Missouri State University’s geology program hosted a field camp this summer.

More than 15 students from MSU, St. Norbert’s College and Grand Valley State University attended.

Drs. Matt McKay, assistant professor of geology at MSU, and William Jackson, assistant professor at the University of South Alabama, led the field camp. Graduate assistants Katy Reminga and Sam DeYoung also worked the camp.

Not quite summer camp

For six weeks starting May 20, students and faculty built their skills to combine classes with practical knowledge.

They spent the first week learning to use compasses and navigating in northern New Mexico.

The next four weeks, students worked on increasingly difficult, field-based exercises. The practiced the classroom skills they’re spent more than two years working on.

They finished with a final week in Colorado, learning about mining geology

Each exercise consisted of four parts:

• Make a geologic map
• Make a stratigraphic column
• Create a cross section
• Write a report

Hands on experience

Adelie Ionescu, who is now a geology graduate student, enjoyed the challenges the field camp brought.

“I was challenged in many ways, and accomplished things that I did not think I could do,” Ionescu said. “I learned that geology is so much more than what you learn in the classroom, and this type of hands-on work made me think about a master’s degree.”

Ionescu also enjoyed the down time that let her climb Pikes Peak, Wheeler Peak and Spanish Peak. She also got to enjoy the Taos, New Mexico, art scene.

Though Ionescu had many field camps to choose from, she chose MSU.

“MSU’s field camp seemed exciting and was more reasonably priced than other camps,” Ionescu said. “Once I started the application, I was emailed by Dr. McKay almost immediately, and his excitement was encouraging.”