Social project · educational tourism · craft

Mineral seekers - from find to setting

Legal mineral discovery joined with a craft workshop: from finding material to a simple setting.

A minerals workshop and the thrill of discovery.

Minerals and a prospecting station in a craft session.

The treasure-hunt-craft project combines educational tourism with craft: legal gold panning / mineral collecting, then a mobile workshop (casting or setting) and a certificate of origin.

Rule: zero encouragement of illegal archaeological excavations - only lawful sites and procedures. Capacity: 12–20 people per trip · 3–4 editions.

Who it is for

Families and youth - educational tourism
Schools and nature / geology clubs
Craftspeople - from stone to adornment
Local governments - regional tourism attraction
Volunteers: amateur geologists, jewellers, guides

Scope

Educational trips: legal sites only (gold panning / stone collecting - with consent and within the law)
Mobile mini-workshop: scan / documentation → simple casting or setting → certificate
Education on mineral legality, heritage protection and illegal excavation risks
Note: zero encouragement of illegal archaeological treasure hunting

MVP1 Hunt

3–4 educational trips (12–20 people each)
1 mobile workshop station (tools + casting / setting)
30–50 social-origin certificates
Educational materials on geological law / monument protection

Budget: PLN 35–80k · 6–12 months · TRL 2–3

Funding: Local tourism/culture grant, PROO, participant fees, local sponsor

Budget and sources

Total: PLN 35–80k (agent-estimate)

Funding sources

Local government tourism / culture grant
PROO / NOWEFIO - education and activation
Trip participant fees (partial cost recovery)
Local sponsor / equipment donations

Line items

Transport and trip insurance: PLN 8–18k
Mobile workshop station: PLN 10–20k
Casting / setting materials: PLN 5–12k
Guides + jewellery instructor: PLN 6–15k
Educational materials and certificates: PLN 2–5k
Reserve / volunteer cost reimbursement: PLN 4–10k

People and roles

Capacity: 12–20 participants per trip · 3–4 editions · 2–5 volunteers

1 local guide / nature educator
1 jewellery instructor (final workshop)
2–5 volunteers: group safety, documentation
1 foundation coordinator (permits, compliance, reporting)
Local government / landowner partner (legal access)

Implementation schedule

Duration: 6–12 months (spring–autumn season)

Months 1–2: map legal locations + partner agreements
Months 3–4: build workshop station, educational materials
Months 5–9: 3–4 trips + final workshops
Months 10–12: report, feedback, next-season application

Foundation model

Educational tourism + craft in the grant region → participant fees and donations for statutory goals. Strict legal compliance - education instead of treasure hunting outside the rules.

How you can help

Choose how to get involved - email or (soon) online form.

Placements, theses and research

For outstanding candidates: placements in every format (on-site, remote, hybrid), research commissions, sponsorship of engineering, master's and doctoral theses, and joint research with a university.

Send email

Donate to the pilot

Support the workshop station and group insurance.

Send email Donate

Pilot partner

Local government, landowner, school, hiking club - legal location.

Send email

Partners sought

Local governments and cultural centres

Hiking clubs / PTTK

Schools and geology clubs

Local jewellers (final workshop)

Landowners with legal educational access

Portal roadmap

30 days

2 conversations with potential sites (legality)
Draft educational materials on the law

90 days

1 pilot trip (12–20 people)
Final workshop test + 10 certificates
Draft grant application

We are looking for volunteers and academic partners

Across all foundation projects we seek volunteers for field work, documentation, education, logistics and participant care.

For outstanding candidates we offer placements in every format: on-site, remote and hybrid, as well as research commissions, sponsorship of engineering and master's theses, doctoral work and joint research with universities and student research groups.

Write to foundation@aimindllc.com with a short note on your interests and availability.