Field Camp
This is an environmental/groundwater field course that provides students with an intense 2 to 3-week field and laboratory experience. The course has been designed to enhance education and training for geology, hydrology and environmental science and engineering students.
Most environmental and groundwater field problems have a strict geologic control including surface-water and ground-water flow, soil and rock properties related to formation and exposure to structural processes, contamination pathways along or beneath the land surface, and natural vs. introduced sources.
In this course, undergraduate students and post-graduate students requiring additional training will be introduced to current field and laboratory methods that are utilized to delineate, define, and characterize environmental field problems. Students who desire an enriched hydrologic emphasis can choose the 4-credit option for additional instruction on how to assess groundwater sustainability (i.e. how much can we pump?)
2021 Field Camp Students in Badlands National Park
2021 Field Camp Students Stream Gaging
The following topics will be explored:
Sustainability of groundwater and surface-water use
Ground-water contamination
Aquifer protection
Slope stability
Environmental and geologic hazards, including flooding
Environmental monitoring
Field experience related to problem definition, sampling protocol, and sample acquisition
Hands-on experience in field sampling techniques for soils and water
Hands on experience in quality control and sample preparation
Students will gain experience in data analysis, preparation of maps, and report writing.