Every year, the Carolina Geological Society organizes an Annual Field Trip that turns the great outdoors into a classroom. Each trip focuses on a unique geological area, where participants can see textbook concepts come alive in the field. Held on a Fall weekend, the adventure is typically led by one or more professional geologists (or advanced graduate students) who share their expertise and stories from studying the rocks, formations, and history of that region. It’s an educational experience packed with hands-on learning, exploration, and plenty of fun along the way!
The general itinerary each year, which includes our yearly membership meeting, starts with a Welcome Reception, Registration, CGS Member Meeting and Dinner. This is followed by an all-day Field Trip on Saturday and a half-day Field Trip on Sunday.
CGS 2026 Field Trip & Member Meeting
Oct 30 thru Nov 1, 2026 – Myrtle Beach, SC
Uncovering the Stratigraphy of South Carolina’s Coastal Plain
in Horry County, SC: Pliocene to Present
Our 2026 Trip will be an exciting and unique adventure lead by
Will Doar (South Carolina Geological Survey), Katie Luciano (South Carolina Geological Survey), and Till Hanebuth (Coastal Carolina University)
Field Trip Description
Human interactions with the coastal environment range from beach-focused tourism to engineering structures to control waves, tides, and sand. The dynamic nature of coastlines past and present create unique opportunities for geological studies.
Friday Evening
Welcome, networking, registration and the Annual CGS business meeting will take place at a local eatery, TBD.
Saturday – Full Day Trip
On Saturday, examples of hard-structure engineering and soft-engineered structures, and the coastal processes reacting to them, will be reviewed by visiting several nearby locations that have been engineered using seawalls and beach nourishment. Also, development around, and preservation (or non-preservation) of, karst and inland dunes will be highlighted.
Sunday – Half Day Trip
Sunday, examples of human activities that expose subsurface deposits through ditching and mining will be highlighted. Exposed sections will range from Pliocene to late Pleistocene marine and coastal deposits, and field trip leaders will revisit work by such authors as DuBar, Szabo, Doar, and Wehmiller, with the addition of new data. We will look at Pliocene to early Pleistocene cemented fossiliferous sediments, overlain by late Pleistocene coastal sediments, exposed along several sections of the Intracoastal Waterway.
2026 Pricing & Registration
Details will be coming in late July/Aug timeframe
Registration will open in late August 2026
Friday Dinner & Meeting are INCLUDED for all participants if they are also attending the Field Trip.
MEMBERS
(dues paid through Nov 2025)
Friday dinner & activities ONLY – $30
Saturday Field Trip – $130
Sunday Field Trip – $100
Guidebook – $25
NON-MEMBERS
(dues paid through Nov 2025)
Friday dinner & activities ONLY – $30
Saturday Field Trip – $160
Sunday Field Trip – $130
Guidebook – $25
*QUALIFYING DISCOUNT RATE
(dues paid through Nov 2025)
Friday dinner & activities ONLY – $20
Saturday Field Trip – $60
Sunday Field Trip – $45
Guidebook – $25
*Discounted rate is offered to all active students (Middle School, High School & College), active High School earth science educators and retirees.
Current members can add ONE non-member guest at the member rate when registering.
If adding or renewing membership, choose the Member Registration option below and add membership as part of the registration process.
By registering, participants agree to the Carolina Geological Society Code of Conduct.
Accommodations & Parking
Details will be coming in July/Aug timeframe!
High Level Itinerary
Oct 30th – Friday Evening
Dinner, Registration and Annual CGS Business Meeting
Oct 31st – Saturday in the Field
A Full Day Trip exploring modern processes and engineered structures on the beach. Also stops to examine several non-active sinkholes and a preserved set of Quaternary inland dunes.
Nov 1st – Sunday Half Day
Two Options will be offered
1 – Depart from the meeting hotel to travel by boat to several outcrops visible along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) (capped at ~50 participants). Suggest dressing for possible shallow wading (may get feet wet).
2 – TBD but will be land-based.