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Fieldcamp

What is fieldcamp?

Fieldcamp is a field-based course with a focus on reinforcing and extending all that you've learned as a geology student. The academic objectives of our fieldcamp are to (1) recognize geologic features like faults, folds, volcanoes, sedimentary structures in real life, (2) sketch, describe, and document these features, (3) use this documentation to produce geologic maps and cross sections, and (4) use maps to tell a geologic story of a basin. The professional objectives of our fieldcamp are to (1) practice working in small and large groups to accomplish tasks, (2) become comfortable living, cooking, and working outdoors, and (3) identify the areas of geology that interest you most. The course lasts 4 weeks (all of June), and is worth 6 credit hours.

What is a typical day like at fieldcamp?

On a normal day, you could expect to wake up and be out of your tent by 7:30 am. Get breakfast and coffee at camp, and be ready to head to the field by 8:30 am. Drive to the fieldsite for the day. Listen as I remind you of goals for today's work (and remind you to get snacks and water). Hike with your team to look for outcrops in your designated area along a trail or near a trail in a location like a state park. Take measurements on rocks, and expect for the TA or Dr. Crane to drop by to ask if you need help or have questions. Around 11 am to noon, listen for a call on your walkie talkie reminding you to go back to the truck/van to get lunch and refill water. Eat, chat, and keep working. At 4 pm, walk back to the vehicles, and head back to camp.

If you are on cook team, you'll help make dinner. Clean team does dishes, van team cleans trash out of the vehicles, and safety team collects GPS and walkie talkies to charge for the night. Eat, shower, and chill with the group. Make a campfire, swim, or (highly suggested) plot your data on your map so that you aren't cramming the night before a map is due. Head to bed in your tent and be ready for tomorrow!

Because we camp and cook, our fieldcamp is cheaper than many other camps. Fees (which cover 'lodging', food/snacks/drinks, and materials) are ~$2,000. We do offer departmental scholarships, and I can help you apply for those. Tuition is not included in fees. Any student (even non-MSU students) who meets our prerequisites can attend MSU fieldcamp.