• Dr. Verne M. Friberg -Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology, Mineralogy, Field Camp Director
• Dr. John Peck -Sedimentary Geology
• Dr. David Black -Paleoclimates, Paleoceanography, Marine Sediments, Micropaleontology
• Dr.Lisa Park - Invertebrate Paleontology, Phylogenetic Theory, Taphonomy, Paleoecology, Biodiversity, Lake Systems

• Field camp is divided into two parts (Geology Field Camp I & II) to provide students the option of taking camp over two summers rather than one.  Many students are unable to spend up to six weeks away from home because of family or work commitments.  The class has been divided to make it possible for these students to complete their degree requirements.  It also provides an opportunity for students to gain valuable field experience early in their academic career.

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• The answer depends upon your schedule.  If you are in your Junior or Senior years you should take both Geology Field Camp I & II this year.  If you are completing your Freshman or Sophomore years you could consider taking Geology Field Camp I this year and Geology Field Camp II over one of the next two summers.  The material covered will be the same whether you take the classes separately or together.

• No, Geology Field Camp I requires only Physical Geology and Historical Geology and permission of the Field Camp Director. Students receive substantial instruction in the field supported by evening lectures which introduce topics to be covered the following day.  Geology Field Camp II requires that you have taken Geology Field Camp I,  Mineralogy-Petrology, and Structural Geology, or have permission of the Field Camp Director.  We assume greater academic experience and include more individual exercises in this part of field camp.

• If you take both Geology Field Camp I & II you will work at three different sites:1. South Dakota School of Mines, Rapid City, SD; 2. Northwest College, Powell, WY; 3. Miracle Mile Ranch, located about 50 miles southwest of Casper, WY. In addition, you will stay overnight in Bear Lodge, Bighorn Mts. (2 night), Yellowstone National Park (2 nights). We chose to travel between these locations because it gives more variety to the exercises and it provides more opportunities to see the geology of the northern Rocky Mountains. One more thing, moving around prevents boredom.

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• We have camped in the past but we will not be camping this year. Why? Because camping involves bringing a lot more equipment which is only used four times and it often requires that students borrow or buy items they don't already own. Rather than camping in the national parks, we will stay in cabins. One advantage of this arrangement is that we are located closer to visitor facilities than we would if we were in group camp sites. For example, we will be staying in cabins within walking distance of Yellowstone Falls.

• At the beginning of camp you will be given a field camp manual, a 3-ring file containing approximately 100 pages of information necessary to complete the class. The objectives of the field exercises, the methods to be used, and the specific assignments for each exercise are described in detail in the manual. Data are collected in the field and the exercises are completed in the evenings.

• Yes. During the first part of camp (Rapid City) all the exercises last for one or two days and are intended to introduce you to the techniques of field work. Most exercises last for 2 or 3 days at Powell, where we begin to map larger areas with a greater variety of features. During Geology Field Camp II the exercises may last for up to six days and involve more exercises where you will be working on your own.

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• Yes. The professors and teaching assistants will be in the field with you every day. Student:Instructor ratios will be around 5:1 or 6:1, depending upon how many students attend camp. Early exercises involve mapping in relatively small areas to ensure that students are never too far from an instructor if they need assistance. As your abilities increase, so too will the size of the map area.

• Weather can certainly influence your enjoyment of camp and we try to time our trip west to ensure it will be warm enough to do work in the northern Rockies (so we don t leave until late May-early June) but not too hot for larger mapping exercises in the arid basins at the end of camp (we finish in early July before daily temperatures reach the 100's). Temperatures in the field may range from 40's-90's F, but are more often between 70-85 F. Precipitation is generally not a problem, we lost only two day of field work due to rain or snow in the last two years. We have been snowed on a few times but students seem to find it more of a highlight than a problem. You should bring a rain-proof and wind-proof field coat that can be easily stored in your day-pack.

• Consider two things. First, how much is tuition? Tuition and fees will be approximately $254/credit hour (exact rates will not be released until late in the Spring semester), totaling about $1524 for six credits of Geology Field Camp I & II. The operating costs for camp are approximately $1400 (see separate cost estimate). That includes all meals and lodging. Have you checked to see the summer rate for a decent hotel room these days? We could save money by spending more time camping but we believe that working conditions would deteriorate. Students work hard in the field all day, we feel it is important to be able to come back to a dry room, a warm shower and a good meal. We have worked hard to keep costs as low as possible. Students do not pay for instructor salaries or living expenses as part of their costs.

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• Geology Field Camp I: May 29 - June 20.
• Geology Field Camp II: June 18-July 6
• Geology Field Camp I & II: May 29 - July 6

• If you chose to travel to camp on your own, you can join us at Palmerton Hall on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines or we can meet you at the Rapid City Airport on May 26th. If you wish to travel to field camp with us (as most students do), we will leave the University of Akron campus at 8.00 a.m. on Saturday, May 29. We may be able to pick you up along I-80 & I-90 if you live between Akron and South Dakota. Field camp begins and ends in different locations, make travel plans accordingly. It takes two days to travel to camp and three to return to Akron. GFC I will return to Akron on June 15; GFC II will return to Akron on July 6.

• Complete and submit the electronic application form linked to the field camp homepage and send a copy of your transcripts. Applications will be accepted until March 15, 2004, or until places are filled, which ever comes first. Preference will be given to students taking both GFC I & II, but up to nine students will be accepted for GFC I only. Enrollment will be limited to approximately 30 students. Several spots remain for the 2003 year!!

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• Please contact me if you have any questions about the Geology Field Camp program. I can be reached by phone (330-972-8046), by fax (330-972-7611), by e-mailmailto:lfribe1@uakron.edu or by letter (Field Camp Director, Department of Geology, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-4101).