National Soil Science Field Camp: An Update.

In 2010 the concept of a field camp for soil scientists was proposed to SSSA.  A group of SSSA members interested in going forward with the field camp was invited to meet at HQ (March 2011) to discuss some of the reasons, goals, details, and outcomes of the field camp.   It was decided after the HQ meeting, emails we exchanged, and one conference call, that we would go forward and inform the membership of our plans.  Therefore, an oral paper was presented at the 2011 SSSA meetings on our ideas (you can view the presentation on-line).  The response we received from the audience was very positive that SSSA should go ahead an offer a soil science field camp.  As a result of the interest, SSSA Executive Committee formed the National Soil Science Field Camp Committee. The members represent land grant and non-land grant universities, government agencies, consultants, and students.  In general, the NSSFC Committee was formed to determine if a field camp is feasible. If so, then the committee would organize the camp and offer the field camp.  The committee has been meeting via monthly conference calls.   Several questions have been raised during our conference calls including, but not limited to the following: 1) What is a soil science field camp? 2) Should a soil science field camp be offered? 3) Should SSSA be the institute to organize and carry-out the field camp? 4) Where and when should the camp be held? 5) Who should be our targeted audience? 6) What are the goals of the field camp? 7) How long should the field camp be? 8) Should it be offered every year? 9) What will be the cost to participants and the society? 10) Would offering the field camp by SSSA be fiscally stable (a profit)? 11) What will be taught? 12) Who will be invited as instructors? 13)  What are the expected outcomes of the field camp?  The decisions and discussions of the committee will be presented.  Some decisions  such as - the first camp will be offered Summer 2013 at Treehaven located in northern Wisconsin; professionals will be our targeted audience and students will also be encouraged to attend the week-long camp; and material taught and selected instructors will represent all of soil science. The main outcome of the field camp is to give the participants the field experience needed to be successful field soil scientists.