gcc logo
Geology
A program within the Physical Sciences Department

 

Geology Extra Credit Field Trip Options- Fall, 2008

Check back to see if new options have been added.
Be sure to check here just before your trip to see if it has been cancelled due to weather or other emergencies.

Note: You can earn a MAXIMUM of 15 points extra credit using these trips for any single course. Some instructors may allow you to use these trips for both lecture and lab extra credit. You may NOT use the same trip for extra credit in more than one course (i.e. no double dipping). If we offer duplicate trips to the same location, you may not use the duplicate for extra credit (i.e. you may not do two identical Thunderbird Park trips for credit).

PLEASE READ! Do not expect to get credit for the trip by just showing up without signing up in advance. If you are absent without prior notice or an emergency excuse, you may have taken away the field trip opportunity for a fellow student. As a consequence, we may take away any existing and future extra credit that you may have accumulated in the class for which you were planning to apply the extra credit. Please be considerate of your fellow classmates and the faculty who are volunteering their time to offer you these educational opportunities.

October Trips

Friday, October 31- "Spooky" hike with the Professors- Piestewa Peak Geology

 What
 Hike to the top of Piestewa Peak- get a great view of the Phoenix area and it's geology
 Difficulty
 Moderate to difficult. The hike is 2.4 miles roundtrip and ascends ~1200 feet. Please do not attempt this hike if you are not used to hiking or climbing stairs (lots of them!).
 When
 3:30 - 5:30 pm
 Where
 Meet at the Summit Trailhead (300). From Lincoln Drive take Squaw Peak Drive north (between 22nd and 24th Streets). Follow the signs to the Summit Trailhead parking area. Parking is limited so you may need to continue up Squaw Peak Drive to find additional parking and then walk back to the Summit trailhead. Please park in designated parking spots.
 What to Bring
 Water, sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, your lab manual and a pen/pencil. Be sure to fill out both sides of one of the field trip forms in Appendix 2 of the lab manual and bring it with you on the trip.
 Instructors
 Karrie Wood & Gary Calderone. Be sure to return your worksheets to one of them upon conclusion of the exercise.
 How to sign up
PRIOR TO THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE TRIP, click here to sign up.
   
 Points
 10 points possible
 

November Trips


Friday, November 7- Hike with the Professors- Phoenix Mountains- Trail #8: Quartzite Ridge Geology

 What
 Explore the Geology of the Phoenix Mountains along Trail #8 between Piestewa Peak and Quartzite Ridge
 Difficulty
 The hike will be around 2 miles in length (round trip) and of moderate difficulty.
 When
 3:00 p.m to around 5:00 p.m
 Where
 Phoenix Mountains Preserve parking lot on the north side of Lincoln Blvd ( = Glendale Ave) at 32nd Street.
 What to Bring
 Water, sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, your lab manual and a pen/pencil. Be sure to fill out both sides of one of the field trip forms in Appendix 2 of the lab manual and bring it with you on the trip. If you don't have a lab manual, download Appendix 2 here.
 Instructors
 Steve Kadel & Pam Nelson. Be sure to return your worksheets to one of them upon conclusion of the exercise.
 How to sign up
PRIOR TO THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE TRIP, click here to sign up.
   
 Points
 10 points possible

 

Saturday, November 8- Hiking with the Professor(s)- Usery Pass & Land Subsidence Features

