A guide to surviving

Humboldt State University Geology field camp,

            HSU Geology Field Camp is a fun, exciting, and challenging course.  This is the capstone class in your undergraduate education, and you are fortunate to be attending one of the finest six week geology field courses in the world.  Your attitude is critical to your getting the most out of camp.  If you want to have a good time and strengthen your field skills, you will.  Aside from the academic challenges, camp life itself can be both fun  and difficult.  This guide will give you an idea of what camp is like and what will be expected from you.

 

Equipment and personal stuff

            See the equipment list with the Field Camp 2008 handout for a complete list of recommended gear to bring.  You should bring stuff that will help keep you comfortable and happy.  However, keep in mind that field camp is a rough, dirty, dusty, muddy, hot place.   We recommend leaving expensive things like laptops, digital cameras, nice portable stereos, etc., at home.  If you do bring valuable things, make sure you have safe place to keep them.  There are also mice that can find their way into your tent and car.  If you bring food, medicine, or anything remotely edible, make sure you keep it in a rodent proof container such as tuperware. 

            It can also be a challenge keeping track of your stuff.  Field gear left in the department vehicles, jackets left around the fire pit, CD's, tapes, books, clothes, etc., left in the Boonie Barn.  Stuff that is left out of your possession tends to get dirty, damaged, and sometimes even disappear.  When you are deciding what to take to camp, keep that in mind.  To keep camp looking neat, please try and keep your stuff together in your tent and not all about camp.   Remember that the Boonie Barn and department vehicles are not for storing personal gear (don't leave your field gear in department vehicles!).  There will be a lost and found box, which is where we will put stuff that I find.

 

A Typical day. (Assuming 7AM breakfast, 8 AM load out to the field, and 6:30PM dinner)

            The first person up is usually the cook.  The cook will begin making breakfast and coffee.  If you are up early, feel free to drop by the kitchen.  It's usually warm, and there is often coffee ready early.  The camp manager is usually up early too. 

            If you have KP duty (usually once a week) for the day, you will be expected to arrive at the kitchen at 6:30AM and begin setting up the dish washing station.  KP is also responsible for helping set up the lunch making stuff.  Don't be late.  If the dish washing station or lunch table is delayed, it will delay load out!  If you have trouble waking up in the morning, make sure you bring an alarm clock.  You also should work together with your other KP partners to make sure everyone is up and at the kitchen by 6:30AM.

            Breakfast is served at 7AM, and the lunch table should be set up for you to make your sandwiches for the day.  Breakfast is announced by a horn, and KP eats first so they can start the dishes and put away the lunch at 7:30AM.  KP washes all the dishes and puts them away in the kitchen tent.

              Eat breakfast, make your sandwich, and be ready to head out into the field at 8AM.  KP usually begins putting lunch stuff away at 7:30AM.  I strongly recommend that you fill your water bottles and have your gear ready to go the night before so all you have to do is put your lunch in your pack and you'll be ready to go.  Do not show up at the kitchen at 7:45 and expect to find breakfast still out or the lunch table still set up. 

            If you are not at breakfast, your absence will be noticed, and someone will be sent to your tent to make sure you are up and on your way.  That means that the camp manager, a TA, or the Professor will have to stop eating and put their breakfast aside to come get you.  This is not a good way to endear yourself.

 

Evening

            All field groups will be back in camp by 5PM unless previous arrangements have been made for a later return.  The 5PM time is important because, if a group is not back, the camp will begin organizing to search for the missing group or person.  BE BACK BY 5PM.  Between your return to camp and dinner is usually a time for relaxing and getting cleaned up. 

            If you have KP duty, you will be expected to arrive at the kitchen at 6PM to set up the dish washing station.  You also will check with the cook to see if there are any before dinner chores to do (chopping lettuce for salad, chopping garlic, slicing bread, whatever).  The horn will be blown at 6:30PM when dinner is served, and, as with breakfast, KP eats first.  When you are done eating, scrape your plate into the pig bucket, rinse in the prewash, and put your dishes on the dish table.  KP washes all the dishes and puts them away in the kitchen tent.

            After dinner is when we will have any camp meetings or get togethers.  You should meet with your group to discuss what you did that day and what you plan on doing the next day.  Update the camp map each night and plot your route for the next day on the route map. 

 

The Shower

            We try to keep the shower working so it's available 24 hours a day, but it can get clogged or run out of propane.  Please let the camp manager know if it is not working, and I will get it running as soon as I can.  Demand for the shower is usually highest between 4PM and dinner time.  Please be respectful and limit your showers to ten minutes during that time.  If you shower after dinner (evening showers are very nice) or in the morning before breakfast, you will not be rushed and can enjoy a longer shower.  You should store all your showering stuff (towels, razors, shampoo, soap, dirty underwear, etc.) in your tent and not in the shower area.

 

The Boonie Barn

            The Boonie Barn (BB) is our classroom tent.  To help keep it clean and usable, please DO NOT store personal gear in it.  I will work with you to keep it clean, but I am not your mama, thank god, so please help by keeping your personal stuff (food, dishes, field gear, clothes, bathing stuff, backpacks, etc) in your tent and not in the BB.  Priority use of the BB is for studying and working on mapping related projects.  If you want to use the BB for any other reason (card games, music, dancing, etc) just make sure you are not interfering with others who may be working.  Always smoke outside.

 

The Kitchen Tent 

            The cook will set the guidelines for use of the kitchen tent.  Generally, use of the kitchen is severely limited.  The kitchen tent is divided into two parts. The  serving area and the cooking area.  The cooking area is off limits.  Refrigerators and camp coolers are not for personal use. Listen to what the cook says, and please, NEVER upset the cook as we all suffer from that.

 

The Vehicles

            We are very protective of the field rigs.  We expect you to treat them better than your own car.  Only people with a defensive drivers card will be able to drive state rigs.  Obey speed limits at all times, especially in town or on 50.  Absolutely no alcoholic beverages are to be in the field vehicles at any time.  Use of controlled substances is illegal.

            Take it slow and easy on dirt roads to reduce the risk of a flat tire and to reduce wear and tear.  If you are unfamiliar with the operation of four wheel drive (it varies between rigs) check with someone who is.

            State vehicles will be available on days off for groups to go to town for laundry and personal supplies, or for trips to local recreational areas (Walti Hot Springs or Ruby Mtns for example).  No state vehicle should leave camp without checking first with the professor or camp manager (except in case of a medical emergency) and each vehicle, even private vehicles, MUST have a designated driver if going to town. 

 

The fire pit

            The central area of camp is the fire pit.  It is where we will have meetings, eat meals and socialize after dinner.  The BLM specifically requires that we have only one fire pit.  It is the responsibility of all of us to keep the fire pit area clean.  Before you go to bed, take a minute to pick up your bottles, cans, and miscellaneous debris and put it in the appropriate container.  We will have trash cans and recycling bins.  Separate containers will be provided for glass, cans, and plastic.

 

The camp resembles a family.  We have to look out for one another and help the place run smoothly.  The camp manager, cook, TA's and professor are part of that family and will help coordinate things but keep in mind, this is not a resort.  We are not here to cater to your whims or desires.  What we will do is help you have a great time but this is YOUR camp