The Rockies, a mountain range much younger than the ancient Appalachians, provides an ideal landscape for the study of plate tectonics, mountain building, and how geology in general influences ecosystem structure. Students will conduct a number of scientific experiments while completing projects and presentations that synthesize the entire course. An emphasis will be placed on group effort to complete projects. Projects that have been done in the past include Anthropogenic Pollution in the Flathead Lake Area, The Effect of Age on the Growth Rate of Engelmann Spruce, and Succession of Wildflowers and Wildfires. Due to the special nature of the program, applicants should be independent, mature, and ready to participate in the rugged aspects of basic living conditions and intense outdoor exploration.
Lodging is most often in basic cabins with two nights spent camping in tents.
Students can expect to rise early in order to make the most of each day both in lecture and in the field. This will be particularly important on days when the group travels between sites, sometimes spending several hours on the road. The success of the program is dependent upon the ability of students to work and learn as a team.