The Geological Sciences department at CWU has a long tradition of providing students with authentic learning experiences, including several field-based courses. We’ve been running a field course in the Owens Valley of California for over 25 years, and over that time, the cost to run it has increased substantially. Unfortunately, most of that cost is passed on to students in the form of course fees, as much as $1200 for one course.

You can help us reduce these fees by adopting a rock in the Discovery Hall Rock Garden. Our goal is to cut field course fees in half for all students by raising $50,000. Donations of any amount are welcome, and we suggest the following levels that correspond with rocks in the rock garden:

$20
Gneiss boulder
in the retaining wall

gneiss in retaining wall
$50
Sandstone bench
in the outdoor classroom
sandstone benches around classroom space
$100
Basalt column
in the outdoor amphitheatre
basalt columns around amphitheatre
$500
Granite obelisk
granite obelist in lawn
$200
Choose your favorite boulder in the rock garden
(check out the interactive map to select your boulder)
tonalite boulder next to rock garden map

Please contact us if you are interested in naming opportunities for the outdoor spaces.

Donors will be listed on our interactive rock garden web page (https://www.geology.cwu.edu/discovery-rockgarden) and on an outdoor plaque.

How to Adopt-a-Rock:

Online:

By check:

Send a check made out to CWU Foundation with a note indicating your donation should go to Adopt-a-Rock: Geology 210 fund to:

CWU Foundation
400 E University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7508