The Alumnae House Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York
Instructors:
• Dan Kelleher, PG, CIPM Hydrogeologist, Midwest GeoSciences Group
• Martin Helmke, PG, PhD, Hydrogeologist, Professor, and Department Chair, West Chester University
Continuing Education Information:
7.0 Professional Development Hours 0.7 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) This course is eligible for NY PGs and NY PEs continuing education requirement. (420 minutes for PA PGs)
NY Professionals receive a special NY SED-approved CE certificate from Midwest GeoSciences Group (Approved Provider #213).
All participants receive a Course Completion Certificate administered by Midwest GeoSciences Group (must participate in the full 1-day course).
Who should attend:
Anyone who works with the subsurface. Especially professional ground-water scientists, engineers, project managers, compliance-program managers and remedial-design managers.
How to Prepare:
Preparation begins with a brief online questionnaire. It provides a baseline for the instructors related to the various experience levels and personal objectives for the training experience.
Bring your clipboard and pens for logging practice. You are welcome to bring your own blank soil boring and rock core logging sheets, or hand-held device. We have designed exercises that will help you create field efficiencies, become accurate with your observations, and think on your feet in the field.
Train Your Entire Team:
If you prefer that we train your entire team at once during a time that's convenient for you. Discounted dates are available now during alternative 6.5 Hour Classroom Intensive at your office. Click for details: TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF THE SUBSURFACE
Why You Want to Attend
This seven-hour workshop intensive covers the procedures with making both soil boring logs and rock core logs complete and accurate.
For soil borings, learn the step-wise process to (1) classify soil, (2) make field observations for key primary descriptive elements and then (3) learn the essential steps to "read the story the sediments are telling" and discern subsurface relationships from boring-to-boring.
For rock core logging, learn to discern the geologic context for rock hydrogeologic properties which enable an understanding of the nature of fractures and fracture sets. For example, the term "weathering" is subjective but it's critically important when deciphering fracture singularities, sets, and sequences. This course presents a less subjective procedure for characterizing secondary weathering that relate to hydrogeologic investigations.
This affordable course applies geologic principles starting with creating meaningful soil boring and rock core log descriptions and then translating that into Conceptual Site Models.
For the short duration you spend in this course, you will reap the technical and financial benefits for the remainder of your career.
Participants will benefit from our deep experience creating meaningful exercises, teaching strategies for efficiencies, and delivering a training experience people come to expect from Midwest GeoSciences Group.
Deciphering Subsurface Heterogeneities and Uniformities
Despite the validity about the challenges of aquifer heterogeneity and finding a meaningful solution through applying geologic principles, sedimentary sequences require additional attention to deciphering depositional processes, stratigraphy, and post-depositional weathering effects.
For sedimentary sequences, aquitards play a major role in the ground water flow regime; but the secondary permeabilities originating from oxidation and weathering complicate ground water movement and can impact the hydraulic integrity of aquitards.
PLUS, MANY FIELD STAFF ARE SIMPLY NOT TRAINED on identifying depositional environments or deciphering subsurface relationships from boring to boring. Boring log quality reflects staff skills about defining geologic units, unit correlation, geologic context leading to unit variability or uniformity, and environmental sequence stratigraphy.
IF THAT'S NOT DAUNTING ENOUGH, multiple sequences from more than one depositional environment are often confusing and difficult to decipher in the field.
NOW PILE ON confusion from some senior technical experts who prefer to avoid standard procedures and promote hybrid field methods. Our industry faces challenges with complex geologic conditions, staff training, standards and procedures, and business-related factors such as budgets, schedules, tools, technologies, and project management philosophies.
Each of these challenges impact how we approach the subsurface for environmental work. However, the principles of subsurface relationships do not change. This course addresses each of these elements and provides a strategy to overcome each challenge.
Take the Time to Sharpen Your Skills
The instructors have learned that two course aspects have a powerful effect on participants: (1) a change in the mindset of how we see and approach the subsurface, and (2) the group and individual exercises that help illustrate the main course principles.
When we struggle with deciphering simple subsurface conditions, then complex ones seem impossible. This abbreviated course presents helpful techniques that will take the mystery out of the subsurface. For the short duration you spend in this course, you will reap the technical and financial benefits for the remainder of your career.
Get private training at your office for your entire team.
If you prefer that we train your entire team at once during a time that's convenient for you. Discounted dates are available now during alternative 6.5 Hour Classroom Intensive at your office. Click for details: TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF THE SUBSURFACE
Get more from your existing borings instead of always wanting more.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Seating is Limited.
Advanced registration is necessary for participation in this limited-enrollment short course. Pre-registration is required to reserve space and receive course materials. If you require special arrangements for diet, equipment, or handicap facilities, please indicate when registering for the course.
Register online for this course.
WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE:
Participants receive 7.0 hours of instruction, printed course notebook, a FIELD GUIDE FOR SOIL AND STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS, a FIELD GUIDE FOR ROCK CORE LOGGING AND FRACTURE ANALYSIS, and a course completion certificate from West Chester University for qualifying participants. Lunch and exercises are included in this event.
This course is uniquely designed with lectures and exercises that create a meaningful learning experience contained within a classroom. All exercises are to be turned in and a Final Exam is administered at the end of the course.
This course is uniquely designed with lectures and exercises that create a meaningful learning experience contained within a classroom.
FREE FIELD GUIDE FOR SOIL AND STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS with each course registration
FREE FIELD GUIDE FOR ROCK CORE LOGGING AND FRACTURE ANALYSIS with each course registration
OPTIONAL ITEMS:
The online registration allows registrants to add items to their course registration.
Item No 1: Full-Color Printed Notebook for $89.00.
EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT:
Early registration discounts may be applied when payment is received by April 30, 2026.
Terms and Conditions apply.
CANCELLATIONS:
Cancellations may be made up to May 1, 2026, however, 50 percent of the course fee will be charged or a credit will be issued. No refunds after May 1, 2026. Refunds are issued at the time when the course is conducted.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
One substitute is allowed for each registrant who is unable to attend.
QUESTIONS:
For registration and technical questions about the course, contact Dan Kelleher at either 763.607.0092 or dan@midwestgeo.com
Dan Kelleher, PG, CIPM President and Hydrogeologist, Midwest GeoSciences Group
Dan Kelleher is an accomplished hydrogeologist specializing in the technical areas of quantitative hydrogeology of sedimentary and stratigraphic sequences, aquifer testing, and geotechnical analysis.
Dan started his career at Waste Management Corporate Headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. His worked allowed him to test hydrogeologic concepts about sedimentary processes during large-scale excavation and fill design, environmental and geotechnical investigations, ground water monitoring system design.
Dan today leads specialized technical teams establishing best practices and teaching educational courses and webinars for geologists, engineers, and environmental scientists. He and Tim Kemmis are the co-founders of Midwest GeoSciences Group which helps professionals to do better job of TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF THE SUBSURFACE ®. He and Tim believe in that tagline so strongly that they own it as a federally registered trademark.
Martin H. Helmke, PG, PhD Hydrogeologist, Professor, and Department Chair, West Chester University
Martin Helmke is an internationally-recognized hydrogeologist with over 30 years experience as an educator and environmental consultant. He is a Full Professor of Hydrogeology at West Chester University where he teaches Hydrogeology, Field Geology, Soils, Engineering Geology, Environmental Geology, Geophysics, Physical Geology, and Science of Natural Disasters. Before joining West Chester University, he taught at Dickinson College, Iowa State University, Antioch College, and Directed the Geology Field Camp for Iowa State University and University of Nebraska in Shell, Wyoming. He has worked for the U.S. Geological Survey (Reston, VA), Versar (Springfield, VA), HydroLog (Yellow Springs, OH), Aquadrill (Coralville, IA), BAI, Inc. (Royersford, PA), Tetra Tech EGS (King of Prussia, PA), Groundwater and Environmental Services, Inc. (Exton, PA). He is currently President of Helmke Hydrogeologic, LLC.
Dr. Helmke's academic and professional expertise includes contaminant fate, transport, and remediation in fractured rock and soils; groundwater flow modeling; environmental geochemistry; PFAS fate and transport through saturated, unsaturated, and fractured media; hazardous materials response; geologic and UXO applications of UAVs; environmental geophysics; wastewater and stormwater infiltration; karst hydrogeology and subsidence; and stochastic risk assessment.
Martin is actively engaged with the professional geologist community. He is currently a member of the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists and is a Subject Matter Expert for the Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG). He is a past Department Chair and past President of the Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists. He has also served his community as a firefighter/EMT, Hazardous Materials Specialist, Technical Rescue Specialist, and officer with the Chester County Department of Emergency Services and Chester County Rescue Task Force in Southeast Pennsylvania.
CLASSROOM VENUE:
Alumae House
VASSAR COLLEGE
161 College Ave
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, Alumnae House was gifted to Vassar College by sisters Blanche Ferry Hooker, class of 1894, and Queene Ferry Coonley, class of 1896. They intended it to be a center for the activities of the alums of the College, but more importantly wanted all alums to have a welcoming space that they could call home when returning to campus.
A classic example of American-Tudor style architecture, Alumnae House is filled with impressive artwork, period furniture, Vassar memorabilia, cozy reading nooks, and working fireplaces. The living room is majestic with its hand-painted ceiling and Violet Oakley Triptych. The walnut-paneled dining room features an inlaid ceiling and musician's gallery, while the Pub showcases murals by Anne Cleveland. The library contains a complete set of Vassar yearbooks, books about Vassar, and books authored by Vassar alums.
