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TO ALL CLUB MEMBERS: WE ARE REACHING OUT TO YOU IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO OUR MEMBERS EMAIL ADDRESSES. IF YOU ARE NOT RECEIVING OUR MEETING MINUTES THEN PLEASE SEND A CURRENT EMAIL TO OUR CONTACT US PAGE. IF YOU ARE RECEIVING MINUTES AND MESSAGES THEN DISREGARD THIS. THANK YOU, FROM DEL, CLUB PRESIDENT

HOT OFF THE PRESS! MARK YOUR CALENDARS TO ATTEND THE MAY 2nd, 2024 CLUB MEETING. WE WILL HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER AT THIS MEETING. HANK SCHIMSCHAT OF BERING SEA GOLD AKA AU GRABBER AND EDDIE ROSE’S NEPHEW WILL BE PRESENTING. https://beringseapaydirt.com/what-happened-to-hank-schimschat-bering-sea-gold/

It won’t be long!! 3-08-2024

Ashlee, winner of adult raffle prize.
Roger Williams, winner of silver round donated by Eddie Rose.
Charlie Brown, winner of silver and copper rounds.
Congratulations to Selena Villa! New member and winner of gold nugget.

2-26-2024: A special thank you to everyone who stopped by our club booth at the Central Washington Sportsman Show. Congrats to all the raffle winners.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! “MAY OUR 2024 PANS BE FULL OF THAT YELLOW STUFF!”

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: PLEASE BE SURE TO NOT LEAVE ANY VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLES WHILE PROSPECTING ON OUR CLAIMS. KEEP ALL ITEMS OUT OF SIGHT. WE HAD A VEHICLE BROKEN INTO ON SATURDAY, 4-8-23. IT WAS A QUICK SMASH AND GRAB OF TWO BACKPACKS FROM THE REAR SEAT. NUMEROUS PERSONAL ITEMS WERE TAKEN. THIS OCCURRED WHILE PROSPECTING ON THE HMII CLAIM BY THE LADDERS. PLEASE BE SAFE!

 

Welcome to the Yakima Prospectors Association Website

Our club was originally formed in the early 1980’s as a chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA) and chartered by George (Buzzard) Massie, president and founder of the GPAA. The YPA club is focused on sharing the prospecting history and knowledge on the local area. We are active in promoting prospecting with local events, putting on panning demonstrations and educating the public and youth with our prospecting hobby.

Our club is a member of the Resources Coalition (RC) which is made up of Washington State prospecting clubs and individuals. The primary mission of the RC is to keep an eye on the State and National governments with regulations that limit our congressional rights as prospectors under the mining laws of 1866 and 1872. These rights are given to individuals who are known as “Small Scale Prospectors and miners,” not “recreational miners” who have no rights. There are a lot of groups and organizations that would like to eliminate our activities and close our access to public lands.

We hold monthly meetings and have outings mostly in the fall, spring, and summer months when weather is comfortable to be in the outdoors. Some of our outings involve mine tours, metal detecting, and prospecting on our claims. Our outings usually involve potlucks and families are welcome. We have a Christmas party in December with a potluck at our regular meeting. Outings are a great way to get hands on experience for new prospectors from experienced members.

Our club is an associate member of the Yakima Rock and Mineral Club, allowing their members and ours to attend each club’s meetings and outings. We share each other’s newsletters and meeting minutes to keep everyone’s activities known.

Thank You for your interest and may the bottom of your pan turn yellow!

Kathy Griffin, Treasurer
Yakima Prospectors Association

Meetings

  • Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month.  Doors open at 7 p.m. and meetings start at 7:30 p.m.
  • We meet at the Selah Civic Center, 216 S 1st St. Click here for map.
  • There is a raffle and prizes at each meeting.

Membership

  • $25 per year.  Includes access to field trips and claims.
  • As a member of the Yakima Prospectors Association, you will have full access to all club claims.
  • Click here for membership application.

Outings

  • Several outings are planned throughout the year: Metal Detecting Outing in May.  Nile Valley Days in July. Claim Gold Prospecting in August.
  • Members can also enjoy metal detecting and rock hounding activities, as well as prospecting.
  • Demonstrations include panning and sluicing at local community events.
  • And always, all gold you find as a member on club claims, you keep!

  

3-07-2023:  ATTENTION ALL CLUB MEMBERS!  You can now access the GOLD AND FISH pamphlet in the members only page.

1-22-2023:  New pages have been added to our website.  Check them out!!!

Remember 2024 membership fees are due

1-04-2024: Elections were held for 2024 YPA Club Officers! The following were elected:

President: Del Enders

Vice President: Chuck Cady

Treasurer: Kathy Griffin

Secretary: Neil Pake

Claims Manager: Rob Fitzgerald

Fifth Board Member/Past President: Pat Murphy

Raffle Manager: Bob Nummerdor

Librarian: Steve Curtis

Events Coordinator: Ruby Dorning