Program Overview

Introduction to Bartell Field Camp

Bartell Field Camp is a facility of the University of Oklahoma School of Geosciences, located in the Wet Mountains, just south of Cañon City, Colorado. The camp sits on 180+ acres overlooking the Cañon City Embayment and the unique geology of the Royal George region, abutting the San Isabel National Forest.

Program Overview

• The program is available for rent by educational entities.
• Abundant local wildlife, flora, and geology, as well as hiking and exploring opportunities, are available.
• The facility contains a dining hall with microwave, refrigerator, and freezer for students to store their own food, as well as always-available packaged foods.

2025 Field Camp Dates

The 2025 Field Camp dates are from May 20 to June 26.

Estimated Costs and Scholarships

• Additional field camp scholarships are available through outside sources such as the Geological Society of America, Oklahoma Geological Foundation, Oklahoma City Geological Society, and American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
• The estimated costs for the program are as follows:
  • Resident/Non Resident | Credit Hours | Tuition and Fees | Room and Board | Total Estimate
  • Resident Geology | 6 | $3,200 | $2,200 | $5,400
  • Non Resident Geology | 6 | $6,800 | $2,200 | $9,000
  • Resident Geophysics | 3 | $1,700 | $1,100 | $2,800
  • Non Resident Geophysics | 3 | $3,500 | $1,100 | $4,600

Typical Day at Bartell Field Camp

Field Day

• Field days begin with hot breakfast at 7:00 AM.
• Students pack lunches for the field and promptly leave at 8:00 AM.
• Most field areas are within a 10-minute drive from Bartell Field Camp.
• Hot dinners are provided Sunday through Thursday and are served immediately following return to camp at 5:00 PM.
• Most field days are spent mapping sedimentary units and increasingly complex structural complexes within the Canon City Embayment.
• A week-long regional field trip taken in June helps students tie together the differences in stratigraphy and structural styles in the Western U.S.

Academic Work Day

• Students typically have one day off per week, sometimes two, which vary with each year's schedule.
• Schedules are provided to students in April.
• There is little down-time at camp, and most off days are used to work on final maps and writing assignments.
• Evening lectures and weekly quizzes take place after dinner a few nights each week.
• Most students work in the dining hall or study hall until 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM most nights, and instructors are available for questions and academic guidance during this time.

Physical Demands

• Courses are physically demanding, and students should be in good health and capable of strenuous hiking in rugged terrain while carrying a daypack and field gear.
• It is recommended to have a physical with a doctor to confirm ability to participate in high altitude, strenuous activity.
• The camp is at 6,000 feet elevation, and many of the mapping locations are above this elevation (up to 10,000 feet).
• The weather in Colorado can range from 30°F to over 100°F, and students need to be physically prepared for activity in a wide range of conditions.
• Students will be required to carry at least 4L of water and field gear with them daily.

What to Bring

• Provided for students:
  • Spare clipboard
  • Protractor
  • Brunton compass
  • GPS
  • Grain size card
  • Acid
• Laundry facilities are not available at camp, but laundry runs to the laundry mat are provided on weekends.

Transportation

• Students may drive their own car to Bartell Field Camp.
• Alternatively, there is transportation available to and from camp in school vehicles.
• For flying, students should arrange transportation to and from the airport with the Field Camp Director prior to booking their flight.

Forms

• The following forms must be completed by March 1.