Course Info

Credits

You will receive 4 undergraduate credits when enrolling in the undergraduate version of this course (ESCI 4971W) or 2 graduate credits when enrolling in the graduate version of the course (ESCI 5971). Typically (at most universities and colleges) these credits will count towards your degree. It is up to you, however, to make sure this is the case. Also, keep in mind that our hydrocamp is 3 weeks long while many universities/colleges require 6 weeks of field work for some majors (e.g., geology). Our own students from UMN thus typically take another 3 week field camp as well. Typically about half of participating students are from somewhere else than the University of Minnesota and the vast majority of those students is able to count those credits towards their degree. If necessary, some of them participate in another 3 week field camp somewhere else. We encourage students from all across the US and other countries to apply.

Prerequesites

• Instructor permission (based on college course work in geology and/or environmental sciences).

• Acceptance of best-qualified applicants.

• Student is available for the full class period.

• Enrollment is limited to approximately 30 students to maintain a high instructor to student ratio.

Hydrogeology Field Camp Packing List

Lodging Amenities

• Sheet set for single size mattress

• Pillow

• Sleeping bag or blanket

• Towel

• Toiletries

• deodorant/antiperspirant - required

• tooth brush / tooth paste / floss

• soap and shampoo (unscented varieties) scented toiletries will attract insects

• other personal care items

• any prescription medicines (if possible, bring a sufficient supply for the full three weeks; there is a pharmacy in Walker, MN for re-fills if absolutely necessary)

Clothing

Durable field clothing including:

• 2 or 3 pairs of field pants and/or shorts

• Field shirts – tees are OK but at least one long sleeve shirt for sun and insect protection

• Light jacket or fleece for cold mornings

• Underwear and socks for at least one week (we will go into town for laundry as needed or requested by roommates)

• Bandana

Field Gear

Ensure to have a good foot wear. Participating in something called a Hydrogeology Field Camp guarantees your feet will get wet.  Bring a few options: tennis shoes or sandals for around Deep Portage, water proof hiking boots –or– aqua-shoes.  Good to have a couple pairs of foot wear so one can be drying out while you wear the other. Tennis shoes are very adequate for hiking on relatively level ground through the woods and fields.

Other items include:

• Hat for sun and fly protection

• Raincoat

• Day Pack

• Personal first aid kit (band-aids, antiseptic, etc.) (We stock a full trauma kit for things needing more than a band-aid)

• Water Bottle

• Time Piece

• Bathing Suit/Swimwear

• Sunglasses (also serves as safety glasses)

• check out safety sunglasses at Home Depot or Menards for decent looking eyewear for <$20

• Sun Screen (SPF15 or higher) waterproof is a bonus

• Insect Repellant

• DEET or Picaridin (Natrapel) for mosquitos

• Permethrin clothing treatment for ticks

Classroom Gear

• Laptop or Tablet computer (we have a few spares if you do not have access to a laptop). It needs to be able to run Microsoft Word and Excel at a minimum (or the open source equivalent – e.g., Libreoffice)

• We use Quantum GIS which is an open source code.  If you have an ArcGIS license that is fine.

• Optional Electronics

• Cell phone – coverage is often spotty in our field area and at Deep Portage, varying largely by provider

• Smart phone or Camera, handheld GPS unit, etc.

Optional Gear

• Rock Hammer and Hand Lens

• Fitts Textbook (Groundwater Science 2nd Edition 2013)

• Musical instrument for campfire gatherings

• Fishing gear

• Snacks to supplement provided meals

Important Weather Information

Northern Minnesota temperatures are either hot, cold, or somewhere in between. There may be frost in the morning and high temperatures (>90F) with high humidity in the afternoon. We have had snow in July but global warming may have fixed that. It will rain; unless there is lightning, hail, and/or tornados field work will continue. Best to have a rain coat handy at all times as cheap insurance; the day you forget it, it will rain. If you are sensitive to cold (i.e. not born and raised in Minnesota) you may consider bringing an extra sweater, hooded pullover, or long underwear, wool hat, and mittens if acclimated to more southern climes.

If you forget anything there will be opportunities to beg, borrow, or purchase if absolutely necessary.  Options are much more available the first week of field camp in Minneapolis.

We will provide:

• Rite-in-the-Rain geologic field notebooks (fully waterproof)

• Waterproof paper

• Pencils and waterproof pens

• Erasers

• Rulers

• Printers and internet access at Deep Portage

• Hydrogeology Library

• Meals, including coffee for last two weeks at Deep Portage (1st  week in Minneapolis on your own)

Cost Estimates for 2022

The following estimates are offered as current best guesses so that you can begin to budget for the camp.  Beyond variation in tuition there are other student fees that we frustratingly can't predict. Most students pay in-state tuition but please see comments in blue in the table below for when rare exceptions apply.

For additional information on field camp cost estimates see: https://cse.umn.edu/esci/summer-field-course-cost-estimates