The Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Association (OAIMA) was recently awarded the 2014 Minerals Education-Public Outreach Award from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for its outstanding efforts to raise awareness about the use of aggregates and minerals and their important role in our daily lives.

A partnership between the OAIMA and the Miami County (Ohio) Park District created a program that provided book bags and educational rock box kits to children in area schools as a reward for completing the “Family Quest Nature Program.” This relationship led to a new weeklong, “Hug The Earth” program that was debuted in May of 2012.

The overwhelming success of the initial program encouraged OAIMA’s public relations committee with the support of the OAIMA board of directors and the Miami County Park District to create a hands-on experience that consists of children participating in a rock and mineral dig which includes rock and mineral identification followed up with a skit performed by OAIMA staff members that creates awareness of the importance of rocks and minerals to their everyday lives.

OAIMA Executive Director Patrick Jacomet expressed his appreciation for receiving the award by stating, “This award is a credit to OAIMA’s public relations committee and our board of directors. The program would not have been a success without their efforts in educating the public about the importance of our industry. We thank the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for this recognition.”