Where did you attend field camp?

I attended The University of Akron field camp, which went to South Dakota and Wyoming.

What did receiving the J. David Lowell Field Camp Scholarship mean to you?

The J. David Lowell Field Camp Scholarship expanded the opportunities available to me. I was able to experience field camp without worrying about the financial burden. This scholarship enabled me to broaden my horizons both literally, and also academically.

What did that experience teach you about the geosciences, yourself, and your future career?

Field camp allowed me to push myself to be a better student both in lectures and in the field. Becoming efficient at using a Brunton compass, identifying important rock units at a field site, and locating myself on a map are important skills that I will remember for the rest of my life. Likewise, I especially loved seeing deformed rocks up close and in person—the folded and faulted rocks reinforced my passion for structural geology! Undoubtedly, my field camp experience made me a better geologist and person—and allowed me to be curious about the geology of new places. Field camp also allowed me to push my own boundaries both physically and academically to understand the geological structures I saw in the field.

What opportunities did attending field camp provide that you wouldn’t have had otherwise?

By attending field camp, I was able to see geologic regions of the U.S. that I otherwise would not have seen. Likewise, the depth at which I was able to test my map, Brunton, and overall geologic skills was a unique experience that students typically only receive at field camp.

In your opinion, how important is field camp for geoscience students?

Field camp is crucial for geoscience students. I thoroughly enjoyed my field camp experience and look back fondly on the fun memories I made. It challenged me in ways that traditional classroom learning had not. Field camp enabled me to see, map, and think about geologic structures and their histories in a depth beyond that achieved in a classroom.

Why should individuals support field camp opportunities for students?

Field camp opportunities broaden students’ horizons in a variety of ways and positively impact their growth as young geoscientists. By getting into the field and putting the skills learned in traditional classrooms to test, students are able to understand the concepts better and grow academically and personally.