Structural Geology and Tectonics Division

Shoshone Education and Research (SHEAR) Center:
 

PLANNING A FIELD TRIP TO DEATH VALLEY?

If you have not already heard, there is now a facility in Shoshone, CA where groups can stay very inexpensively while field tripping in the Death Valley area.

The facility is a couple of old mining company buildings that a group of us have crudely renovated for use by field trip groups passing through the area.  A couple of years ago we formally incorporated as a non-profit corporation, and that organization now runs the facility.   We considered calling it the Shoshone Institute for Tectonic Studies, but decided the Shoshone Education and Research (SHEAR) Center probably made a better formal name!  SHEAR is a 501c3 charitable organization (more on that below), and the facility is available for groups on a first come first serve basis. Please see our website at http://www.geology.uno.edu/~tpavlis/shearhome.html for latest costs and other details.

The two rustic buildings available for field trip groups are 1) a quonset hut with a large living area and a full kitchen equipped with a fridge, stove, and cooking/eating utensils for about 20 people, attached to a wooden building with a bedroom (sleeps 6), an office (w/ additional floor space), and a bathroom and 2) a bunkhouse divided down the middle with a full bath on each side (sleeps 12, up to 16 tightly).

The facility also has two house trailers available for longer term stays by faculty or student researchers working in the area.  The trailers are not available to groups, but for groups anticipating a long-term stay (e.g., a field course staying more than a week) the trailers can be made available to the instructor.

If you want to run a field trip in late February or March, you'll need to book early, because we fill up quickly in those months.  Also, December to early January is generally fully booked by field classes that are taught out of the facility.  The main building and one bedroom are equipped with room air conditioners, so the facility is also available in the summer (if you really want to experience 50°C).  Most of our groups have been geology field trips, but any educational group is welcome, so if you have colleagues in biology or other fields who take trips to this area, please pass this information along.

Thank you for your help in letting others know about this resource.

Sincerely,
Terry Pavlis
SHEAR Center Secretary/Treasurer

p.s. It is tax time - want to help out geology students and get a tax deduction? SHEAR has been designated a 501c3 charitable organization by IRS decision, and thus you can make fully tax deductible donations to the organization. Why is this important?  The organization has some desperate needs that must be met in order to keep operating.  To keep costs down for groups, we have held fees at a break-even level that  leaves virtually no cash reserves. The management board is entirely made up of volunteers, and we have no employees.  We especially need support for several major long-term needs (e.g., an independent septic system; propane heaters for the bunkhouse sleeping rooms; improved emergency exits in the bunkhouse; upgrades and repairs to offset minor hazards) that must ultimately be addressed if we are to keep the facility open.  If you would be interested in making a contribution toward this effort, no matter how small, please contact Terry Pavlis at <tpavlis@uno.edu> for further information.