Summer geology program students travel 1500 miles
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By Jane Brown
Bulletin Staff Writer
Thirty Bend students, IS boys and 12 girls, have
traveled over 1500 miles this summer familiarizing
themselves with the geology of Oregon.
All traveling and study has been done through
the Field Geology program headed by Wallace Wilson,
science teacher at Bend Junior High. It was the first
time that such a program has been offered.
The study, which is actually an extension of the
ninth grade earth science class, provided an oppor
tunity for field experience in geology and application
of geologic principles for those interested students.
The format of the course, which was from June
11 to July 11, consisted of a class on Monday. This
was followed by field trips on Tuesday and Thursday
to various parts of the state with geologic points of
interest.
Each student paid a fee of $5.50 for the course.
This entitled him to a textbook, "Geology of Oregon."
The fee also paid for a boat trip to Wizard Island in
Crater Lake, the grand finale of the program.
Many valuable comparisons were made between
different types of rocks, different formations and dif
ferent types of geologic preservation.
Not only were the students encouraged to gain
an appreciation of the earth's geologic features, but
they were also able to understand the necessity of
preservation.
One of the most striking comparisons seen was
the difference resulting from controlled and uncon
trolled collecting of specimens.
The Lava Cast Forest, south of Bend has been
partly destroyed by public collectors. In the Plot
Butte region, collection has been controlled by the
Forest Service. Here the lavacicles are still very
much intact in a lava tunnel.
Comparisons were made between the block moun
tains of the Summer Lake area and cuesta mountains
of the Smith Rock region. The diatomaceous earth
deposits are also renowned in the Smith Rock area.
Other trips were made to the Lost Forest area to
study the effects of wind abrasions and sand. The
group also visited the John Day Fossil Beds.
One month and 1500 miles later, all of the stu
dents realized that there is much knowledge to be
gained from the earth's surface. Also, they have gain
ed a deeper appreciation of the Central Oregon area
for something other than just recreational use.
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Steve Lewis, left, and David Lundy on trip
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ftoc Pitcher spent part of summer studying geology
Carmen Simpson, left, and Lynette Sholes do basic research
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Members of the group preparing to enter Lavacicle Cave
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Group of students on obsidian flow in Newberry Crater
Inspecting spatter cone
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