2023 UB Geological Field Training News Update

On May 27, the class observes and takes notes as workers from Buffalo Drilling Company operate a rig to drill one of the wells. The company employs many UB alumni.

Joe Gardner (green hard hat) and Adam Lobur (far right) from Buffalo Drilling Company operate the drilling equipment. Water pumped into the hole helps to keep the machinery cool and to remove sediment from the hole, says Chris Lowry, associate professor of geology, who co-teaches the course.

Senior Hayley Martinez takes a close look at a rock core — a cylindrical sample of rock extracted from below ground using a drill head that looks like a giant straw. “We’re lucky to be able to see this today,” Martinez says. “Not a lot of people get this opportunity. In geology, you need these experiences to be able to record stuff, take good notes, communicate and work with others. Geology exists outside of the classroom.”

Pieces of a rock core.

A rock sample. As part of the well-drilling activity, students examined the types of rocks emerging from beneath the ground. “They’re recording the geology underneath the campus, the rocks that come up in the process,” says Tracy Gregg, associate professor of geology and director of the 2021 field camp course.

From left: Seniors Katie Lovell, Fletcher Daniel, Louie Manzella and Noah Dobson investigate pieces of a rock core. Tracy Gregg is in the background, in a blue hard hat.

Chris Lowry (center) speaks with student David Sheridan (left).

David Sheridan takes notes. “Geology is not philosophy. It’s a little more of a practical science, so going out and looking at rocks and tapping on rocks and watching people drill is really helpful in seeing how geology is done,” Sheridan says.

Notes, notes, notes. Making and recording detailed observations is a vital part of geology. In addition to observing the well-drilling, students in the summer course will visit and map other sites of geological interest, such as Eighteen Mile Creek.

Adam Lobur from Buffalo Drilling Company monitors the drilling equipment. The geology department developed a local geological methods course this summer so that students would not miss out on experiential learning opportunities: “We’re doing this because of COVID,” says Chris Lowry (not pictured). “We normally go out west. Last summer we had to teach it all online, and we thought that hands-on is better.”

James Boyle, clinical assistant professor of geology, examines a rock.

Student Fletcher Daniel, enjoying the day.

Tracy Gregg (not pictured) says that while the pandemic motivated the department to keep the course local, it’s possible that future field camps will alternate between traveling out west and staying in Western New York to give students options.

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A job ‘well’ done!

The North Campus has a new feature: three crowdfunded wells. This spring, more than 50 donors, including many geology alumni, gave $10,000 to support the drilling of the wells and other aspects of a geological field methods course. Students usually travel out west each summer to complete the course, known colloquially as “field camp.” But with the pandemic, students stayed local this year. The class provides undergraduates with hands-on experiences critical to geology careers, and the wells will be used in many future hydrogeology courses. Photos: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

Published June 2, 2021

Experience Real World Geology at our Field Camp

2023 Field Camp Dates: May 31 - June 26, 2023

Student taking electrical resistivity measurements and collecting ground penetrating radar data at Elton Creek during the 2021 field camp

Four Reasons To Choose Geology Field Camp

It's relatively inexpensive when compared to most other field camps.
It's four weeks long, in the beginning of the summer break (you’ll be finished on June 26, 2023). You'll have plenty of time to work (or play) for the rest of the summer!
You will be taught by four different instructors, with decades of experience in field work and practicing geology. More instructors means more geological expertise, and a wider exposure to the variety of skills and tools you can expect to find on the job in a modern world.
It includes a BRUNTON sponsorship! Any student that has taken our field camp can purchase a Brunton Compass (Conventional Pocket Transit) for a nice discount. This offer extends to all of our UB geology students, faculty, and alumni.

November 1, 2022: Apply to Field Camp 2023

Field Camp Application

Contact Us

November 1, 2022: Accepting applications for Field Camp 2023. Rates and details will be posted as they become available. Contact us with any questions about applying to Geology Field Camp: glyadmin@buffalo.edu

Program Overview

The University at Buffalo Geology Field Program is open to upper division geology and environmental science students enrolled at any college or university. Over the past 55 years, this program has taught more than 2,100 students! Last year, 30 students from 7 different academic institutions joined the group.

The academic mission of the course is to give students an opportunity to practically apply their geological knowledge in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of real data across the broad spectrum of problems that geology touches on in the modern world. To create an interesting and diverse experience students will visit several sites in the Buffalo, NY region to explore the local stratigraphy, urban hydrology, and subsurface geology. Students will also spend several days camping in eastern New York/New England to examine the fascinating but complex geology of that region.

