Let the Kids Play By Zach Fountain Returning from a recent expedition with Grand Canyon Youth on the Lower San Juan River to edit photos of our journey has helped fill my bucket. For me, this trip was about documenting the fun learning experiences middle-school-aged students can have out in nature – what I witnessed…
Grand Canyon Youth Partners in Science: Reflections from a Scientist By Shannon Sartain, Hydrologist US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (Reprinted with permission by Grand Canyon River Guides & US Geological Survey, as originally published in the Boatman’s Quarterly Review, Vol 36 #4, Winter 2023/2024. Many thanks!) Since…
Reflections from an Adventure-Seeking Outdoorswoman By Eliza Moyer I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that GCY changed the trajectory of my life– the few short weeks I spent rowing boats, sleeping under the stars, and exploring canyons transformed me from an anxious and shy child into an adventure-seeking and ambitious outdoorswoman. “…if…
Cicada Dance By Margarita Cruz [This piece was read aloud by the author, Margarita Cruz, at River Tales, GCY’s live storytelling event on Nov. 5, 2022 in Flagstaff, Arizona.] Cicadas dance as if their lives depend on it, hold the plant they’ve landed on between their legs and pinchers…when I look up from peeing,…
GCY Interviews an Artist: Seeing the World Through Maw’s Eyes GCY- Can you tell me a little about yourself? Maw- I am a first-generation refugee from Karenni, Burma. I advocate for the Karenni community here in Phoenix with the hope of establishing a strong united community. I am currently pursuing my BA in Fine Arts…
How the Colorado River Still Reaches Me in Maryland By Maddy Adams Earlier this year, I was looking up data on the USGS website for my Geographic Information Systems (GIS) class when I found the Grand Canyon citizen science story map and a link to a video about GCY’s citizen science trips. This sent…
Seeing Things From the Ecosystem Level By Molly Ryan When looking out over the Grand Canyon, I often trace the bands of rock that stretch across the expanse. If you know what you’re looking for, you can distinguish the geologic layers by color—Coconino Sandstone is painted in an even, white line across buttes and plateaus…
All Forward By Emma Wharton, GCY Executive Director Staff Retreat paddling together on the Verde River. (Top row from left: Emma Wharton, Mario Portillo, Megan Dwyer, Chantal Mosman, Clare Magneson. Bottom row from left: Omar Martinez, Jean-Philipe Clark, Alex Metter). The Verde River is part of the homelands of the Hohokam, Hopitutskwa (Hopi), Yavapai-Apache, Jumanos,…
Grand Canyon Youth Returns to the River By Delaney Cook Personal Ripples When I meditate on the name of this blog and the effects of a ripple in water, the poetic nature of the sentiment rings true. Our work on the water with youth is the perfect metaphor for the ripple effect people can have…
In Memory of Ryan (“Rynam”) Seumptewa By Madeline Friend Rynam rowing on a private trip in Grand Canyon in fall 2020. Photo by Ansley Roberts. Ryan (“Rynam”) Seumptewa, the funniest guy I ever did know, died on December 1, 2020 in Flagstaff, AZ. What a year. Yet Rynam embraced it in his singular way:…
Hometown: Halfway, Oregon
Year started at GCY: 2009
Justin did his first trip with GCY as a participant in 2007. They haven’t been able to get rid of him since. River running has become his passion, sharing the power of outdoor learning with youth on rivers throughout the desert west. He’s worked as a river guide, a wooden boat builder, and outdoor educator. He’s excited to be helping GCY run things behind the scenes in the warehouse, food room, and vehicle yard.
“I have always been unsatisfied with life as most people live it. Always I want to live more intensely and richly. Why muck and conceal one’s true longings and loves, when by speaking of them one might discover one’s self?” – Everett Ruess