Giving Tuesday 2018 - Support Field Camp Opportunities

Giving Tuesday kicked off our year-end campaign for field camp opportunities. Thank you to everyone who helped us make this Giving Tuesday a success! We are well on our way to reaching our goal to raise $50,000 to give 20 students the opportunity to experience the wonder of the geosciences and learn something new about the world.

On this page, we are sharing the stories of students whose lives were forever changed by their experiences at field camp. We are excited for you to meet these incredible students.

If you haven’t given yet, there is still time before year-end. To make your gift now, click the DONATE button at the top right and make a gift to our Field Camp Opportunities Fund. You will be helping students have an unforgettable field experience.

Tamara Adams, one of this year’s Field Camp scholarship recipients, attended a field camp hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington, which focused on fieldwork in Texas and New Mexico. She said this, “Overall, it was an amazing experience and I would not have been able to attend without the funds from GSA to help cover the cost of tuition. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!”

We echo Tamara’s heartfelt thanks and add to them. From all of us here in the Foundation, we are deeply grateful for your generosity.

Tamara Adams, 2018 Field Camp scholarship recipient.

Kuzipa Kapayi

Kuzipa Kapayi is preparing for the next step in her geoscience career: graduate school. But first she embarked on the trip of a lifetime to field camp. Here’s what she said about it:

“During the summer of 2018, I participated in a life-changing field program that focused on sustainability of natural resources and hydrology for the exploration of water quality in southern Africa. The geologic setting was that of a basaltic plateau with a series of gorges that formed the famous Victoria Falls. The program incorporated a physically and mentally challenging curriculum which required accumulation of all the knowledge acquired throughout my academic career.

“The field camp scholarship awarded by the Geological Society of America was tremendously helpful as it covered all my expenses related to field equipment, tuition, as well as transportation. The equipment I purchased will continue to serve great purpose throughout my geologic career. I formed long-lasting professional relationships with other students and professors. I am humbled by GSA’s generosity and very thankful for encouraging a bright and successful future to one of many students. Overall, field camp was the highlight of my geologic career and the experience and knowledge I gained has provided a smooth transition into graduate school.”

Kuzipa Kapayi, 2018 Field Camp scholarship recipient.

Delcio Teixeira

Delcio attended field camp in the Wet Mountains overlooking the Cañon City embayment in Colorado. By the end of camp, he learned that fieldwork provides valuable opportunities not encountered in the classroom. Delcio describes his experience here:

“The primary aim of the field camp was to apply classroom and laboratory training to solve geological problems in the field and enhance our field skills.

“A typical field day consisted of 8 hours out in the field acquiring data and solving geologic problems followed by long group discussions in the laboratory. Field camp improved my ability to perform collaborative work as well as understand that it is very important to work together towards a common goal. I also gained knowledge on local geology and acquired problem-solving skills crucial to execute field tasks, interpret geologic processes, environments of deposition, and establish hypotheses. After completing the course, I realized that this experience is necessary because it exposes students to situations that they will not encounter in a classroom.”

Delcio Teixeira, 2018 Field Camp scholarship recipient.

Dalila A. De Jesus

Dalila received GSAF’s Field Camp Opportunities scholarship this year and attended a field camp in Canon City, Colorado.

At first she didn’t think field camp would be very beneficial for her, so she focused on getting a good grade in the course rather than actively engaging in it. But that quickly changed on the first day of camp. This is what she said about her experience:

“We visited several different stops on the first day and in each one of them, at least one specific point would intrigue me and make me curious about an aspect of the site’s depositional history. So, from there on, I changed my focus and energy on just ‘getting projects done’ to recognizing problems and developing a sense of curiosity and willingness to accurately solve them. That changed my mindset about field geology and allowed me to become an independent thinker and more open about integrating new skills and knowledge into my work.

“My field camp experience was a very rewarding and empowering one. I’m very grateful for the opportunity I had to be there and be part of such a great course and team. I’m even more thankful for all the generous support from GSA, which surely contributed to the amazing and successful experience I had over the summer.”

Dalila A. De Jesus, 2018 Field Camp scholarship recipient.

Shirley Mensah

Shirley, an international student from Ghana, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geology with a minor in geographic information sciences at Eastern Illinois University. Shirley received a scholarship from GSAF’s Field Camp Opportunities fund this past year to help her attend the field camp of her choice.

Shirley attended Western Illinois University’s field camp. Most of her time was spent in South Dakota mapping the Black Hills and other sites. At the beginning of the camp, completing mapping projects was a challenge for Shirley, but by the end, all of that had changed. She said this about her experience:

“First of all, I would like to express my utmost gratitude to GSA for making my participation in field camp possible through the generous funds provided to me.

“As I look back on field camp, I realize the benefits it gave me. I was proud of myself when I was able to map a whole area by the end of field camp and actually understand what I was doing. This built my confidence and made me more comfortable with mapping. Being out in the field made me stronger physically, mentally, and academically. I felt more confident and ready to start my senior year at Eastern with all the knowledge I had gained at field camp. I made lifelong friends and also developed a love for hiking and doing more outdoor activities. Overall, field camp helped me decide what career paths in Geology I will like to go for after completing my undergraduate studies.

“It was indeed an experience worth going through.”

Shirley Mensah, 2018 Field Camp scholarship recipient.

Students at GSA/ExxonMobil Bighorn Basin Field seminar.