What is Field Camp?

What is Field Camp?

Field camp is a tradition in the education of a geologist. It is an intensive course that applies classroom and laboratory training to solving geological problems in the field. Skills developed during field camp typically include: collection of geologic data, constructing a measured section, interpreting geologic structures and geologic mapping.

We have attempted to create a comprehensive listing of schools which offer a geology field course or field camp experience using infomation posted on their websites. If you know of updates or additions that are needed please let us know. Thanks!




Geology Field Course Readings

Students looking for a summer geology field course should read an essay by David Rodgers (Idaho State University) titled: "How to Choose a Geology Field Course". Scholarships for geology field camp have been offered by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers. In addition, many of the schools listed below have financial assistance that applies to their own students.

Faculty might be interested in nominating their best field camp students to the USGS / NAGT Field Training Program or reading a 2001 Journal of Geoscience Education article by Carl Drummond (NAGT Editor) titled "Can Field Camp Survive?" The article describes challenges faced by geoscience departments that continue to require or provide the field camp experience.
The preparation of geologic maps and cross-sections are important parts of most field camp experiences. Images by WVGES.


Geology Field School Directory
School Field Locations
Albion College Wyoming, Montana
Austin Peay State University Southern Wyoming or Northern Colorado
Ball State University South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Colorado
Black Hills Natural Sciences Field Station Wyoming and Turkey
Boise State University Sardinia, Italy
Boston University / James Madison University Ireland
Bowling Green State University New Mexico and Colorado
Brigham Young University-Idaho Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona
California State University-Hayward California, Montana, Hawaii
California State University-Long Beach California
Central Washington University Oregon and Idaho
Clemson University Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina
Colorado School of Mines New Mexico
Concord University New Mexico, Colorado, Utah
Cornell University Argentina
East Carolina University New Mexico and Colorado
Eastern Illinois University South Dakota
Elizabeth City State University New Mexico and Colorado
Eastern Washington University Montana
Emporia State University Kansas and Colorado
Florida State University Northern New Mexico
Fort Hays State University Colorado and Utah
Georgia State University Montana
Idaho State University Idaho and Wyoming
Illinois State University South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming
Indiana University Montana
Iowa State University / University of Nebraska Lincoln Wyoming
James Cook University (Australia) Two different courses - Queensland, Australia
James Madison University Ireland
Kent State University South Dakota and Wyoming
Lehigh University Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho
Louisiana State University Two different courses: New Mexico / Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah
Mesa State College Colorado and Utah
Massey University / Geological Education Services New Zealand (January - February Camp) See Geology.com Article
Miami University-Ohio Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Alberta
Michigan State University Utah, Nevada, Wyoming
Michigan Technological University East Africa (East Africa Rift Article by Camp Faculty)
Minnesota State University, Moorhead Field Courses
Montana State University SW Montana
New Mexico Tech New Mexico, Colorado
North Carolina State University New Mexico and Colorado
Northern Illinois University Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota
Northern Kentucky University Colorado
Oklahoma State University Colorado
Oregon State University Washington and Oregon
Pennsylvania State University Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana
Salem State College Montana
San Jose State University Nevada
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Three different courses - Turkey / South Dakota, Wyoming / India
Southern Illinois University Carbondale Montana, Wyoming
Southern Oregon University Oregon, California
Southern Utah University Two different couses: Utah, Nevada
Stephen F. Austin State University Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah
Sul Ross State University Texas
SUNY Albany Maine, Vermont
SUNY Buffalo Colorado, Utah, Wyoming
SUNY Cortland Three courses: New York (offered in even numbered years)
SUNY Oswego New York
University of Akron South Dakota, Wyoming
University of Alabama New Mexico, Colorado
University of Alaska-Fairbanks Alaska
University of Arizona California
University of Arkansas Montana
University of Canterbury / Frontiers Abroad New Zealand
University of Florida New Mexico
University of Georgia / University of South Carolina New Mexico, Colorado, Utah
University of Houston Montana
University of Idaho Alaska, British Columbia
University of llinois, Urbana - Champaign Utah, Nevada, Wyoming
University of Iowa Utah, Nevada, Wyoming
University of Kansas Colorado
University of Kentucky Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona
University of Louisiana-Lafayette Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming
University of Memphis South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana
University of Michigan Wyoming
University of Minnesota Three different courses: Montana / Colorado / Minnesota
University of Minnesota-Duluth Utah, Nevada, Wyoming
University of Minnesota-Duluth Minnesota - Precambrian Shield
University of Missouri-Columbia Wyoming
University of Missouri-Rolla Utah
University of Montana Montana
University of Nebraska Lincoln / Iowa State University Wyoming
University of Nevada-Las Vegas Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Texas, California
University of Nevada-Reno Utah, Nevada, California
University of New Mexico New Mexico, Colorado
University of North Carolina New Mexico, Colorado
University of North Dakota Three different courses - Turkey / South Dakota, Wyoming / India
University of Oregon Montana and Oregon
University of South Carolina / University of Georgia New Mexico, Colorado, Utah
University of Texas-Arlington New Mexico
University of Texas-Austin Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming
University of Texas-Dallas New Mexico
University of Washington Montana
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Two different courses: Texas, New Mexico / Montana
University of Wisconsin-Madison Utah, Wyoming, Nevada
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Utah
University of Wyoming Colorado, Utah, Wyoming
Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand
West Virginia University South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana
Western Illinois University South Dakota, Wyoming
Western Michigan University Michigan
Wheaton College South Dakota
Wichita State University Colorado and New Mexico
Wright State University Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina
Other Field Experiences
These are not "bedrock mapping" field courses but some departments have allowed students to use them as a field course substitute.
Antarctic University Expedition Antarctica