Materials to Take

Documenting the Site: 

• Camera, especially digital cameras for easy download and presentations
• Notebook, ideally Rite in the Rain brand
• Map of the area, ideally a topographic map 

Collecting Specimens: 

• Rock hammer, chiselhead is preferred
• Goggles or other eye protection
• Resealable bags or small specimen boxes, ideally clear durable bags, like freezer bags with white areas for writing
• Small boxes or plastic totes for carrying bagged specimens
• Permanent marker for labeling bags and/or boxes
• Specimen labels  

Miscellaneous Items: 

• Hand lens, about 10x
• Tape measure and/or measuring stick
• Scale to include in photographs
• Pocket knife
• Compass to allow proper orientation within the site
• If available, a Brunton compass is useful for measuring the angle, or dip, of bedding
• First-aid kit
• A GPS unit is beneficial, but not truly necessary