Geology Field Course

Summer 2000

Participants

Projects:

Salmon Hills

Summer Coon

Front Range

Gene's Section

The summer of 2000 was exciting for the 19 Hamilton students who participated in the Geology Field Course. From May 22nd through June 28th, they visited many diverse places ranging from the woody forests of upstate New York to the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. Along the way, students learned the principles of geologic mapping in such places as the Colorado Front Range, Summer Coon, and the West Needles. They also observed cliff dwellings while on a rafting trip in Utah, Barringer Meteor Crater in Flagstaff, Arizona, Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and other interesting sites in the southwest United States.

The educational experiences didn't end when the mapping was done. Six weeks were spent sleeping in tents, digging latrines, and cooking with camping stoves. Additionally, two weeks passed without an opportunity to shower. For these students, these conditions were just part of a great learning environment. Most importantly though, these experiences helped the group get to know each other well, which is a key factor when working closely together.

Working together, wasn't always the easiest task, though. As a diverse group of students, each had different ideas and methods for the projects they performed. Even making dinner sometimes proved difficult. Teamwork was essential to each project they completed, however, which meant that an open mind and patience were just as important as rock hammers and field books.