Hidden Gemstone Parties Rock In Southwest RivCo: Meet Kids Digz

TEMECULA, CA — Kids Digz, a child-focused educational experience based in Temecula, aims to share the joy of rock hunting with Southwest Riverside County's youth. Small business owners Damion and Charlinda Santiago, with their son Phoenix, wanted to share their passion and adventure for finding gemstones. They also are focused on philanthropy, helping military families and special needs children experience the joy of finding a "diamond" in the rough.

Sign-ups for a monthly "digging" party are available online, and spots remain open for an Aug. 6 dig.

"Kids get to take home all of the gems, crystals and fossils they find and will also get a BONUS gem gift as well," the Santiagos said. There is no charge for adults to attend. Military families receive an additional discount.

"We have a love for the adventure of digging and finding gems of all sorts and wanted to share that passion with kids and adults," Damion told Patch.

Earlier this year, the family began their project as a way to get outside, and their idea quickly grew a social following on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok.

The Kidz Digz birthday party setup involves decor as well as the "traveling dig site." Specially designed tables with small bins, loaded with layers of varying gemstones and small fossils. Together, the Santiago family teaches how to identify gems and educates about fossils.

Children can then wash the stones in a water bath and see how they change color.

"We realized how many people love gems and wanted to make it easy for special needs and military families to share the joy of rock hunting," Damion Santiago told Patch.

Parties involve setting up tables with a partitioned sandy matrix. The family hosts monthly events, and on August 6 they are reviving their prehistoric Jurassic Park-themed dig.

"Kidz Digz Fun Digs are travel-to-you gemstone and crystal mini mining experiences that are not only fun but educational," the Santiagos said. "Kids get to take home what they find."

Themes include Minecraft Fun Dig and Jurassic World.

Rocks 4 Rockstars was developed specifically for military families. The event features small "treasure chests" containing gemstones and small fossils that are delivered to special needs children. With each little box, kids find something beautiful.

To book your space, message over Facebook, email kidzdigzfun@gmail.com or call/text 619-905-3939. Spaces are limited.

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