“I can’t wait to share this excitement

By Editor | August 20, 2025

Pearsall Intermediate Science Teacher Genevieve Sindon recently attended the 16th annual Geology Camp for Teachers (G-Camp).
Sindon, who has taught with the district for 13 years, returned from the 12-day camp in late July, a program geared towards providing firsthand experience with the principles of geology.
The annual camp is hosted by the Department of Geology and Geophysics at Texas A&M University and provides professional development offering immersive field excursions to geologically significant sites across Texas and the Southwest.
“G-Camp was a game-changer for me,” Sindon said. “Experiencing geology in the field – touching rocks, observing formations, and learning directly from experts – gave me a whole new perspective. I can’t wait to share this excitement and deepen my understanding with my students.”
Sindon, along with other educators, traveled by bus to different areas in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado that included an outcrop, the slope of a volcano, the footwall of a fault, a glacial valley, the toe of a landslide and a flowing stream.

The camp is designed to provide educators with an introduction to the principles of geology and provide teachers with the opportunity to develop and share curriculum materials to teach the standards required for fifth through twelfth grades.
“Participants gain firsthand experience with sedimentary formations, tectonic structures, and fossil records, all while developing classroom-ready materials aligned with TEKS,” Professor of Geology and G-Camp Director Dr. Mike Pope said of the importance of connecting educators directly with the science they teach.
Sindon said she wanted to dig deeper into Earth Science which prompted her to apply for the program.
“Going beyond the textbook, and really experiencing it out in the field while learning alongside other passionate science teachers,” the teacher said. “I believe that when teachers strengthen their own understanding, it opens the door to more engaging lessons that connect with students in ways they can see and feel in their everyday lives.”