Comments on: What’s it like to go to geology field camp?

By: Dan Smith

Dan Smith — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 11:20:49 +0000

I attended this camp in 1996 with the author. That’s me next to the Razorback nose – Woo Pig Go Hogs!! This was the best summer of my college career. Its a geologist’s rite of passage to attend field camp – don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The lessons learned field camp have helped me throughout my career now nearly 20 years. I have worked both for private and government agencies in various specialties including engineering geology, hydrogeology, environmental geology, GIS, geologic mapping and publication. I have been a supervisor and a manager and received my P.G. in 2004. I think the biggest takeaway is that in each career path I took I was able to use what I had learned at field camp and apply it to my career. It also allowed me to live and work closely with a group of people I had never met. This is a good career skill to have I use it everyday. I highly recommend it.

By: MOHSEN

MOHSEN — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 12:26:08 +0000

GREAT POST

By: Steph Shepherd

Steph Shepherd — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 22:27:42 +0000

Auburn University Geo Prof here and an Arkansas GeoHog. I went to UA’s field camp as a student in 1998 and TA in 1999 and 2009. Just a comment to Noah. It depends of the graduate school requirements. If you are applying to grad programs, make sure they accept Hydro camp instead of a traditional field camp program.

By: Sandie Will

Sandie Will — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 11:32:36 +0000

Hi Mark – I don’t remember gophers, but I do remember the beer and wine! There was a bottle of wine left in the fireplace of the lodge for prosperity – wonder if it’s still there!

By: marksimpson592

marksimpson592 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 00:41:24 +0000

I remember doing this same field camp about 20 years later, I doubt much had changed. The author left out mapping garnet seams by the garnets brought up by gophers digging their holes. And lots of beer, after the work was done of course.

By: Sandie Will

Sandie Will — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 13:33:35 +0000

Hi Lynn! Thanks for sharing your field camp adventures! And that’s exactly what they are – adventures – aren’t they? lol At least I was lucky enough to travel in an air conditioned van! One time, while walking through some hills, I was on high alert through sagebrush for rattlers and something smacked against my leg. I jumped a mile high, only to find out it was just a branch. :-p Again, thanks for sharing – Sandie

By: Lynn Recker (@LynnFDR)

Lynn Recker (@LynnFDR) — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 13:23:31 +0000

Costs have gone up. It’s been 39 years since I attended the Indiana University Geologic Field Camp just south of Cardwell, Montana, on the north edge of the Tobacco Root Mtns. Then I think the 7 week course was only $800 for an Indiana resident. I just checked the cost now and it’s $5544.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at field camp. The professors were the best and so was the geology. And I met some very good people in the other students and TAs. I wore out one pair of boots and got started on wearing out a second, especially when walking on the Lodgepole Limestone. But I was up a second rock hammer when I sat down on a rock and my hammer came out of its holster and clinked against one possibly lost a year or so before. I managed to avoid the sidewinders, but nearly got run down by a pair of pronghorns in a dry wash one day. The absolute worst part about it was the drive home to Indiana with some poeple through southern Montana in an open car in 100+ degree temperatures in late-July.

By: Sandie Will

Sandie Will — Wed, 06 May 2015 01:07:49 +0000

You’re very welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Good luck with field camp and your studies. Sandie

By: peace zowa

peace zowa — Tue, 05 May 2015 07:50:51 +0000

I am a freshman doing geology am so excited i hope am goin to have fun thanks for your post