It seems like I just finished unpacking and doing my laundry from my Iceland trip – and now, I’m off to my next conference!  Today, I leave for Lock Haven, PA, for the National Association of Geoscience Teachers Eastern Section Meeting.  I have never attended the NAGTES meeting before, and I am really looking forward to this opportunity.  The NAGTES meeting is not like a typical scientific or educator conference.  This conference focuses on fieldtrips.  There will be three evening plenaries, but the daytime hours are not spent in rooms sitting in uncomfortable chairs watching marathon PowerPoint presentations.  As I’ve stated in previous posts, geologists learn geology by doing geology, whether it be going out for “show and tell” fieldtrips or actually getting hands-on with rock hammers and hand lenses for a scientific investigation.  I have never been to the Lock Haven area before, so I am looking forward to learn more about the geology in this region of Pennsylvania through the outdoor excursions.

What are the fieldtrips I’ll be going on?  The sites we will be visiting are very different but will provide for some amazing photo opportunities!

FRIDAY – Marcellus Shale Field Trip.  Arrive at the Waterville facility of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), with a tour of the building and a presentation by Arianne Proctor, Director of the Marcellus Program at DCNR.  Then travel to a Marcellus Shale Drilling site.

SATURDAY – Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. There will be several stops on the way to the gorge with small walks to look-outs and geology talks.

Driving to Lock Haven will take several hours, which I don’t mind doing.  It is much easier to throw everything in my car that I might need, instead of trying to cram everything into luggage for a flight.  My only concern right now is the weather.  With possible scattered thunderstorms in the forecast, I don’t want any of the fieldtrips to be cancelled.   Geologists don’t mind getting wet (I certainly don’t, as a marine geologist!), but safety is a top priority.  We can’t risk anyone getting hurt because of wet/muddy/slippery conditions.  So I will completely understand if the weather causes a trip to be cut short, delayed, or cut out entirely – but I will still be very disappointed!

Lock Haven, here I come!