Geoscience Links | Colorado Scientific Society

Educational Resources for all ages

Resources on topics in the earth sciences (K-12 and undergraduate) from the United States Geological Survey.
NCAR Education and Outreach has a wealth of information and links to all aspects of the Earth, weather, climate, and the cosmos. Special areas serve children, teachers and the university community. Some of the most useful links on this site are listed below.
Colorado Geologic Survey – Education has everything from Points of Geologic Interest to Dinosaurs and Teacher Resources.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) has exhibits on geology, paleontology (dinosaurs, mammoths, and other prehistoric life), minerals, and ancient and modern human cultures. DMNS is a premier top research institution in Colorado.
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science’s Earth Sciences Dept. focuses on field-based research in paleontology and geology.
The National Park Service, Geologic Resource Inventory presents the geological resources in our National Parks. The images are linked into short courses on everything from glacial geology to igneous rocks. There are also free, downloadable geologic maps for most parks.
Digital Library for Earth Science Education (DLESE) provides access to high-quality resources about the Earth.
National Science Digital Library provides online digital education tools for science, math, engineering, and technology.
Geology: Examining the Planet’s Physical Processes
Rockhounding: Secrets of a Rock Collector
Go to Career Resources for higher education and financial aid.
Golden Rocks: The Geology and Mining History of Golden, Colorado, 20 MB PDF.
Written for the non-specialist, the book covers geology, water, mining, and mining legacies including railroads, mine hazards, pollution, and the transition from mining to open space. Illustrated with over 100 maps, photographs, and figures, it is the only guide covering the mining history of Golden.
Download it and read when you want.

Especially for Kids

Web Weather for Kids features hands-on science activities for middle-school students and teachers.
Kids Resource Guide to Weather and Climate has dozens of links to weather and climate explanations, games, and projects.
The Water Cycle, Cloud Formation, and Rainbows Explained describes how clouds and fog form, why it rains and more. Many informative links explore details.
Windows to the Universe from the National Earth Science Teachers Association, offers content and activities, teacher resources, kids pages and information related to the Earth and space sciences.
Kid’s Educational Learning Center provides educational resources to help students, teachers, and parents save on energy.
Home Energy Conservation for Kids, by Home Advisor
Home Energy Conservation for Kids from a boiler heating company in the UK, goes from how we get natural gas and electricity, through why we should conserve it, how to save it, and how to make it fun. Just good, well presented information.
Adaptive Earth Science Activities from West Virginia
40 Playful Ways to Teach Young Kids about Rocks
15 Ways Kids Can Study Geology at Home

Geoscience Summer Camps

The Sternberg Museum at the Fort Hayes, Kansas State University normally offers High School and Middle School science camps in Geology and Paleontology. See their current online offerings: Sternberg Museum, 2021 Geology and Paleontology Summer Programs for High, Middle, and Elementary Schoolers

Colorado Geology

The Interactive Geology Project at the University of Colorado creates digital animations and interactive displays showing the geologic evolution of Colorado. “A Brief History of Colorado through Time” follows Colorado and life here over the last 540 million years.
Ancient Denvers shows what the Denver area looked like over the last 300 million years. From the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Geology of Boulder area including geologic map, a cross section, and geologic history. Good illustrations of the rocks and geologic history of the Boulder area
Colorado Geology by the Colorado Geological Survey (CGS)
Colorado School of Mines, Museum of Earth Science “serves as the state repository for Colorado’s mineral heritage and showcases the most extensive public collection of minerals from Colorado.” Exhibits include moon rocks and many showcasing Colorado’s mining history, often involving Colorado Scientific Society members including the CSS Silver Gavel.
On ColoradoStratigraphy.org you can explore the paleogeography of Colorado. Journey across time to view maps and videos of Colorado over the past 550 million years. Dig into the details of individual basins across the state using the basin map with stratigraphic sections, and use the stratigraphic chart to see Colorado’s geologic history unfold across the state.
Dinosaur Ridge preserves and explains the fossil dinosaur trackways and bones on the Dakota Hogback and other Cretaceous and Jurassic formations between Morrison and Golden (west of Denver). Their visitor centers on both sides of the hogback have exhibits, trail guides, books, and guided tours explaining the tracks, fossils and geology.
Guide to areas in the Southern Rocky Mountains.
The University of Texas has Virtual tours and field guides throughout the United States.
Colorado Geology Photojournal is a beautifully illustrated, enjoyably written, extensive and informative site covering the geologic history of Colorado, with lots of links, references, and places to visit.

Self-guided Field Trips – take them with you and explore

Our Virtual Field Trips page has self-guided field trips from our members, including:
* The Geology Along the Trails West of NCAR
* Boulder Geologic Section
* Geology of Marshall Mesa Open Space Boulder, Colorado
* Field Guide to the Geology Along the Old Kiln Trail

The Colorado Geological Survey has virtual field trips throughout Colorado

Career Resources

GSA Education & Careers, from the Geological Society of America
Resources for Current and Future STEM Educators includes scholarships, online courses, and lesson plans
Resources and Tools for Engineering Students has links to scientific publications and research as well as engineering resources.
Outdoor Career Guide for Students
Petroleum Engineering Programs
Emerging Green Careers – for job growth, finding internships, career trends, etc.
Student’s Guide to Financial Aid Pay less for education: How to take charge of your financial aid.

History of Geology and the West

Photographs from 19th century King and Wheeler Surveys of the West by Timothy O’Sullivan show geologic features, Native Americans, and early settlement.
America’s Geoheritage: Identifying, Developing, and Preserving America’s Natural Legacy, a 2020-2021 webinar that includes CSS Past President, Tom Casadevall

When an Emergency Happens

Use these resources to customize your own emergency kits.
First-Aid Kit that fits in a day pack
What to Have in Your Car in Case of Disaster
Build your Emergency Kits with recommendations from FEMA.
Homeowners 72-hour Emergency Kit has contents for disaster preparedness

Educational Resources for all ages

Especially for Kids

Geoscience Summer Camps

Colorado Geology

Self-guided Field Trips – take them with you and explore

Geoscience Societies

University Geoscience Departments

Other Earth Science Sites

Career Resources

History of Geology and the West

When an Emergency Happens

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