Glacial Geology of Central Vermont & the Champlain Valley

Instructor: Craig Heindel
Sat - Sun, June 7 - 8, 2025 | $295
Course size: 12 students
Financial support available (contact us)
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his class explores the science, geology, and field sites that illustrate the Pleistocene history of Central Vermont and the Champlain Valley. We start at North Branch Nature Center reviewing maps and a presentation about the Pleistocene geologic epoch, the time period during which glaciers covered all of New England. We will then visit several sites around Central Vermont to see the wide variety of geologic deposits from this era such as glacial till and striations, kame terraces and eskers, shoreline and bottom-sediment features of glacial lakes. On the second day, we will explore the extensive and outstanding glacial and post-glacial features in the Champlain Valley, including geological evidence of the Champlain Sea.
Course Goals & Objectives
- To develop skills at interpreting soils, surficial materials and landforms in the context of Vermont’s glacial geologic history.
- To be able to recognize the results of geologic processes that are (and were) at work in glacial and recently post-glacial locations such as New England.
- To become aware of the environmental, ecological, hydrologic and hydrogeologic impacts of glacial and post-glacial deposits in a variety of agricultural, forested and developed settings.
About the Instructor
Craig Heindel is a Certified Professional Geologist and consulting hydrogeologist with an academic background in groundwater and glacial geology. His consulting work, based at Waite-Heindel Environmental Management in Burlington, Vermont, involves the frequent application of the concepts of glacial and surficial geology to environmental evaluations and permit applications. He has led numerous glacial geology fieldtrips and workshops since the 1980s for the University of Vermont’s Church Street Center and Field Naturalist Graduate Program, and more recently for Vermont Technical College and the Vermont Master Naturalist Program.
Physical Requirements
Participants must be able to walk about 1 mile over the course of each day, often off trail over uneven and potentially muddy terrain. We will be fairly close to the road most of the time, but visiting features comprised of loose and steep substrate. Participants should be comfortable outside in potentially adverse conditions for long periods of time. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about mobility and/or other accessibility needs.
Recommended Reading & Equipment
- A Guide to New England’s Landscape. Neil Jorgensen, 1977. Globe Pequot Press.
- Deep Future: The Next 100,000 Years of Life on Earth. Curt Stager, 2011. Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin’s Press.
- The Nature of Vermont. Charles Johnson, 1998. University Press of New England.
- The White Planet. Jouzel et al, 2013. Princeton University Press.
Meals
Participants should bring their own lunches and snacks. Coffee, tea, and light snacks available on Saturday morning.
Timing & Location
Course begins 9 AM on Saturday at North Branch Nature Center. The course concludes at NBNC by 5 pm. Course begins on Sunday at the Williston Park & Ride (Exit 12) at 9 AM and concludes at the park & ride at 5 PM.
Academic Credit / Professional Development
This course may qualify for 1 graduate-level credit for an additional $200 course fee. All BioU courses may be accredited by Castleton University. Participants interested in receiving credit must contact us at one month in advance so we have time to arrange course accreditation.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that home institutions will accept the credit. Participants pursuing academic credit will be required to complete an additional assignment above and beyond the course hours, including literature review, reflective writing, or a field-based project.
This course qualifies for 20 hours of professional development hours and continuing education units. Certificates of completion are provided at the conclusion of the course.
Cancellation Policy
While we realize that unexpected circumstances arise that are out of our control, North Branch Nature Center cannot guarantee refunds for registrations cancelled within 30 days of the course. If a cancellation occurs within this window, NBNC will attempt to fill the space from our wait list and provide a full refund. If the course needs to be cancelled by NBNC, we will provide a full refund.