Teaching Historical Geology in the Grand Canyon

Abstract

The Geology Department at Northern Arizona University has conducted field trips into the Grand Canyon as a scheduled part of the historical geology course since 1935. The authors believe that this is an invaluable experience for beginning students and wish to encourage other teachers of historical geology to take advantage of this world famous natural laboratory. Recognizing that the logistical problems might discourage such planning or pose difficulties for those teachers who may be aware of them, we have written this article to aid them in planning a Grand Canyon field trip.