AMES, Iowa—A summer field course for high school students interested in geology and ecology will be offered July 7-22, through Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development, in partnership with ISU’s Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education.

“Kids get a lot from this program on so many levels,” said Kathy Megivern, ISU program coordinator for MSTAR (Mathematics and Science Teacher Attraction and Retention). “We're not just studying, but experiencing and doing. On this trip, students get a taste of science teaching and researching. Students learn about themselves, discovering and developing talents in these areas as they live and work in a group for two weeks.”

The trip will include behind-the-scenes visits to many geological hot spots, including Yellowstone National Park, Grant Teton National Park and the ISU Geology Field Station in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. Students will be exposed to natural geological phenomena and will be able to interact with geologists to gain an understanding of the field. Participants also will experience whitewater rafting, hiking and backpacking.

The registration deadline for the trip is Monday, April 16, 2007. A tentative itinerary can be found at http://kmegivern.ankeny.iowapages.org/id20.html. For more information and application materials, contact Jay Staker at (515) 294-8417 or jstaker@iastate.edu.

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