2010 Summer Geology Field Camp (and 2-week modules)

For summer 2010 we offer two options: (1) our full six-week field course (10 credits on the quarter system), which will be be taught in southwestern Montana and Oregon; or (2) take one of two 2-week “short course” modules (4 credits) to be offered in paleontology and surface processes. Students who take the full 6-week course will work together during the first 4 weeks, and will then take one of the three offered modules for the final 2 weeks. Alternatively, students may choose to only take one of the 2-week modular courses (as long as the full 6-week course is not required for their degree). The purpose of adopting this new structure is to give students a variety of options in terms of both content and time invested. It allows students to choose either a general broad-based field course experience (the 6-week course) or a more focussed topical option that is more research-oriented (2-week modules).

During the first 4 weeks, students will learn to create a geologic map, describe and identify rocks in the field, analyze geologic structures and geomorphic features, decipher ancient depositional environments from study of sedimentary rocks, construct geologic cross sections, and interpret an area’s geologic history using their own data. This part of the course will be taught in and around Dillon, Montana, where we will stay in dorms at the University of Montana Western. We will also take several excursions to see classic examples of stratigraphy, surface processes, and structural geology in western Montana. For the final two weeks (including students who take option #2), we will be camping as a group in central Oregon and the two modules will run simultaneously out of the same location (details tba).

Preliminary Schedule for Summer 2010:
June 14 - 27: Becky Dorsey - Bedrock mapping and stratigraphy, Quaternary neotectonics
June 28 to July 11: Marli Miller - Advanced mapping and structural geology
July 12 - 25: Choose one of the 2-week modules (below)

All students, taking either option 1 or 2, will take one of the following 2-week field modules:
Module 1: Vertebrate Paleontology - Instuctor Samantha Hopkins
Module 2: Active Tectonics and Surface Processes - Instructor Ray Weldon

The course will start with an organizational meeting at 9:00 a.m. Monday June 14. At the end of the course, the group will drive back to Eugene on July 24. Students will do course evaluations and help with clean-up the morning of Sunday July 25, and the course will be officially over at noon that day.

Here is the class of summer, 2007. Check out this Slide Show by Marli Miller.

The table below shows the tuition and fees that students paid for our full 6-week course in summer 2009. The fee will be the same in 2010 for the 6-week course, and will be less for people taking only the 2-week modules. Per-credit tuition will likely increase around 5-7% for summer 2010.

Note: These are estimates and could change, check back for updates.

In addition, students who wish to stay in campus dorms while at the University of Oregon (June 13, 14 and July 24) will need to pay an extra approximately $150 to cover that cost. If you want to stay in a UO dorm, please contact us before April 15. Other costs will include lunch food while in Dillon, and dinner or lunch expenses for one or two nights while on the road. Students will also want to bring personal spending money.

Applications to our 2010 Summer Field Camp are not presently open, because we are in the process of restructuring the application forms and prerequisites. We expect to have application forms ready soon. Meanwhile, feel free to contact Becky Dorsey with any questions (541-346-4431; rdorsey@uoregon.edu).

Here is an Equipment List of the things you will need to have for this course.