GEOGRAPHY 386H: FIELD COURSE IN GEOGRAPHY

INSTRUCTOR: Prof. Peter Lafleur (course instructor/co-ordinator)
office: ESB C127
phone: 748-1011 ext. 1487
email: plafleur@trentu.ca

Assisted by Professor Emeritus, John Marsh
email: jmarsh@trentu.ca

COURSE OBJECTIVE: To expose students to a broad range of themes in geographical field study and field research techniques and to provide all students with an overview of the regional geography of the study area. To provide instruction in designing and undertaking a field oriented geographical research project.

ORGANIZATION: A preparatory period of 6 weeks precedes the field research. During this time students attend lectures and tutorials, conduct written exercises. The field research will take place during Reading Break (October 21 to 29, 2006) in the Kananaskis/Canmore region of Alberta in the Canadian cordillera. Following the field research there will be seminars on data analysis and students will present their research findings to the class accompanied by a short written report. While on the field trip, students will experience field research on a number of geographical topics; each dedicated to a specific sub-field of Human or Physical Geography. Topics will focus on the unique and varied nature of the study area (i.e., the Bow & Kananaskis River Valleys, Canmore, Banff and environs) and will expose students to various field techniques, including physical measurements, archival research, and simple visual observation. The areas of geographical study include: 

Physical:
Stream hydrology. Fluvial geomorphology. Microclimatology. Geomorphology/geology. Biogeography. 

Human:
Recreation (trail studies). Tourism Cultural/historical. Urban structure.