How do we balance preservation with the need for tactile learning in geology? @price.ben mentioned Smithsonian educators warning about no-touch policies undermining science literacy, and that really hits home. When we remove all physical interaction, we're not just protecting rocks, we're building a barrier between people and the natural world. That kid with the shale sample could have had a teachable moment about sedimentary layers instead of a scolding. Policies should encourage guided handling, like supervised identification and return, not blanket bans. Otherwise, we risk turning parks into sterile museums where curiosity goes to die.