Intern and collection staff join museum

BETHEL — The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum (MMGM) welcomed its first Student Intern, Myles Felch, of Union. Myles graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology. He will be living in Bethel until late July to complete his internship.

Myles will begin a Master of Science degree in Mineralogy, Petrology and Pegmatology at the University of New Orleans, LA in August. Myles’ study of minerals in Maine’s quarries and mines has helped him catalogue minerals for the Museum. His expertise in Geology is an asset to the Museum as it makes progress on collection care and exhibition plans for next summer’s opening.

The internship is a reflection of the Museum’s commitment to education for students of all ages, fostering science and community history research.

MMGM announces that Fred Bailey, of Andover, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College in 2007, has joined the staff. As the Museum’s Collections Assistant, he is cataloguing and photographing rock and mineral collections. A Libra Foundation and Maine Winter Sports Center-supported athlete, Fred is training to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics United States Ski Team.

Fred has his own firm, Fred Bailey Trail Design, with many projects in Aroostook County, from community snowshoe trails to a sprint course for the Junior Olympics Skiing Championships. Fred teaches youth programming at Black Mountain of Maine ski area in Rumford, and he helps with his family’s dairy farm.

Myles and Fred have been essential to the Museum as it makes progress on collection care with guidance from Museum Trustee and cataloguing volunteer Stephen T. Seames.

For more information, contact Gena Schwam, Director, Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, at 824-3036, or gschwam@mainemineralmuseum.org. Museum offices are located at 57 Main Street in Bethel.