GEO495 and GEO595 Field Geology (undergraduate and graduate, respectively, 6 quarter credits each), are designed to train the professionally oriented geology student to field mapping techniques and related skills. The best results are obtained by those students who have had at least two years of geology course work including successful completion of physical and historical geology, mineralogy, lithology, and structural geology. A field methods course including geologic photo- and map-interpretation is extremely useful, and is required of Oregon State University students accepted to the field program.

The preliminary schedule for Summer 2008 is:

• Students should pre-register and pay the program fee by this date, or arrange for billing of program fee to student account.

• 9:00 am - Wilkinson Hall 108: introduction, registration, and payment of OSU tuition & fees at Oregon State University; loading of equipment. Please be on time. Personal vehicles will not be needed; on-campus parking should be arranged in advance. Early lunch.
• 11-12:00 noon- Departure for Mitchell in central Oregon; activate field station; set up tents.

• Complete final drafted maps are due. Instructors may also 1) require by this date a final report or 2) give instructions for final report due the following week. Deactivate field station and return home, wherever that might be (expect to arrive at OSU about 4:00 p.m.). Students are expected to help pack and unpack camp equipment.

• 5:00 pm - Final reports (if assigned) are due (or post-marked).

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COST

Estimated cost (subject to revision) for students registered at OSU, including tuition and the program fee for transportation, food, lodging, meals and instructional materials is approximately ~$1,700 for undergraduates (GEO 495, 6 cr) and ~$2,200 for graduate students (GEO 595, 6 cr). There is no out-of-state differential. Final costs may be slightly different pending changes in tuition or transportation costs. CWU students pay tuition directly to CWU, and the program fee of $900 to OSU.

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PREREQUISITES

Physical and historical geology, mineralogy, lithology, and structural geology. Courses in stratigraphy and introductory field methods are recommended.

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EQUIPMENT

Many students, through procrastination or financial handicap, have not given sufficient attention to personal equipment and supplies. Inadequate preparation can lead to less-than-full participation in the program. Beg or borrow if necessary, but come into the program with at least the following items accounted for: adequate boots (not tennis shoes), warm sleeping bag (not a blanket), durable water containers (at least 2 quarts, not a glass bottle), rock hammer (not a carpenter's, machinist's, or piton hammer), and a Brunton-style pocket transit with a clinometer and case (not a dime-store plastic compass). Brunton transits are available from camp supply on a rental basis ($50 deposit, $25 refund if returned in excellent condition). A lost or damaged Geosciences Department Brunton must be replaced or repaired at student expense. Azimuth (360°) compass scales are preferred, but quadrant scales will do.

BOOTS

Strong 6" or 8" boots (high enough to cover fully the ankles) with lug soles and heels, are required. Because of extensive climbing, and the possibility of snow at higher elevations, durable boots are best. Inexpensive "bargain" boots are inadequate and will not last. Cheap boots actually are more expensive than better quality boots which may be resoled several times over some years of usage. Because the instructional program is carried out in an isolated area where repairs are impossible, students find it advisable to bring an alternate pair of boots. Please fit boots to accommodate a heavy wool outer sock and a light- weight inner sock. Two pairs of socks are essential. Because you work in 3-person teams, the blistered or sore feet of one individual can cripple the team efforts. Therefore, we insist on strong boots, properly fitted, and the wearing of two pairs of clean socks. Break in new boots before the summer program.

CLOTHING

Jackets, pants, shirts, socks, handkerchiefs, towels, etc. Bring sufficient quantity to permit daily changes of socks and underclothes for a full week. An automatic washer and detergents are furnished in the main building. Bring sweaters or jackets--the nights and early mornings can be cold. Complete rain gear - hat, jacket, pants, or poncho - has in some years been appropriate. A wide-brim, light-weight hat is good sun protection.

BEDDING

Adequate sleeping bag (early in the season night temperatures may go below freezing). Students often in the first weeks of the program suffer discomfort because of inadequate sleeping bags. An air mattress or pad is recommended; the program supplies light-weight sleeping cots and some pads. A pillow with cases is an aid to comfortable sleeping by many. Large dorm tents are supplied by OSU, but you may wish to bring your own small tent if you desire privacy.

