My Geology Field Trip to Rural Missouri

Introduction 

In the spring of my first year at Carleton College, I took GEOL 110: Intro to Geology purely as a lab requirement, with no interest in doing anything STEM-related whatsoever. However, when my professor, Dan Maxbauer, announced in class that there was going to be a Mid-Term Break Departmental Field Trip where even intro students could sign up, I was in. I didn’t particularly love geology at the time, but I did want to dive a little deeper into it, so I was excited to spend four days immersed in geology. Little did I know, I had no idea how that one long weekend would change my life.  

Daily Routine

We stayed in these wooden cabins (pictured below), and I roomed with Samuel and Max—two people I’ve never met before. Despite this, they were both communicative and lovely, and there were no problems whatsoever there. The daily routine consisted mainly of a whole lot of driving and lots of looking at rocks (obviously). We would wake up around 7 am for a delicious breakfast before hoping in the vans, which were of course driven and chaperoned by our professors. There would be mini-lectures, diagrams, and discussions throughout the day, until we returned at night to relax. After dinner, the students would all hang out together in the lodge: doing homework, chatting, playing cards, etc. It was always a pretty good vibe!

Academically Enriching

It was nice to be with people who were similarly passionate about the environment and rocks, but also way more knowledgeable than me in the field of geology. As a first-year with not too much geo experience, I had an incredible opportunity to learn from seasoned geo majors and their years of work, and the amount of rock knowledge I amassed from those four days was substantial in both personal and academic growth. Turns out, when you look at rocks all day, and hang around geologists all day, you tend to get better at it.

Furthermore, by applying the things I’ve learned in class to a different region with different rocks, it made what I already knew so much more fulfilling, and motivated me to continue learning more about geology back on campus. All in all, the field trip made my intro class much more interesting, engaging, and easier to understand.

Some Specific Memories 

A highlight of the trip was climbing to the top of a dam that was breached 20 years ago. As we were walking up a giant scree field, not only were the views insane, but we were also talking about the geologic history of the land we were standing on, piecing it all together as we go. What was the most incredible to me was the fact that the professors weren’t 100% sure about what was going on, so it was as if we were all uncovering a big mystery! They disagreed and debated things as they observed the landscape around us, and we joined in. It was fascinating to see the brains of some of the best geology professors in the country twist, turn, and rebut with each other. 

I remember wandering around with Dan as he looked for a certain geologic feature (I can’t recall it, unfortunately). I also remember talking with Cam, a professor, for almost the entire hike down about his opinions on the confusing geology of the area. Conversations like these are ones I hold closely and value.

Breaking Out of the Bubble and Social Life

The experience of being outdoors in a different environment, off campus, was so refreshing for me. Campus can feel small sometimes, so much so that you can forget that there’s a whole world out there. Sometimes, the bubble can be incredibly comforting, but other times, you want to break free. This was a great opportunity to break out of that bubble: even though you’re with other students, they’re likely students you have never met before, and you will create new friendships. My geology class Teaching Assistant, Sam Ullman, no longer is just a T.A. to me, but a good friend with a jubilant spirit and despicably great and dry sense of humor. The trip connected me with some fantastic people within Carleton, whom I would have never met otherwise. In fact, as I’m writing this, I’m currently in Sam’s house, and he’s across the room, drinking hot chocolate from a beaker!

All in all, the trip was a tiring, uncomfortable, but absolutely enriching, enjoyable, and simply an unforgettable experience. Thank you Carleton Geology Department for welcoming me!

Leo Wang (he/him/his) is a prospective Political Science (International Relations) and Geology Major from Newton, Massachusetts. You can typically find him in the Carleton College Climbing Gym, where he works as a staff member, setter, and class TA. When he’s not climbing, he typically plays one of his instruments: guitar, Violin, Viola, or Erhu (a traditional Chinese instrument). Speaking of the Erhu, Leo is also involved with Carleton’s Chinese Ensemble. There, he is a musician and also works in a staff role, transcribing scores. Another hobby of his is the outdoors. He loves running in the Arb and disconnecting from technology by going on long walks. Lastly, Leo loves being social. He can often be found waving to others from across the bald spot, talking to strangers at various events, and trash-bagging with his friends down the Bell Field Hill. He’s always open to chatting and feel free to contact him for any questions about anything.