College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

• Volunteer alumni

  Geology alumni return to Wyoming field camp



• Rick Chamberlain spent a portion of his summer at the Wyoming field camp teaching geology students.
  
  Whenever Erik Kvale runs into individuals who attended the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences' field camp near Shell, Wyo., there is a common denominator.
  
  "They think the field camp was the best experience in their geologic careers and some of them in their lives," said Kvale ('78, '82 master's, '86 Ph.D.). "The friendships and associations they made in field camp, many of these people carry on throughout the rest of their lives."
  
  When Kvale became the new director of the Iowa State field camp, he wanted to continue to foster that type of attitude. He also wants to make the camp one the
  best field camps in the nation within five years.
  
  One of the ways he hopes to accomplish that is bringing alumni working in various geological-related industries back to the camp.
  
  "Industry is important because we want to make certain that what we are teaching the students is going to be applied," Kvale said. "By bringing in alumni to teach we hope to give these kids a leg up when they go to apply for a job.
  
  "They are also going to be better trained to do a job they need to do in industry."
  
  One of the first alumni Kvale called was Rick Chamberlain, who works for the Strategic Decisions Group. Chamberlain along with Howard White ('73) returned to the camp this spring.
  
  "Erik and I roomed together at camp in 1976," said Chamberlain ('77). "I love this camp - it was one of the best times of my life. Even today I want to come back to experience it again."
  
  This past June Chamberlain came to the remote Wyoming field camp and spent two days helping Kvale with the camp's curriculum. Chamberlain, who has been employed in the oil and gas industry since graduation, gave a lecture to the students that related to a mapping exercise they had conducted earlier in the day on the Greybull Sandstone Prospect.
  
  The students' work on this project will help Chamberlain determine the probability of oil reserves in the area.
  
  "Hopefully they will learn about the (oil and gas) industry and how the stuff they are learning at the camp will apply to their careers," Chamberlain said. "It's an opportunity for me to give a little back.
  
  "If I could find a reason to come here every year I would."
  
  If Erik Kvale has anything to say about it, Rick Chamberlain and other alumni will make the journey back to Wyoming every year.

Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-4111. Published by: University Relations, online@iastate.edu. Copyright © 1995-2004, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.

Non-Discrimination Statement and Information Disclosures

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Ames, Iowa 50011-1302

General Information: (515) 294-7740

Academic Advising: (515) 294-4831

Email: las@iastate.edu

Michael Whiteford - Dean

Bret Larwick - Director of Technology

Dave Gieseke - Director of Communications