The Gold Prospectors Association of Phoenix was in existence for a number of years before it was incorporated in the State of Arizona as a  not-for-profit corporation in 1997.

Our purpose is to provide a social environment for our members and any other person interested in placer gold prospecting and treasure hunting, also, to educate our members as well as the general public regarding prospecting and panning for gold as an outdoor activity.

 We meet the first Thursday of every month at the American Italian Club on 12th St. between Northern and Glendale @ 7:00 PM.  We bring in speakers who lecture and/or show slides about various subjects pertaining to prospecting and the desert.

We also hold raffles of gold nuggests and door prizes.

We received an Honorable Mention award for our Adopt a Highway program from the Governors's Pride in Arizona.  Also, an award from ADOT recognizing our dedication to keeping Arizona highways beautiful.  Our members rally 3 times a year to pick up trash along our 1-mile section of I-17.

We have worked with the Boy Scouts Jamboree at Pioneer Village and we are looking forward to working with the Scouts again.  They are considering developing a merit badge, in panning, for the Scouts.

In keeping with the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Land Management, we have a Claims Maintenance group which meets in the desert to fill in holes that others have left unfilled and to pick up trash that people dump.

We have two picnics a year in the desert, one in the spring and one in the fall.  In the morning we have a metal detecting shoot/contest where someone has placed objects to be found with a metal detector.  We also have panning games and the winners receive gold nuggets.  Although, it's a pot luck and everyone brings a dish, the club supplies the meat.  Then several of our members step in and show us their other talents (cooking).  After lunch the members go out on their own and prospect.  Then, at last, we have our gold nugget raffles.  The picnics are all about fun and games.

We also have two Common Digs (aka outings) in the desert on our claims.  This is where several members hold classes on the various types of equipment and techniques used in prospecting.  Bring your own lunch and plenty of water.

We are the host chapter for The Gold Prospectors Association of America's annual Gold & Treasure Show held at the Arizona State Fair Grounds in February.

We have adopted Adobe Mountain Wild Life Preserve as our charity.  We support them throughout the year, monetarily and with supplies.

We're hosting our 2nd Annual Gold Expo on November 15th & 16th in the parking lot of Sportsman's Warehouse at 19205 27th avenue from 9:00 am to 4:00 PM.  We will have several vendors selling prospecting equipment, gold and bags of concentrates with gold for panning.  There will be a gold panning contest and raffles throughout the day, including a special children's raffle.  Adobe Mountain, with some of their birds and other creatures, will be there for an up-close experience with Arizona's wildlife.

All GPAP meetings and outings are free-of-charge and open to the public.