Over the past four years, ten students from the Department of Geosciences at Fort Lewis College (Durango, Colorado) have contributed to the mapping and compilation of 1:24,000-scale geologic maps for the 7.5-minute La Plata, Hesperus, Hermosa, and Electra Lake quadrangles. Funding for these field surveys has come from the Educational Mapping Program of the United States Geological Survey, Fort Lewis College, and the Colorado Geological Survey.

A main goal of these studies is to enhance the knowledge and critical skills that undergraduate students need for their professional careers and graduate studies. A strong foundation of field experiences remains a key component of the education and training of undergraduate students in the geological sciences. Applied field research and field-based projects help develop an understanding and appreciation for scientific inquiry where students observe and attempt to explain geologic phenomena, use essential field tools and basic knowledge to test their ideas, and critically evaluate data to solve problems. Fieldwork also makes connections beyond the classroom and instills enthusiasm in students for the science of geology.

The work done in these studies has established some previously unreported geologic units, stratigraphic relationships, and structural trends. It provides geologic information to evaluate mineral and water resources, and to identify and assess sites of potential natural hazards. This information will also be useful in the planning and development of homes and roadways. Mapping in these quadrangles has built a foundation for further detailed geologic studies, and has led to nearly a dozen senior-research projects. These applied field projects are important educational experiences for students, generate a valuable product to our community, and provide information that further constrains the geologic history and evolution of the southern Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado.