PARENT SESSION
Oral Session #49: Restoration of Public Lands.
Presiding: D. Gordon
Wednesday, August 7. 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Mohave Meeting Room, TCC.
Students assist with habitat restoration in Grand Canyon National Park.
Yokers, Sheila*,1, Makarick, Lori1, 1 Grand Canyon National Park Revegetation Crew, Grand Canyon, Arizona
ABSTRACT- Over the past few decades, increased visitation to the Grand Canyon has decreased habitat quality in high use areas of the park. Trampling near the rim of the canyon has caused compaction, erosion, and root exposure thereby endangering several old-growth Utah juniper and pinyon pine and creating a large network of social trails. Students from Grand Canyon Village and surrounding areas have been helping to restore the more impacted sites in a School-to-Work program. Incorporated into middle school and high school science classes, this program exposes students to environmental issues and scientific methods and gives students the freedom to explore both in a real-world setting. This program is coordinated by a Student Conservation Association volunteer who works closely with teachers and Grand Canyon Revegetation crew members to ensure its success. Each fall, students are introduced to the site they will be restoring. Through classroom instruction, field work, and leadership training, students undergo preparation throughout the year to develop the skills necessary for supervising an Earth Day planting project at their site. Although they are guided in this process, the students are ultimately responsible for the outcome of their efforts. This multi-disciplinary program provides students with the opportunity to work with professionals and discover their own strengths both in the classroom and out in the field while increasing habitat quality for residents, visitors, and wildlife.
KEY WORDS: education, revegetation, service learning, youth partnerships