 What
 Explore the Geology of the Superstition Volcanics with a hike to Wind Cave in Usery Park with a detour to the nearby land subsidence features.
 Difficulty
 The hike will be about 3 miles length (round trip) and of moderate difficulty. We will be hiking about 1.5 miles to nearly the summit of Pass Mountain. The elevation change is moderate (~800 feet). Please do not attempt this hike if you are not used to hiking or climbing stairs (lots of them!).
 When
 8:00 a.m to around 4:00 p.m
 Where
Meet in room PS 175 at 8:00 a.m for trip orientation. Trip will leave from Physical Sciences Building Parking lot. Park in the standard student lots.
 What to Bring
 Lab Manuals, Water, sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, pen/pencil and a picnic lunch. Bring a jacket if cool weather is predicted. Be sure to fill out both sides of one of the field trip forms in Appendix 2 of the lab manual and bring it with you on the trip. If you don't have a lab manual, download Appendix 2 here.
 Instructors
 Gary Calderone & Wayne Johnson. Be sure to return your worksheets to the instructor(s) upon conclusion of the exercise.
 How to sign up
PRIOR TO THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE TRIP, click here to sign up.
 Points
 15 points possible

Saturday, November 15- Touring with the Professors- Central Arizona Geology

 What
 Van-based Geology Tour of Central Arizona from Phoenix to Payson to Tonto Creek and return. Opportunity to collect rocks and fossils along the way.
 Difficulty
 Low difficulty. Most stops simply involve getting out of the vans. A short level walk (~100 yards) along a paved road to reach the fossils near Tonto Creek.
 When
 8:00 a.m to around 4:30 p.m
 Where
 Meet in room PS 175 at 8:00 a.m for trip orientation. Trip will leave from Physical Sciences Building Parking lot. Park in the standard student lots.
 What to Bring
 Lab Manuals, Water, sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, pen/pencil and a picnic lunch. Bring a jacket if cool weather is predicted. Be sure to fill out both sides of one of the field trip forms in Appendix 2 of the lab manual and bring it with you on the trip. If you don't have a lab manual, download Appendix 2 here.
 Instructors
 Steve Kadel, Karrie Wood, Wayne Johnson & Gary Calderone. Be sure to return your worksheets to one of them upon conclusion of the exercise.
 How to sign up
 PRIOR TO THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE TRIP, click here to sign up.
 
 
 Points
 15 points possible

Friday, November 21- Hike with the Professors- Thunderbird Park Geology

 What
 Explore the Geology of Thunderbird Park
 Difficulty
 The hike will be less than one mile length (round trip) and of low difficulty. We will be hiking about 100 yards up a hill on the west side of the park. We can then actually drive or hike to the central part of the park to complete the exercise.
 When
 3:00 p.m to around 5:00 p.m
 Where
 Thunderbird Park near where 59th Avenue turns into Pinnacle Peak Road. Proceed north on 59th Avenue past the Loop 101. Continue northward past Deer Valley/Melinda Road. 0.5 miles past Deer Valley Road, turn left into the main entrance to Thunderbird Park. Proceed ~50 yards to the T-intersection. Turn right at the T-intersection and proceed a few tenths of a mile to the next possible right turn. Turn right and proceed until this road dead-ends into a parking lot. Park. Click here for a map. Seriously, click here for a map!
 What to Bring
 Water, sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, your lab manual and a pen/pencil. Be sure to fill out both sides of one of the field trip forms in Appendix 2 of the lab manual and bring it with you on the trip. If you don't have a lab manual, download Appendix 2 here.
 Instructors
 Karrie Wood & Pam Nelson. Be sure to return your worksheets to the instructor(s) upon conclusion of the exercise.
 How to sign up
PRIOR TO THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE TRIP, click here to sign up.
   
 Points
 10 points possible

Do-It-Yourself Field Trip Options: 5 points each.

1. Arizona Mining & Mineral Museum Treasure Hunt. Download the treasure hunt exercise and map by clicking here and printing the PDF document. Visit the Arizona Mining & Mineral Museum 1502 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007, (602) 255-3791. Get directions. Complete the exercise and have it signed by a Museum official and return it to your instructor by November 26, 2008.

Physical Sciences Department Geology Astronomy  Physics  Physical Science 

Please report problems to: gary.calderone@gcmail.maricopa.edu
Legal Disclaimer
URL: http://www.gc.maricopa.edu /appliedscience/geoweb/geofield.html
Last update: Friday October 10 2008