You need to be prepared for working outdoors. If your outdoor gear is inadequate, you will not be able to participate in outdoor activities. The field centre can provide appropriate outdoor clothing, please speak to the field course leader about this.

Kit list – things you need to bring with you

  • Sturdy walking boots with good ankle support, preferably waterproof (you may borrow wellington boots from the Field Centre if needed)
  • Warm & waterproof clothing (hat, gloves, jumpers, coat, over-trousers, thick socks, etc. You may borrow waterproof coats and trousers from the Field Centre if you do not have them)
  • Sun cream & sun hat
  • Any necessary medication for the week + extra, just in case
  • Towel (the centre will provide bedding)
  • Wash kit/toiletries (please do not bring aerosols as these can set off our fire alarm)
  • Period products (+ disposal bags & hand sanitiser in case you need to change these in the field. See the FAQ topic on What if it’s my period during the field course?)
  • Painkillers, we cannot give you these!
  • Sturdy medium-large rucksack (you will have to carry some pieces of equipment on various activities)
  • Water bottle and lunch box (for your packed lunches – you will put your sandwiches directly in these)
  • Your computer or tablet (and chargers!) for working in the classroom (please let the field course leader know if you do not have a laptop or tablet suitable for working through a web browser, so that we can make suitable provision)
  • Writing implements, and notebook for classroom based working (and calculator if you have one)
  • Torch
  • Provisions and cash for the entire week
    There are no shops or cash points near the field centre.
    (Dale Fort does have a small bar providing snacks, drinks & emergency toiletries, but you shouldn’t rely on it. You can pay by cash, or their preference is for you to setup a personal tab, which you pay by debit or credit card at the end of your stay.)

For one of our introductory activities you will also need to bring a jam jar (or equivalent small container), containing three items that represent your past, present and future.

We also recommend bringing a survival bag and first aid kit, but these are not essential.

Bed linen is provided, along with non feather pillows and extra blankets. 

Note, if you wish to purchase any items for the field work, you may be able to get a student discount at Cotswold Outdoors in Leeds when you show your student card. This provision is subject to change, so please check with the store before purchasing your items.

You are encouraged to bring your mobile ‘phone with you so that you can contact someone remotely should you need to.
Think about how to keep items such as your mobile ‘phone dry in wet weather and bring those items too, e.g. a clean plastic sandwich bag works very well.

Recommended Reading

The field course handbook should be your starting point. In addition, there is a wide variety of books, which may be useful depending on your previous study background, e.g.:

  • Introduction to Modern Climate Change. A Dessler (3rd Edition). Chapters 3, 4 and 6. Cambridge University Press, 2022. Online.
  • Operational Weather Forecasting. P Inness & S Dorling. Oxford Wiley-Blackwell, 2013. Online.
  • Introducing Meteorology: A Guide to the Weather. J Shonk. Dunedin Academic Press, 2013.
  • Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey. J Wallace and P Hobbs. Academic Press. 2006.
  • An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology. RB Stull. Springer, 1988.
  • Ecological Climatology. Bonan, G. (3rd Edition). Cambridge University Press, 2016. Online.
  • We strongly encourage you to check out COMET’s MetEd website.

Students enrolled on module SOEE3801 only:

  • Invitation to Oceanography. P Pinet (7th Edition), Chapter 9: Benthic Communities pg. 325-336. Chapter 11: Sections 1 and 7, Chapter 13: Section 1, and Chapter 16: Sections 1 and 2.