Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A twelve-day field camp with a focus on various measuring, surveying, recording and mapping skills in branches of physical geography. A selected project will be completed either by a team or by an individual. Field camp locations will vary from year to year. The timing for the camp might not follow the traditional course schedule, please read the outline carefully for further information.

COURSE DETAILS:

The Physical Geography Field Course offers students an immersive 12 days of field experience focused on providing opportunities for direct observation, measurement and rapid interpretation in several branches of physical geography (geomorphology, hydrology, climatology, biogeography). The course is broadly split into two segments. The first part of the course will focus on instructor-led activities and the second part will be student-led as groups of students implement the techniques they have learned in order to research a local geographic topic. There will be several class meetings and online activities during the Spring Semester, including one during the second week of classes, to orient students towards the field experience. Two full days of local fieldwork are scheduled during the spring semester (Saturday March 7, and Saturday April 11) and the remaining field camp days will be held at a site in the BC interior immediately following the end of final examinations in April and May (April 27-May 7).

Your mandatory course fee covers accommodation and transportation costs. Students should expect to pay $340 to the Department to cover additional food costs. Be aware that during the field trips there may be periods of walking on uneven ground, working in areas with steep topography and crossing roads with busy traffic. Appropriate clothing and footwear must be worn. Further details regarding safety, fieldwork protocols and field supplies will be discussed prior to the fieldwork. Students must at all times remain compliant with all student responsibilities, regulations, and policies as outlined in the current Academic Calendar, as well as relevant regulations and policies as outlined in the SFU Policy Gazette. This includes, but is not limited to, expected student conduct and the maintenance of appropriate medical insurance coverage. In order to participate in course activities, students must sign an Adult Acknowledgement of Risk form. Further details regarding safety will be discussed at the beginning of the semester. Walking over uneven ground for moderate periods of time will be required during the course of the field school. There will be student shared accommodation as part of the field school. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns before enrolling.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

1. Learners will demonstrate basic skills in field techniques (map and compass use, experiment development, sedimentology, weather observation, sampling and measuring data in the field).
2. Learners will develop skills in researching, writing, displaying and presenting field-based data.
3. Learners will experience the challenges of working in teams and in dynamic field environments.
4. Learners will gain a deeper appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of geography and the systems approach in evaluating landscape function.

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Students are responsible for ensuring they have light hiking boots, waterproof outerwear, a warm sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Other field gear requirements may be identified at the start of the course at the beginning of the semester.

REQUIRED READING:

REQUIRED READING NOTES: