In the heart of the American Southwest, a group of 26 students from Brown University’s Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences embarked on a weeklong camping trip. This annual tradition combines education, adventure, and community building in a unique way. The students got to witness firsthand the environmental and geological processes they have been learning about in class.
For decades, these trips have taken students to national parks and geological landmarks in states like Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. The trips are open to all undergraduates in the department, providing them with scenic hikes, experiential learning opportunities, long car rides, and moments of bonding with their peers, faculty, and staff.
Imagine cooking around nightly fires, stargazing under the night sky, and waking up to red sunrises over sweeping desert valleys – this gives a glimpse into what the trips entail. Participants who have attended in previous years speak of the cherished memories they have made and the strong connections formed with their fellow travelers.
This year’s itinerary took the group through Petrified Forest National Park, Meteor Crater
