General field camp conduct & safety:

The Montana State University summer field course is a challenging five-week course involving strenuous outdoor activity. Although instructors strive to make the experience as safe and comfortable as possible field work does involve inherent risks. Students bear primary responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others during field camp. You must read the MSU Field Course Manual and understand and agree to abide by the rules, and standards of conduct in the manual as well as to follow instructions given by instructors, graduate teaching assistants and field course staff.

Some exercises may require moderate to strenuous exertion at altitudes between 4000 and 10,000 feet (1200-3000m).  Students routinely hike for hours in remote areas over rough terrain. Thus, good to excellent physical conditioning and suitable equipment is essential. All weather conditions are possible during summer in the mountains of Montana including rain, snow, hail, lightning, freezing temperatures and dangerous winds. It is especially important to bring sturdy, comfortable boots (break them in before field camp!) and waterproof/water-resistant outerwear. Sunscreen and a broad-brimmed sunhat are required for protection form the high-altitude summer sun during long days in the field. Rattlesnakes are abundant, but students can minimize the risk of being bitten by exercising caution and wearing long trousers (no student or faculty member has ever been bitten on an MSU field course).

Participating in the course implies that you understand your obligation to follow the rules, behave in a responsible and safe manner at all times. You assume full responsibility for personal injury to yourself and/or to members of your family, or for loss or damage to your personal property and expenses as a result of your own negligence or the negligence of other students. MSU reserves the right to refuse enrollment to any person it judges to be incapable of meeting the rigors and requirements of participating in the field program.

Course expectations

  • Mature, responsible behavior in the field and out of the field that reflects positively on the MSU geology program!
  • Absolutely no alcohol drinking in MSU vehicles (and obviously no open containers).
  • The drinking age in Montana is 21 years. No underage drinking of alcoholic beverages is permitted, ever!
  • Absolutely no smoking in the field (fire hazard)
  • No firearms allowed in the field, in the MSU vehicles, or in camp
  • Trad lightly. Do not damage or degrade the environment. No littering, digging, collecting of plant specimens etc.
  • No trundling (rock rolling)
  • Do not harass or haze livestock or wildlife.
  • Don’t mess with snakes – it’s their home... not yours! Be safe and considerate and leave them alone.
  • NO graffiti on rocks (personal initials, etc.)
  • Treat the landscape with respect – tread lightly and don’t leave trash
  • Be on-time at pick-up points – wear a watch and plan your daily traverses accordingly
  • If a gate is open, leave it open; if it is closed, then be sure to re-close it; be careful crossing fences so as not to break them down
  • Be courteous to landowners and local residents. Honor all requests
  • Do not dispose of food wastes (even 'biodegradable' wastes like apple cores and orange peels) on the ground. Some of the areas we work are heavily used and rotting food is unsightly, offensive to local recreationists and bad for wildlife. 
  • Dig deep holes for “personal disposal” needs including human solid waste and biodegradable food waste.
  • If you are going to succeed in this course, it is imperative that you work in the evenings on your map, cross-sections, explanations, write-ups, etc.; you will certainly not succeed if you procrastinate till the last day on each exercise.
  • Assignment turn-in deadlines are hard deadlines.

Forms & information

These forms are available from within the online registration site. You will be required to submit them as part of the registration process. They are provided here for reference.

The geology field course complies with all policies and procedures outlined in the Montana State University Student Travel Policy.

 

Red Cross - International symbol for safety