Camp Davis FAQ

Camp Davis Rocky Mountain Field Station is a research and teaching facility owned and operated by the University of Michigan and managed by the Dept.of Earth & Environmental Science. Each summer Camp Davis offers courses in Geology, Environmental Science and the Humanities. The Camp Davis facility is also open to Academic conferences, Alumni gatherings and guest Universities and Colleges.

The University of Michigan has been operating Camp Davis each summer since 1929. Camp Davis initially served the Dept. of Engineering. In 1965 management of the Camp was transferred to the Dept. of Geological Sciences which has recently been renamed the Dept. of Earth & Environmental Science. A detailed history, written by Professor Emeritus Eugene Glysson, can be found here.

Camp Davis is located approximately 30 miles south of Jackson, Wyoming near the village of Hoback Junction. Situated on 120 acres of University owned property Camp Davis abuts the Hoback River and the Bridger Teton National Forest. Camp Davis’s remote location and relative close proximity to exposed geological features and Grand Teton / Yellowstone National Parks make it an ideal learning environment.

Camp Davis mailing address is 13405 South Bryan Flat Rd. Jackson, Wyoming 83001.

The Camp Davis business phone # is 307-733-3091 (business and emergencies only)
The Camp Davis student phone # is 307-733-2802 (personal calls)

Summer temperatures at Camp Davis can rise and fall quite severely throughout the day, ranging from 30° at night to 90° during mid-afternoon. Average summer rainfall is 1.38 inches, making the Jackson Hole area very dry during the summer months. Temps and rainfall may greatly increase on regional field trips to, Yellowstone, Utah and Idaho. Warm clothing is essential.

The elevation at Camp Davis is 6113 feet above sea level. Field trips throughout the region may require students to be working, hiking and climbing at altitudes between 4000 and 10,000 feet about sea level.

Academic Information

Each course at Camp Davis will spend some of their time in an indoor lecture setting and a majority of their time in an outdoor field work setting. Camp Davis has three fully equipped classrooms, computer lab, weather research station, and a seismic sensor. Field work will include travel to different areas of interest throughout the west.

A list of required texts and or course packs will be sent to you via email upon admittance. Most textbooks are included in your course fees. You can also contact your Prof. or camp manager for a list of required material.

Every day is quite different, but this is an attempt to give some idea of what ‘typical’ daily activities can be like.

• 7:00 am Breakfast is served in the Mess Hall, including fresh fruit, breads and pastries, waffles and several hot entrees. Students pack their own bag lunches from the various meats, cheeses, and vegetables provided.
• 8:00 am Students and instructors meet in the classroom building. At the start of a multi-day project there is usually a two hour lecture to introduce the basic scientific concepts and approach of a new project. If a project is continuing there is usually a 30 minute discussion of that day’s activities and organization. Following the lecture or meeting, class departs to the site of a field project. Some sites are in the Teton National Park, others are in the valley surrounding camp. There is sometimes a hike to remote sites. On several days during the course there are challenging all-day hikes to alpine ecosystems. These can be taken at any pace, recognizing that there will be various levels of fitness and tolerance of high-elevation. There are also two overnight camping trips—one to the Wind River Mountains, and another to Yellowstone National Park.
• 12:00 pm Lunch, usually eaten in the field, as a break from data collection and observation in the field. The afternoon is usually a continuation of the morning project. Occasionally the afternoon will be spent in camp completing chemical analyses, working on data interpretation, or researching specific topics in the reference library or on the internet.
• 4:00 pm Day courses end, students shower, check email, fly fish, hiking, jogging, play horseshoes, billiards, volleyball or basketball. Some days it will be necessary to compile research results, work on projects, or study required readings.
• 6:30 pm Dinner is served. Meals are eaten family style and include a full and varied salad bar, several different entrees, side-dishes and fresh vegetables. Vegetarian entrees are offered every day.
• 7:00 pm Evenings are a mix between study and play—depending on where the class is with respect to multi-day projects. Some evenings there will be short lectures, data analysis and write-ups in the computer lab, or required reading. Other evenings will be designated as official time-off to either chill-out or participate in extra-curricular activities including, hiking, climbing, swimming at the Hoback River swimming hole, visits to Jackson Hole (25 minutes away), Snake River, Palisades Reservoir, Teton County Rodeo, Teton National Park, Granite Creek Falls, etc.
• 9:30 pm Geissman Hall has billiards, ping-pong, foosball and other diversions.
• Off Days Camp Davis is a “total immersion” outdoor experience. We hike, explore, and enjoy breathtaking views on a daily basis. Approximately one day per week is time off. Some students prefer to hang around camp, catch up on sleep and laundry, and enjoy the activities in camp. Others check-out mini-vans and head off on backpacking trips, river rafting, horse-back riding, and shopping expeditions to Jackson Hole. Please feel free to contact the Course Coordinator (Chris Malvica, campdavis@umich.edu) for additional details or for referral to students who have successfully completed the course and can answer any questions you may have.

Travel Concerns

Yes, course dates include the travel time from Ann Arbor to Jackson Hole, and back again. The journey is 1600 miles and takes 3 days and 2 nights each way.

Earth 344 students are required to use the provided Camp Davis transportation. Earth 440 and 344 courses begin with regional field trips prior to their arrival at Camp Davis. All other students may fly into Jackson airport (though it can be very expensive). Required flight arrival dates and times can be obtained by emailing campdavis@umich.edu. Transportation to and from the Jackson airport can be arranged via local taxi, Uber or Lyft. Students may arrive in personal vehicles, though strict rules govern their usage during the summer.

Absolutely. Students may use the minivans during free days and scheduled evenings. Professors will determine which days vans can be used. Please keep trips within a 30 mile perimeter of Camp.

All students, GSIs and Professors with clean driving records and valid licenses are asked to help drive. Driver safety is extremely important and anyone with excessive moving violations or impaired driving offenses will be prohibited from driving (driving records will be checked). Students and GSIs will also be responsible for fueling and cleaning the vehicles throughout the summer.

Students are asked to bring a reasonable amount of luggage. 1 backpack, one duffel bag, 1 sleeping bag and one tent. A complete list of required and recommended gear for your specific course can be found on our Gear Guide page.

Students will be spending part of their time camping at various locations throughout the west so a small backpack, sleeping bag and small tent and at least two 32 oz. water bottles or hydrating bladders are necessary. A complete list of required and optional gear can be found on our Gear Guide page.

You may bring a laptop if you wish, high speed wireless is available on campus, though reception in some areas is spotty. Numerous desktop computers are available for web surfing and email. If you decide to bring your laptop, please understand that the University of Michigan is not responsible for its theft or damage.

Temperatures can rise and fall severely, and rain and snow storms while infrequent (Yes, it sometimes snows during the summer) happen very quickly. Students are encouraged to dress in layers, peeling off jackets and sweaters as the day progresses. Old sneakers are perfect for rocky lake and river bottoms and will help to prevent serious cuts and scraps while swimming. Students should also bring a set of “Town Clothes” for evenings out. A complete list of recommended clothes can be found on our Gear Guide .

Most cell phones do not function at Camp Davis. Because Camp is located within a deep valley reception is very weak at best. Some newer model phones have received successful reception in the past. Cell phones do work well within the town of Jackson and on select mountain tops. A student land-line phone is available free of charge for domestic calls. In addition, wi-fi calling is possible during non-peak hours.

The amount of money you bring really depends on the length of your stay. Activities like fishing, white water rafting, horseback riding, and mountain sliding are not included in your course fees. Generally students can get by with between $200 and $300.

The Camp Davis student body closely mirrors the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Contrary to popular belief, most students are not geology or even science majors. Male to Female ratios are generally 50/50, and guest students from other Universities usually make up ¼ of the total enrollments.

The food at Camp Davis is excellent. Three meals are offered each day. Breakfast, consisting of a hot entrée, side dishes, meat, fresh fruit and waffles is served each morning at 7:00 am. A varied selection of lunch meats, cheeses, vegan proteins, breads, fruits and vegetables are provided and students bag their own lunches each morning. Dinner is served each evening at 6:30 pm. Several entrees, including vegetarian/vegan offerings, are served each evening family style in large and colorful mess hall. Students with special dietary requirements can usually be accommodated. Food during the travel to and from Wyoming is not provided.

Two onsite washing machines are provided free of charge and clothes are line dried. Because of the relative low humidity, drying time is extremely quick. Laundry detergent is not provided. Clothes can also be washed in town at one of several locations.

Camp Davis offers a myriad of extra-curricular activities. An onsite recreational hall includes ping-pong, billiards, foosball and board games. Volleyball, corn hole, and a half court basketball court are also available. In addition the abutting Bridger Teton National Forest and Hoback River afford endless hiking, and fishing possibilities. Nearby National Parks and the Snake River offer white water rafting, hiking, and camping opportunities. Visit here for more detailed information.

Your parents and accompanying siblings are welcome to visit the Camp Davis facility during the summer. We can provide information on nearby accommodations, restaurants and camping. Friends and siblings not accompanied by your parents are strictly prohibited from visiting Camp Davis.

Yes, a computer lab with numerous computers is available for use 24/7. These computers each have high speed internet connections. In addition, high speed wireless is available in all common buildings, and most outdoor campus areas.

All students attending Camp Davis program will be billed both Tuition and Program Fees. Program Fees for the Camp Davis program are as follows. Please note that accepted students have until April 30th to cancel. Student cancellations after April 30th will be assessed the full Camp Davis program fee. Tuition and program fees will be billed electronically to your student account in the 2nd week of June and will be due by June 30th.

EARTH-116  (6 credits) $2775

EARTH-450  (6 credits) $2775

EARTH-344  (4 credits) $2225

EARTH-440  (6 credits) $2775

EARTH-202  (6 credits) $2775

Tuition for each course varies according to the amount of credits offered. Guest students will be charged at an upper division rate. Please visit the UM Registrar’s web site for current up to date tuition costs. Please note that the above fee costs DO NOT cover tuition. Course fees and tuition are tenative and are subject to change.

Yes, through the generous donations of Alumni, departmental fin-aid is available for most students on a need and merit bases. Unfortunately international and guest students are ineligible for UM based aid, but are eligible for external scholarships.. To apply, visit our Camp Davis Financial Aid web page. Please be sure to submit this application on or before February 15th. Applicants must have a current FAFSA or ADF on file with the UM Fin-Aid Office to be eligible.

No, any student accepted into or currently attending an accredited college or university is welcome. Guest students make up approximately ¼ of our student body each summer, and are encouraged to apply. Please be sure that your home institution excepts credit from the University of Michigan before enrolling. Once a course has been successfully completed, a UM credit transfer form can be found here.

1. Complete our online application. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis per U-M registration policy beginning in November. Accepted students will be notified via email.
2. Within 10 business days of acceptance students will be required to make a Commitment to Participate via the UM M-Compass portal.
3. In late March, committed UM students will receive permission, via email, to register for the course in the Wolverine Access system. Committed guest students without an active UM account will be required to submit a guest student application and registration will be handled by the UM Registrars Office. Committed incoming freshmen will have their matriculation date changed from fall to summer and registration will be handled by the UM Registrars Office.
4. Committed students who decide not to attend Camp Davis after the April 30th cancellation deadline will be charged the full program fee.

No, all students will be charged both program fees and tuition. Program fees include everything you’ll need to attend camp. Loaner textbooks are included for all E&ES courses. Extra field notebooks, should you require one, can be purchased at Camp Davis for a small fee.

Yes, Because of Camp Davis’s altitude and low humidity some students experience minor symptoms of altitude sickness. These symptoms including headache, nausea, dizziness and general malaise. Symptoms are usually not severe and pass once students have become acclimated. It is extremely important to consume plenty of water during your stay, as the possibility of dehydration is greatly increased. Please email campdavis@umich.edu with any questions you might have.

Yes, proof of commercial health insurance is required during the application process.  Temporary policies are available for an additional cost. Please contact us for further information or see the University Health Services health insurance page for additional information.

Yes, proof of immunization is required during the application process, including proof of COVID-19 immunization.

No, All GSIs and several staff members are trained in Basic Life Saving techniques, including basic first aid, patient stabilization and CPR.