Things to bring into the field:

• Backpack (preferably old, the main purpose is to have something to carry rock samples)
• In backpack:
  • First-aid kit
  • Water
  • Ziploc bags (perfect for shales and anything else that is crumbly)
  • Grocery bags (collecting other rocks)
  • Pencils (mechanical are best because they don't need to be sharpened and won't run in the rain)
  • Sharpies (to label rock samples)
• Digital camera (make sure batteries are charged and/or you have extras)
• GPS unit (make sure batteries are charged and/or you have extras)
• Meter stick or other measuring device (for scale), mechanical pencils can also be used on small objects
• A field notebook or clipboard and paper
• A topographic map of the area, if possible
• Rock hammer and safety glasses (fresh surface of a rock can be quite different from the weathered surface, or you may need to break rock to get a hand sample for your classes, before using a rock hammer, be sure that its okay to do so)

Things to do at each site:

• Get coordinates from your GPS (Write down the coordinates on paper even if your GPS stores them, and don't trust the elevation it gives you)
• Take pictures:

  • Put something for scale in each picture

    • An overview

    • Examples of weathering and erosion

    • Any changes in rock type or color

    • Bedding

    • Close-ups of typical rock

    • Anything cool, interesting or something you have questions about

  • Take as many pictures as you can, it may save you a trip back!

• Take notes:

  • Make your own observations (think, if you brought students here, what would you want them to write about?) Download a template in MS Word.

    • Most geologists use a field notebook, but unless you are working in the rain (I don't recommend) its just as good to use a clipboard and paper.

• Get samples:
  • Typical rocks (enough samples to show what the place looks like in terms of rock)
  • Any rock with something special like fossils
  • Atypical rocks (what's this doing here?)
  • Anything you have questions about
• Label rocks/bags (I use the following system:)
  • L1-06-01
    • L1 stands for Location 1 (you can give places descriptive names or numbers, what ever works for you)
    • 06 stands for 2006
    • 01 stands for the first sample at this location

    Putting it all together: