Field Trip Offerings
For an additional fee two field trips are offered as part of the conference registration. These field trips will be submitted to the New York State Council of Professional Geologist (NYSCPG) as Professional Development Hours.
Monday, October 5, 2026, 8am-7pm
Karst Hydrology of the Northern Fox Creek Upland; East Central New York State, USA
Field Trip Summary
This field trip will highlight an upland area boasting Skull, Knox, and Thunder Hole caves, three of New York State’s longest. Visit cave entrances, sinkholes, a farm spring, and world-renowned John Boyd Thacher Park - the key to the geology of North America. Grasp the fascinating geomorphic history of the region; learn of multiple glaciations, new cave discoveries, and researchers’ paleoclimatic findings.
Field Trip Leaders
Paul Rubin: Professional Geologist; HydroQuest, NY and Northeastern Cave Conservancy; Geology, Geomorphology, "Karst of Albany and Schoharie Counties, New York State" (2025 Field Trip Guidebook with emphasis on the interaction between glaciation and karst).
George Shaw: Professor Emeritus, Union College, NY; Karst Hydrogeology, Quantitative dye tracing in karst, "Groundwater Geohydrology of the Town of Wright" (Schoharie County, NY).
Robert "Bob" Simmons: Professional Geologist & Licensed Environmental Professional; Principal and Chief Hydrogeologist, HRP Associates, Inc., CT and Northeastern Cave Conservancy; Geology, Contaminant Transport and Forensics, Environmental Due Diligence.