An English-born businessman, Matthew Vassar established VASSAR COLLEGE in Poughkeepsie, New York, a small city on the Hudson River, 75 miles north of New York City. For the first time, women were offered courses in art history, physical education, geology, astronomy, music, mathematics, and chemistry.
Vassar was designed strictly for women and historically as "sister institutions" to the all-male Ivy League colleges. Today, the Vassar curriculum is broader ranging from Latin to cognitive science, from biochemistry to religion, from astronomy to Africana studies. Vassar, among the first to offer courses in drama, psychology, and various languages, has experimented with interdepartmental courses since the early 1900s and has long been recognized for curricular innovation.
Vassar decided to open its doors to men in 1969. In keeping with its founding spirit, Vassar was the first all-women's college in the country to become coeducational; Vassar is currently 56% women and 44% men with an annual enrollment of about 2,450 students.
Our Mission
The New York State Council of Professional Geologists (NYSCPG) is the principal organization of professional geologists responsible for the advancement of the competent and ethical practice of geology in New York State. NYSCPG's primary missions, on behalf of its members, are to strengthen and advance the application of geological sciences as a profession by providing leadership, advocacy, and education to promote the protection of public health, safety, and welfare, and the balanced protection of the environment.
Become a Member
Click here to Become a NYSCPG Member
The New York State Council of Professional Geologists and Midwest GeoSciences Group have collaborated many times. Our first collaborative CE course was in October 2019 with Modern Technologies and Emerging Techniques for Assessing Complex Hydrogeologic Systems in Fractured Bedrock. After a hiatus from COVID, MidwestGeo was invited to help NYSCPG with instruction and advertising of Bill Truby's webinar, How "Ethics" Define and Confine Corporate Culture Behavior. NYSCPG helped MidwestGeo in 2022 with a mutually beneficial website promotion of the 8.0 online course, Challenges and Strategies for Implementing Environmental Sequence Stratigraphy. In 2025, we packed the classroom with two maxed-out pairs of Modern Contaminant Hydrology courses at VASSAR COLLEGE.
But probably the most fun NYSCPG collaborative event that MidwestGeo helps support is the annual fun NYSCPG's Geology Days. Each November, Professional Geologists descend on Saratoga Springs for NY camaraderie (and CEUs).
2026 Registration and Cancellation Policies
Advance registration is necessary for participation in limited-enrollment short courses and workshops. Registration is on a first come, first served basis.
Pre-registration is required to reserve space and receive course materials.
Safety is paramount. Each participant is responsible for his/her own safety and agrees to help keep all other participants safe. No harassing behavior or intimidation is acceptable. Event hosts want all participants to feel comfortable and nurture a learning environment for everyone.
A LIABILITY WAIVER is required to be accepted and signed by each participant. The LIABILITY WAIVER is sent via email to all registrants at the time of online registration and required to be returned to Midwest GeoSciences Group on or before May 11, 2026.
A waiting list is prepared of potential registrants when registration exceeds the allowable maximum. Twenty-five participants must be registered at the early registration deadline to conduct any course.
Early registration discounts may be applied when payment is received by the early registration deadline. If payment is not received by the early registration deadline, MidwestGeo reserves the right to remove your registration.
One substitute may be allowed for one registration in case the original registrant cannot attend. This applies to any combination between courses.
No refunds for No-Shows.
Cancellations may be made up to May 1, 2026, however, 50 percent of the course fee will be charged or a credit will be issued. No refunds after May 1, 2026. Refunds are issued within 10 days following completion of the event.
COVID: All affiliates for this event follow the COVID protocols set forth by the Venue.
Promotional Codes may be applied retroactively up to 10 days following the participant's registration date. Retroactive application expires on the date that is 15 days before the course date. If a participant fails to apply a promo code or any discount during registration and does not retroactively apply it during the 10-day period, a credit may be issued toward webinars, online courses, SINGLE USER ONLINE TRAINING SUBSCRIPTION, or CORPORATE ONLINE TRAINING SUBSCRIPTION.
We are glad to arrange for a special diet, equipment, or handicap facility. We only ask that you let us know when registering for the course.
Misrepresentation of organization affiliation to access an exclusive discount for that organization is a breach of your registration agreement whereby having your registration removed and payment forfeited or accepting full professional registration fee.
Members Login
Become A Member
It's Free, It's Easy and as a Member you'll enjoy...
This seven-hour workshop intensive covers the procedures with making both soil boring logs and rock core logs complete and accurate.
Despite the validity about the challenges of aquifer heterogeneity and finding a meaningful solution through applying geologic principles, sedimentary sequences require additional attention to deciphering depositional processes, stratigraphy, and post-depositional weathering effects.
IF THAT'S NOT DAUNTING ENOUGH, multiple sequences from more than one depositional environment are often confusing and difficult to decipher in the field.
The instructors have learned that two course aspects have a powerful effect on participants: (1) a change in the mindset of how we see and approach the subsurface, and (2) the group and individual exercises that help illustrate the main course principles.
