The 2008 GSI Spring Field Trip will continue the recent practice of following completion of the Geology Session of the Annual Meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science. This year the Academy will be meeting at Kirkwood College, just south of Highway 30 off Kirkwood Boulevard in southwest Cedar Rapids. The Geology Session will take place in the morning of Saturday, April 12. The field trip will be led by Iowa Geological Survey geologists, and although the trip stops have not yet been identified (everything is still under snow) stops will include a look at and discussion of the Kirkwood Paha (on which much of the campus is built), a stop to see and discuss features of the Iowan Surface, a stop to examine local rock geology, possibly rocks of the Otis Formation (Devonian Wapsipinicon Group) at the Hennessey Quarry, and a stop along the Cedar River to view the water and discuss the water quality and geologic history of the river. We will travel by personal cars between field trip stops.

     Field trip participants should gather in parking south of the Facilities building just off Kirkwood N. Road on the east side of the campus (see map above) at 1:00 pm. We will try to get there early, so look for the DNR Iowa Geological Survey cars. Hopefully we will be able to collect rocks and fossils at some stops, so bring your collecting bag along with your camera! As usual there is no charge for field trip participations, and GSI members will get their guidebooks at no charge (others must pay a nominal fee for a guidebook).