June 16 – July 16, 2025
Date includes travel time and are subject to change.
EARTH 116 is an introductory geoscience course taught primarily outdoors throughout the Teton-Yellowstone region of Northwest Wyoming. Students learn firsthand from field excursions and class projects about the tectonic history of the Rocky Mountains, the evolution of western landscapes, volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain building processes. Classroom lectures are complemented by day excursions to Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest, among other local sites. Overnight field trips to Yellowstone National Park, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, and City of Rocks National Preserve will allow students to explore a broader range of geologic environments in the western United States. Over the 4 weeks of instruction, students will acquire an in-depth appreciation of Earth’s history and environmental change. This place-based course uses the Rocky Mountains as a laboratory to explore and understand the earth sciences. Students should be comfortable hiking and learning in the outdoors.
Instructors: Earth 116 will be co-taught by Drs. Jamie Gleason and Zack Spica. Depending on enrollment, 1-2 graduate student instructors will also complete the instructional team. We try to maintain a student:faculty ratio of 6:1 as often as possible.
Prerequisites
None. This introductory course is open to college freshmen and sophomores as well as high school seniors (i.e., those beginning their freshman year of college in fall 2025). Our program welcomes visiting students from colleges and universities other than UM.
Please reference our Fulfill Requirements page for a matrix of what requirements are fulfilled by EARTH 116.
Costs
Tuition
All Camp Davis courses are considered Summer Half-Term. Please visit the UM Tuition & Fees web page for current tuition rates. Tuition rates for all Camp Davis courses are set by the Registrar’s office, billed the 2nd week in June, and due June 30th. Students will be billed for 6 credits at a rate consistent with the student’s residency status (in-state/out-of-state), the college or school in which the student is enrolled, and the student’s academic standing (lower-level/upper-level).
Course Fees
In addition to tuition, course fees are assessed for all students. While tuition pays for credits and instruction, course fees pay room, board, transportation, and other operational costs. For EARTH 116, course fees will be assessed at $2775. This is billed the 2nd week of June and is due June 30th.
Financial Aid
We are committed to making taking classes at Camp Davis accessible to all EARTH majors and other students to the extent we are able, and make every effort to address the financial challenges posed for attending a class at camp. We make every effort to address the financial challenges posed for attending a class at Camp Davis. The department, college(s), and university all make different types of financial aid available to qualifying students. The deadlines among these sources vary and are strictly enforced. Please visit our Financial Aid & Scholarships web page to apply. We also invite you to speak with Camp Davis Assistant Director Chris Malvica (cmalvica@umich.edu) to discuss your specific situation after completing the necessary financial aid forms linked above.
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information. You can also contact us directly with any additional questions or concerns.