MISCELLANY

Flashlight, toilet articles, ointments for skin and lips, camera (optional). Sun glasses are strongly recommended--they protect the eyes when hammering on rocks in addition to protection from desert and high-altitude sun light. PLEASE DO NOT PLAN TO WEAR CONTACT LENSES IN THE FIELD--please use conventional glasses (fine desert dust at times can make contacts difficult to use). A spare set of prescription glasses is strongly advised. Portable computers are useful for preparing short field reports, and may be brought to camp. Camp policy is for no private vehicles. In exceptional cases, a vehicle is allowed when a student demonstrate a need and instructors grant permission prior to the start of camp.

PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT:

Essential:

• Pocket transit.
• Rock hammer.
• Hand lens.
• Small, tight-capped plastic dropper bottle (dilute HCl will be furnished). Many health-care products are packaged in these containers. Look in any drugstore.
• At least two field books. Spiral bound or soft cover books are adequate. Bound, hard- cover books are too expensive. Avoid small note pads.
• Pencils, sharpener, and erasers. Sharp and hard pencils are highly recommended (2H-4H for paper, 5H to 9H or polymer lead for mylar); 0.30 mm mechanical pencils are good; 0.50 mm pencils are adequate.
• Rapidographs (0.25/0.18mm for contacts; 0.50mm for faults) or crowquil pens with permanent black ink (India-type); non-clogging varieties are best). Pentel ceramic micron pens are non-permanent but good. Other water-soluble pens should be avoided, and do not work adequately on mylar.
• Colored pencils: groups of geologists, working on closely related problems, find great advantages in mutually accepted systems of nomenclature, symbols, and colors in the preparation of maps and cross sections. A master set of colored pencils will be made available at the field station. However, personally owned sets of standard colored pencils will be very convenient. The following 15 Prismacolor pencils will be used: 918 blush, 931 purple, 945 Sienna brown, 934 lavender, 1012 jasmine, 916 canary yellow, 918 orange, 907 peacock green, 910 true green, 913 green bice, 949 silver, 930 magenta, 925 scarlet lake, 929 pink, 903 true blue.
• Protractor and scale (in 10ths of inches). ("C-thru" rulers with 1:10, 1:20, 1:40, 1:50 scale).
• Covered clipboard for aerial photographs and maps (8 1/2" x 11" or larger).
• Wrist or pocket watch.
• A rucksack large enough to carry clipboard, sack lunch, water containers, rain clothing, and field samples.

Recommended (nice to have but not critical):

• Gaiters to keep grass seeds out of socks.
• Cruiser's vest.
• Heavy belt for Brunton.
• Holsters on belts help prevent loss of rock hammers.
• Small first aid kit.
• Light-weight tape measure.
• Broad-tipped felt pen for marking samples.
• A pocket altimeter, very handy (but expensive). .some altimeters will be available to be shared by mapping parties

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THE PROGRAM

During the field program, students and staff live in large tents with electricity, and meals are prepared by a cook, assisted by student parties in the main camp building. The dining hall also accommodates a geologic library, work tables for preparation of maps, and various supplies. Our geologic studies in Wheeler County are on private property; students and staff, in effect, are guests of the ranchers. Field program participants are expected to maintain the friendly relationships which have prevailed for half a century. To promote sanitation and health, neatness and personal cleanliness of the individual are required. Showers and laundry facilities are available in the main camp building. Because we are working on private property, with a high fire hazard, smoking in the field is absolutely prohibited.

The work schedule is six days per week, with Sundays as an off-day with optional field trips offered. This permits the program to be completed in late July, thus leaving the remainder of the summer free to the student. The daily schedule approximates the following:

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OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT

Learning outcomes of the course are listed below together with the means of assessing whether or not the student has achieved the learning goals. Most learning goals are introduced early in the course and reinforced via successive exercises that build from introductory to advanced levels.

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EVALUATION

Because this program is designed for those students who will be going on to graduate studies and careers as professional geologists, a high standard of performance is expected of each participant. The evaluation of each individual is based on both individual and party efforts, and is arrived at by a consensus of the faculty present. The grading system consists of five basic grades: A, B, C, D, and F. A denotes exceptional work accomplished; B, superior; C, average; D, inferior; F, failure. Plus and minus (+ and -) grades are used. The attention of each applicant, and each participant, is directed to the attachment, entitled "Proscribed Conduct", derived from the State of Oregon Revised Statutes, and imposed by the Board of Higher Education upon all geology summer field program enrollees.

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