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terms required to  adequately  perform  the   Additional challenges that occurred due   adapting this type of training and course
         exercises; and (iii) Internet connectivity   to the shorter timeframe in the field included   delivery, it bodes well for demand for field
         issues may have prevented students from   (i) unfamiliarity with measuring fold axes   courses run by field stations with fairly
         hearing the entire lecture live. We addressed   and using a Brunton compass in general; (ii)   large year-round enrollments.
         these limitations by lowering the workload   unfamiliarity with actually measuring a   Third, we believe demand for field-based
         and setting greater flexibility on deadlines;   stratigraphic section in the field; (iii) diffi-  courses may actually rise. Of the ~250 stu-
         cutting back on the introduction of new and   culty in providing feedback via the virtual   dents enrolled to take our field camps for
         technical terminology; and recording lec-  platform or scanned images to students as   the summer of 2020, nearly 75% of them
         tures and putting them and lecture material   they worked on their maps and cross sec-  canceled and deferred for a later date.
         online the same day.                tions (i.e., advised not to provide close face-  Accounting for the students still in their
          The 15-day field phase featured modules   to-face feedback on projects); and (iv) hav-  sophomore and junior years who plan to
         on rock identification, Laramide orogeny–  ing to schedule “office hours” rather than   enroll in field camp during 2021–2022, this
         related intrusions, and the metamorphic core   students having full access to instructors   could represent a nearly 4× increase from
         of the Black Hills. The key observations of   during office days as in a normal BHNSFS   2020. This scenario will require advance
         this portion of the course included (i) the reg-  camp. These limitations and drawbacks to   planning to provide space for all of the stu-
         ular four-day field mapping projects were   the online and hybrid approach need to be   dents who will enroll in field camp. This
         challenging to scale down to two- to three-  addressed by the field geoscience education   rather optimistic scenario also agrees with
         day–long mapping projects with the addi-  community.                   other observations that “a field camp can-
         tional  health  and safety requirements that                           not be run online” and that there is no sub-
         were needed and in the absence of a day off   OUTLOOK FOR GEOSCIENCE   stitute for  “in-the-field mapping” to  train
         each week as in the past (five days were pre-  FIELD-BASED EDUCATION DURING   students on field geology methods.
         viously  allowed  to  grade  each  project);  (ii)   COVID-19 TIMES
         more time and lead time is required to do   Like with science in general, our fields are   CONCLUSIONS
         nearly everything in the field camp due to   never moribund. Based on our field-camp   Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many
         HS&E requirements, leading to longer days   experience this year, many of our peers have   field-based geoscience programs have been
         for all involved; and (iii) it is more challeng-  asked us to predict what will happen to field-  temporarily suspended. The experiences
         ing to deliver feedback in the form of grades   based education over the next 5–10 years and   described herein provide a benchmark for
         and constructive criticism when there are no   in the immediate short term. We feel that   planning and executing hybrid field geology
         days purely devoted to rest for the students   while we are unable to make predictions, we
         and grading for the instructors.    can forecast three key scenarios: (i) an   courses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
          While four days in the past were ade-  increase in hybrid-type field courses with   Our aim is to provide these observations as
         quate to map structures such as the peak   two phases similar to our trial course, which   a way to facilitate constructive dialogue
         near Elkhorn Resort, an asymmetric dome   limits the amount of time spent physically in   among the geoscience education community,
         with an underlying intrusion just east of the   the same location and thereby decreases the   including students and faculty and stake-
         Wyoming–South Dakota border, the lim-  risk of an outbreak; (ii) a decrease in field   holders alike, to continually hone, refine, and
         ited time and necessary spacing of cohorts   courses as universities accelerate online   innovate the way we educate our next gen-
         required  careful  logistical  planning.   teaching to accommodate the circumstances   eration of earth scientists, many of whom
         Additionally, flexibility was paramount.   of the pandemic and increase global reach;   will discover important energy resources for
         Limited time meant that the students might   and (iii) an increase in field courses due to an   our world. We hope this contribution will
         be able to identify rock types and get the   increase in demand from the postponement,   serve as a useful guide for universities and
         structure correct, but for projects in the   delay, and cancellation of courses since   businesses planning  to hold face-to-face
         metamorphic core of the Black Hills, it   early to mid-2020.           activities during this time of uncertainty.
         became exceedingly difficult to recognize   The first scenario may become increas-
         multiple Black Hills deformational events   ingly common in the short term for the   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
         in just two days of mapping. Second, the   following reasons: (i) instructors now have   This study could not have been possible without
         enhanced HS&E protocols required longer   abundant material that they can use to teach   the support and data provided by the South Dakota
                                                                                School of Mines and Technology and the Black
         times to do nearly everything because they   remote courses; (ii) the wear-and-tear of   Hills Natural Sciences Field Station. In particular,
         were accomplished by cohort, from break-  travel is significantly reduced for the stu-  we thank the late Dr. Alvis Lisenbee for his gener-
         fast, to loading the vans, to turning in   dent and instructor and requires much less   osity of spirit in teaching us how to map the chal-
         homework, to distributing field equipment,   logistical preparation; and (iii) this scenario   lenging terrain of the Black Hills. Dr. Lisenbee
         including  Brunton  compasses  and  GPS   can accommodate both those who learn best   spread joy for the geosciences and his enthusiasm
                                                                                for the thrill of discovery in field mapping is a key
         units. However, one camp event that likely   online and in the field, so it is more “equal”   mindset instilled in all of us. We also thank all of
         was made logistically easier during this   in its delivery.            the students and vendors (too numerous to name)
         course was the evening virtual meeting to   The second scenario may occur due to   involved in creating successful field camps through-
         introduce a new project or to review Black   budget cuts, a change in curriculum, or a   out the years. Thank you to D. Chiarella and an
         Hills geology. Third, the feedback on stu-  wholesale acceptance that field camp is no   anonymous reviewer for their thorough and com-
         dent projects necessarily needed to be   longer required for an undergraduate geo-  prehensive reviews of the manuscript that greatly
                                                                                improved its readability and impact. JR also thanks
         accelerated because there were no rest days   science degree. We tend to disagree with   the brilliant and talented Dr. Pooja Sodha for her
         in the field portion of the course.  all of these reasons. For many universities   inspiration to this contribution.
                                                                                        www.geosociety.org/gsatoday  9
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