For this year’s field camp we will be based out of UB’s campus on a 9AM-5PM schedule for most of the course. Housing in campus dorms is available if required. There will be a few days where we will be staying overnight at a campground in eastern New York/New England. We encourage students to be ready for any and all weather variations, especially during the camping portion of the course!

: Students from the 2021 field camp taking a break from mapping the outcrops along Eighteenmile Creek.

Students from the 2021 field camp taking a break from mapping the outcrops along Eighteenmile Creek.

Camp Fees and Tuition

Please Note: Camp fees are due in December and March. Tuition is billed in June.

Field Camp Fee

Camp fee for 2023: TBD

The camp fee covers the cost of food while camping, transportation at camp, and all camp operating expenses for your four-week excursion which includes the motels used during travel between map sites.

Upon acceptance you will submit a nonrefundable deposit of $450.00
This non refundable deposit will reserve your position in the program and is accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
We can only take a maximum of 30 students.
The non-refundable balance of your camp fee of TBD is due March 30, 2023.

Students observing as core samples are taken from a new well being drilled on UB's north campus during the 2021 field camp.

Students observing as core samples are taken from a new well being drilled on UB's north campus during the 2021 field camp

Tuition & University Student Fees

Undergraduate

6 Credit-hours
New York State residents tuition: 2023 TBD per credit hour* (2022 rates: $415.75 per credit hour (+) fees)
Out-of-state state students tuition: 2023 TBD per credit hour* (2022 rates: $1,161.75 per credit hour (+) fees)
University student fees are also charged with tuition (see Student Accounts). Please note: This link is to the Summer 2022 tuition and fees. 2023 tuition and fees will be available in Spring 2023.

Graduate

2 Credit-hours
New York State residents tuition: 2023 TBD per credit hour* (2022 rates: $591.75 per credit hour (+) fees)
Out-of-state state students tuition: 2023 TBD per credit hour* (2022 rates: $1083.75 per credit hour (+) fees)
University student fees are also charged with tuition (see Student Accounts). Please note: This link is to the Summer 2022 tuition and fees. 2023 tuition and fees will be available in Spring 2023.

*The University at Buffalo reserves the right to change tuition and fees without notice. Recent costs are available from the UB Office of Student Accounts.

Pre-Reqs

We expect students enrolled at UB to have completed the following courses before starting our field camp; students enrolled at other institutions should have completed the equivalent courses. If you have any questions about the courses offered at your institution, email Dr. James Boyle, at jamesboy@buffalo.edu

GLY 205: Earth Materials (mineralogy/petrology)
GLY 315: Sedimentary Geology & Paleontology
GLY 326: Structural Geology/Global Tectonics

Travel, Packing and Campsite Information

Transportation

Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements to and from Buffalo, including the full cost of these arrangements. All of the transportation within the field camp is covered through the camp fee.

Packing Checklist

Please read this checklist to ensure you pack necessary gear and clothing.

Download Itemized Packing Checklist

Eastern Campsites

TBD

Camp Format

For the days when students and staff camp in tents the campsite has toilets. On travel days, students are able to use shower facilities in motels. The campground may provide showers, but students may bring their own solar shower if they wish to have a backup. Good hygiene is important and most students get by using cleansing wipes until a shower is available.

Physical and Safety Requirements

While not as physically intensive as the western version of our field camp this course will still entail some days of long hikes through rough terrain. Even in New York temperatures can get quite hot and the threat of rainstorms is ever-present. During most days, participants are in the field from 9a.m. to 4p.m. with those days where we are camping in eastern New York/New England being times when we will remain engaged in strenuous physical activity throughout the day.

Download Physical and Safety Requirements

Contact Us

Other Regularly Scheduled UB Geology Field Trips

GLY 205, Earth Materials, takes students to a beautiful sequence of metamorphosed rocks (with spectacular minerals) in and around Algonquin Provincial Park, Canada.
In GLY 315: Sedimentary Geology & Paleontology, students explore a variety of modern depositional systems and their ancient counterparts preserved in local rocks during four field trips during lab, along with a diverse and exciting fossil assemblage.
GLY 325/326, Structure / Geophysics / Tectonics takes an annual 3-day trip to look at the rich geologic history of the Appalachian Mountains and surrounding terranes.
A variety of upper-level and graduate courses also spend time in the field. For example, GLY 445/545, Glacial Geology, spends numerous lab periods outside looking at Buffalo’s glacial deposits and landforms, and includes a weekend trip to Chimney Bluffs State Park.