Oak Forest HS Class Studies Local Geologic Formations

Oak Forest High School Senior Emily Papiez poses inside a local canyon while on a OFHS Geology field trip. The Oak Forest High School Geology students trooped all over Camp Sagawau in Lemont and Swallow Cliff in Palos Park in order to get a better understanding of the importance glaciers and how their retreat shaped our familiar landscape.

Oak Forest High School Geology teacher Vivian Turek said, “I wanted the students to witness first hand how glacial retreat and deposits shaped the area around Palos and Orland Park.” Students also saw “ancient specimens imprinted in Dolomitic Limestone and learned why this area is so unique. Also, students hiked up an esker which is a glacial cliff at Swallow Cliff,” she said.

OFHS Senior Chris Coffey said, “I liked going into the canyon and walking on the rocks. You had to find a pattern on the rocks so you didn’t get wet. Last year Mrs. Turek said that the path was clearer; by this year the esker was larger. I expected the water in the canyon to be higher.”

Senior Megan Hines said, “I learned that the rock on our field trip is made of Dolemite limestone. We have a Dolemite limestone prairie (which is an open field with limestone) in Illinois. Also, when we went down into the canyon, it was a mini version of the Grand Canyon. That was the best part of the field trip for me.”

Senior Emily Papiez said that the “coolest part was walking into the canyon. It was interesting hearing about glaciers and how this was formed.” Papiez added, “We also went to an esker. We pulled off the side of the road and walked down the esker and noticed that land form.”