Geology Field Camp

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Last Updated: Dec 19, 2024, 03:30 PM

Field Training in Montana and Wyoming

During this 6-week field course (6 credit hours) you will learn about geological field methods, safety in the field, geological mapping. This course covers a wide range of topics including sedimentary geology, stratigraphy, paleontology, geomorphology, structural geology, tectonics, igneous and metamorphic petrology, glacial geology and economic geology. The first 3 weeks are spent near Red Lodge, MT, one of the cutest small towns in Montana. The last 3 weeks are spent exploring Yellowstone N.P., Grand Teton N.P., Craters of the Moon N.M.,and Glacier N.P. 

Start & End Dates for Summer 2023: June 11 to July 23, 2023

Instruction officially begins at the YBRA camp on Monday, June 12, 8:00 a.m.
Instruction officially ends in Billings on Sunday, July 23, 8:00 p.m.
Please book your return flights for Monday, July 24, 2023. *see information below

*The last day of field camp (Sunday 09:00-10:30 AM), begins with a structural geology project in the Sun River Canyon near Augusta. Then we travel towards Billings airport (≈5 hrs + gas/lunch/rest stops = 7 hrs). Typically, we arrive in Billings around 05:30 PM. Because of this arrival in the later part of the afternoon and the possibility of delays on the road (construction, mechanical incidents), chances are high of missing flights out of Billings airport on Sunday afternoon or Sunday night. The whole field camp group spends the last night (Sunday) in a motel near the airport in Billings. Students are required to plan on traveling (driving or flying) on Monday (NOT SUNDAY).

Sally Potter-McIntyre and James Conder

We are now accepting applications for 2023 Field Camp

How to apply:

Please download, fill out, and sign the Summer Field Course Application form (pdf), and then e-mail the completed form back to the field course director (contact below):

Field Course Director
Dr. Sally Potter-McIntyre
pottermcintyre@siu.edu

A group of people sitting and posing on a rocky ledge with a scenic view of towering cliffs, a green valley, and a cloudy sky in the background. The image captures a dramatic natural landscape and an adventurous moment.

 

Logistics and Transportation

Students have two transportation options:

  • Fly to Billings airport, Billings, MT and meet us before 6/11/2023 at 3:00 p.m. in the Billings airport restaurant. Please make your air travel bookings in advance. Transportation to the field station in Red Lodge, MT will be organized in 8-passenger vans by SIU.
  • Meet us directly at the YBRA field station, in Red Lodge, MT.

Students who would like to get a ride from Carbondale to Red Lodge:

SIU does provide transportation to all students who meet us in Carbondale the day before departure.

We advise students to arrive in Carbondale no later than the Friday preceding departure at 10:00 p.m., spend the night in Carbondale and meet us in front of the Department of Geology (Parkinson Lab) at 1259 Lincoln Drive on the Saturday day of departure at 2:45 a.m. You may drop your bags in the Department if you arrive on Friday before 4:30 p.m.