FIELD TRIP GOALS AND LOGISTICS AT YAVAPAI COLLEGE

We are fortunate at Yavapai College, in central Arizona, to have good weather year ‘round. This makes it possible for us to not only offer, but require, field trips in all of our geology classes. We serve two general and very diverse groups of students: those taking geology for a university lab science transfer requirement and those, often older, students interested in the landscape of the Southwest. To fulfill the needs of these two groups of students, field trips themselves fall into two major categories: 1. short trips to local features 2. multiple-day trips to the major geologic wonders of the American Southwest

Logistics are similar: field trip requirements and dates are listed in the class schedule, published months before the semester begins; these same requirements are stated and emphasized in the class syllabus, distributed on the first day of class; a point value is assigned to each trip, so that attendance is essentially mandatory; the utmost effort is made to make sure that students are comfortable while on field trips – students who are uncomfortable or anxious do not learn. Map use is encouraged and post-field trip assignments, while simple, often incorporate a geologic map or simple stratigraphic column in lieu of a true “field trip report”.

In all classes we have several common field trip goals: recognition of basic geologic features, especially those in our immediate surroundings; understanding of the sequence of events which formed these features; c. the environmental or physical implications of these features to each student; d. how these features are represented on a geologic map.

With accessibility issues, vehicle and driver logistical arrangements, and liability issues, the amount of time required to prepare for field trips has dramatically increased in recent years. In recognition of this fact, Yavapai College grants one hour of release time each semester for a science field trip coordinator. This person takes care of all aspects of field trip preparation.

Despite the challenges, my experience is that field trips are often the only way to make geology “come alive” for most students, in ways that simulated and computer-generated experiences do not. Past students do not remember our lectures – they remember the field trips!