockman" music video. The program ends with a question and answer session. Children are given activity books that highlight Rocky and Sandy, characters created for the program, as they explore the different uses of aggregates in a community.

"Just this week, a representative from your company came and spoke to my child's class at Beacon Heights Elementary School about rocks and mining.  I am simply writing as a parent to say my daughter has literally not stopped talking about it since.  She and all of the kids in the class thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and the presenter.  Ive heard time and again about "cookie" mining and how fun the presenter was. Thanks again for the time and energy it takes to make such a presentation, provide fun take-homes for the kids, and a very big thank you to the presenter for keeping it fresh and really connecting with the kids." - Jodie