One of the most unique and wonderful aspects of being at the University of Chicago is our most incredible field courses. The Department has a certain amount of endowed money whose sole purpose is to introduce our students to the great outdoors of diverse, exotic places. The trips often involve more than one faculty member, thus exposing the students to diverse expertise and making the courses both more fun and much more intellectually stimulating. The groups of students that join these trips are very special in their extreme motivation, curiosity, and easy-going demeanor. The Department is also fortunate to have a seemingly bottomless pool of highly skilled and motivated graduate TAs, whose contribution to the success of the trips cannot be overstated.