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)