Have you ever wondered why the present mountains and valleys are where they are and how and when they got there? Has the thought passed through your mind that the very rocks on which you stand or see nearby have a definite story to tell? The geologist not only wonders about such things, but through his training attempts to answer questions of this nature. His everyday job includes the reconstruction of ancient land and sea areas through a careful study of the rock record. He looks at the rock layers as you might the pages of a history book. The professional geologist, however, commands many basic geological principles and “tools of the trade” which permit him to read more accurately the records preserved in stone.

First, the basic geological principles will be explained and you will be given the proper “tools” for your adventure. Then, you are invited to travel back through 550 million years of time to see just why Coolidge State Forest Park is as it is today and what it was like in the distant past.