UAF Geology Field Camp history

The beginnings of the UAF Geology field camp is shrouded in history. As early as the late 1950's, students were honing their skills as field geologist. Through the years, mapping projects were located at several locations in central Alaska, along the Yukon River,  at Chena Hot Springs, Denali National Park and the current locations at Healy, Limestone Gap in the Eastern Talkeetna Mts. with the newest addition, the Eastern Alaska Range.

Until 2019, the field camp lasted 8 weeks, in 2021 and 2023 it was reduced to 6 weeks. Starting in 2024, the field camp will have two 3-week sections and be offered every year.

The UAF Geology Field Camp has been very popular with students from outside Alaska. Over the past 17 years,  more than 40 students from the Lower 48 have participated in our field camp. They come from a variety of colleges and universities, among others:

  • Kansas State University
  • Temple University, Philadelphia
  • University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington
  • Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth
  • Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Indiana University Northwest, Gary
  • University of Hawaii
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • Portland State University
  • St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY
  • Grand Valley State University, Michigan
  • Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland
  • Wayne State University, Detroit
  • Rowan University, New Jersey
  • University of Arizona
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • Angelo State University, Texas
  • Southern Methodist University, Texas
  • Syracuse University, New York

 

Historic images from the 1968 Geology Field Camp

An early geologic map of the Igloo Creek area of Denali National Park (McKinley National Park at that time) summarizing the results from the UAF Geology Field Camp in 1961.

1961 geologic map of the Igloo Creek region in McKinley Park (now Denali National Park and Preserve)

 

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