Page 38 - i1052-5173-31-6

Meaningful Support: Honoring Field Camp Excellence

Each year since 2011, the GSA/ExxonMobil Field Camp camps, infrastructure emergencies are unexpected and potentially
Excellence Award has granted US$10,000 to a traditional six-week crippling. Since the late 1970s, MU’s geology field camp has had
the incredible fortune of the financial support of the MU Geology
geology field camp that teaches the fundamentals of geologic Development Board. The board has always recruited into their fold
mapping and field methods. Based on safety awareness, diversity, MU geology alumni fiercely devoted to the camp who have risen to
and technical excellence, the award is intended to assist with the the occasion every time the camp has needed financial help.
In 2014 the camp was dealing with the financial aftermath of exten-
summer field season. Recently, a past recipient took part in the GSA sive renovations (to the tune of over a half million dollars), including
Foundation’s virtual chat, Field Camp in Changing Landscapes. building two bridges. Unexpectedly, about a month before the start of
Miriam Barquero-Molina, Director of University of Missouri’s (MU) the summer season, the camp additionally faced the need to bear-proof
Geology Field Program, spoke about the continued importance of the trash and recycling system due to sudden U.S. Forest Service regu-
in-person field training and noted the relieving impact of the lations. This is the year MU’s geology field camp was awarded the
Excellence Award for her camp. We asked her to expand on the GSA/ExxonMobil Field Camp Excellence Award. This is a very com-
petitive program, proving that, as a geoscience community, we are
Branson camp and award. lucky to have such a large number of excellent field programs in our
midst. For MU’s camp, the award was, therefore, very much a sur-
The University of Missouri Geology Field Camp, founded in 1911 prise, and the unexpected US$10,000 proved to be an unexpected and
by Edwin B. (E.B.) Branson, is the longest continually running geol- much needed lifeline that allowed for the mandated bear-proofing to
ogy field camp in the United States. Prof. Branson had undertaken be done as required prior to the start of the 2014 summer season.
extensive fieldwork around Wyoming’s Wind River Ranges during The camp director could stop worrying about money and could focus
his dissertation work. An early believer in the power of hands-on on the camp’s mission: to provide a high-quality hands-on learning
learning, Branson realized that this part of Wyoming would be an experience for geoscience students across the nation.
ideal setting to teach field skills to geology students, and he set out
to make his dream a reality. What started as white canvas tents along The Society recognizes that formal geology field camp training
the shores of the Popo Agie River in Sinks Canyon and nearby areas
in the early years evolved into a bona-fide field station of log struc- is vital to the development of capable, well-rounded geoscientists
tures built by students and staff during the 1930s and 1940s. who are prepared to contribute to society through the many
Maintenance and upkeep of a permanent field camp facility in a diverse career paths available. GSA and GSAF are proud to sup-
remote location are not for the faint of heart. The finances of large port existing field camps with often challenging, changing needs,
state universities have changed dramatically, and many geology field and corporate partnerships make this possible. If your company or
camps have been left to their own devices. MU’s Branson Field
Laboratory is no stranger to this pain. organization would like to learn more about how you can be
A permanent infrastructure provides very different learning condi- involved, please contact Debbie Marcinkowski at +1-303-357-1047
tions for students than those of a more mobile camp. For permanent or dmarcinkowski@geosociety.org.

Walter Keller and University of Missouri field camp students atop Wind River Miriam Barquero-Molina, students, and teaching assistants atop Wind River
Peak, 1935. Peak, 2018.

gsa-foundation.org

38 GSA Today | June 2021