1. Cost of the Trip
The total cost of the trip is $850. This low cost has been made
possible by contributions to the trip by the University of Illinois
Department of Geology and Shell Oil Company.
This price DOES include:
Roundtrip airfare from Chicago to Curacao via Montego Bay on Air
Jamaica
All lodging and ground transportation expenses on Curacao
A copy of the field guide book and a copy of the geologic map
of Curacao
Check-out of a life vest for use during snorkeling
Check-out of a Brunton compass for use in class exercises
This price DOES NOT include:
Fees for acquiring a valid passport
Travel to Chicago O'Hare to catch your flight
$25 airport tax required to depart from Curaçao
Food and beverages
Basic snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins, wet suit)
Field notebook
Hand lense and rock hammer
NOTE: SCUBA diving is not a formal part of this trip. If you wish to SCUBA dive, please contact Professor Fouke immediately. All expenses, logistics, and risks associated with SCUBA diving will be your own personal responsibility.
2. Payment Schedule
The payment schedule will be strictly adhered to. All payments
are non-refundable. Each payment should be made in the form of
a personal check made out to "UIUC Geology #1-3-64110".
Checks must be hand delivered to Professor Fouke at the beginning
of the listed class.
$100 non-refundable deposit due on Wednesday September 10, 2003
$250 non-refundable payment due on Wednesday October 8, 2003
$250 non-refundable payment due on Wednesday November 12, 2003
$250 non-refundable payment due on Wednesday December 3, 2003
3. Passports and Visas
In order to enter the Netherlands Antilles, each of you are
required to possess a valid PASSPORT from the country of
which you are a citizen. In addition, it is your responsibility
to find out about and attain any necessary visas. United States
citizens DO require a passport, but NOT a visa. Lack of the required
passport or visa will prevent you from going on the trip and all
payments are non-refundable. Attaining passports and visa takes
several weeks, so do not start this process later than October
1, 2003. The US passport office is at the main US Post Office
facility in Champaign at 2001 North Mattis Avenue just south of
I-74 (Phone: 373-6000).
4. University of Illinois Legal Waiver
All participants will be required to sign a legal waiver drafted
by the University of Illinois. A copy of the waiver will be passed
out during the first class meeting and is required to be signed
and submitted to Professor Fouke at the beginning of class on
Wednesday September 10, 2003.
5. Health Statement and Health Insurance
Each participant is required to inform professor Fouke, in
writing, of any medical conditions or problems that you may have,
especially thos that involve medication and can affect your ability
to safely function in the field. In addition, each participant
is required to be covered by health insurance in order to go on
this trip. Please submit your health statement and a photocopy
of your health insurance card with clearly marked instructions
(including phone numbers on how to approve medical treatment when
outside of the United States) to Professor Fouke at the beginning
of class on Wednesday September 10, 2003. The University of Illinois
student medical insurance number to call is (217) 333-0165.
6. Snorkel and SCUBA Diving Insurance
Excellent low-cost insurance is available for snorkeling and/or
SCUBA diving through the Divers Alert Network (DAN)
Phone: 1-800-446-2671
Website: www.DiversAlertNetwork.org
7. Course Credit
a. This is a Fall Semester 2003 course. However, the
grades will not be issued until
early in the Spring 2000 semester
b. Call numbers are:
Geology 315 (08373) Field Geology; or
Geology 415 (08374) Advanced Field Geology
c. The choices for course credit and the accompanying work loads are as follows:
2 hours or 0.5 units =
attend all lectures, labs, and pool sessions here at UIUC
this fall
active participation in one (1) group research project
active participation throughout field trip
turn in field notebook for grading
4 hours or 1 unit =
attend all lectures, labs, and pool sessions here at UIUC
this fall
active participation in two (2) group research project, active
participation throughout field trip
turn in field notebook for grading
8. Logistics During the Trip
We will need to work together as a team to cover many aspects
of our time on the island. A rotating work roster for these tasks
will be established, and we ask that everyone pitch-in a help
out. In addition, there will be need to cover a few logistics
on this end before we leave. Hence, at the meeting we will ask
for volunteers to help with these. These are NOT big time sinks,
just small necessary planning aspects. Thank you in advance!!!!
9. Snorkeling and Snorkel Equipment
It is vital that each of you have a good mask, fin and snorkel,
and that you know basic snorkeling techniques. You are therefore
required to purchase this equipment and we will have two pool
sessions at IMPE to practice during the semester. Especially important
is to have a mask that fits properly, otherwise you will be absolutely
miserable. We are receiving a group discount from Brad Knop at
Midwest SCUBA here in Champaign (115 W. Kirby Avenue, Phone: 352-3118),
and for a high quality mask, fin and snorkel set (~ $85.00). Normally
this is what you would pay for the mask alone, so it is a good
discount. My attempts to arrange equipment rentals on the island
have not worked out, so we must all go down to the island 100%
self-sufficient with our own snorkel equipment. Plus, you will
need this equipment for our pool practice sessions.
The water temperature in January around Curaçao is warm
(~ 75+ degrees F). But, long periods in the water can still make
you chilly due to the high heat capacity of seawater. Therefore,
I would recommend a thin "shorty" wet suit like they
use for water skiing. They have cheaply made shorties at many
different local sporting goods stores. Mid-West SCUBA also has
well made ones at a group discount.