Why Do River Trips With Youth?
For those who have had the opportunity
first-hand to experience the sheer joy of watching youth interact with
the river, it may seem trite to try and explain why this kind of trip
is important. For those who have not yet been on a trip with youth, or
have and shudder at the thought, or have never really considered the value
of a youth trip, the following are some of the reasons Grand Canyon Youth
is passionate about getting young people on the river.
Grand Canyon Youth strives to provide access for youth who would not otherwise
have the opportunity to experience the river. It is our belief that every
youth can benefit from a river experience in some way. Our programs are
not only for “at-risk” youth, although those youth are often
included. Even if a participant could potentially afford to come on a
trip with her or his parents, the dynamic of a group of youth away from
their parents and from modern distractions is unique. A Grand Canyon Youth
river trip is structured especially for youth, including educational and
team building components that are very different than what is offered
on a traditional commercial trip. Grand Canyon Youth is also for all the
youth who don’t fit in a specific category. It is for youth who
are willing to complete the community service, educational, and earning
requirements and are excited to have the opportunity.
River trips with youth also extend the magic of the river to the broader
community by involving teachers, counselors, tribal members, parents,
and volunteers in the process. Many parents have shown their gratitude
for the chance for their daughter or son to do something they never could.
Youth often return home after a trip with a newfound feeling of accomplishment
and independence and with great stories to tell their parents and peers.
Learning about the historical,
ecological and archeological treasures of the canyon often comes about
due to natural curiosity. A youth sees an odd shaped rock or notices tracks
at camp and asks a question; others gather around not wanting to miss
out. The guides become role models for the youth in the way they act both
with freedom and responsibility.
Can a group of high-school students truly appreciate Grand Canyon? It
depends on the individual. However, whatever point a young person is at
on the road to maturity, a river trip leaves a deep impression. Whether
that impression is more personal, stretching the boundaries of what that
youth thought was possible for them, or relational, feeling an accepted
part of a paddling team, both are valuable.
The benefit to the Canyon itself can be more elusive. Perhaps these kinds
of benefits won’t be seen until the future when adults, because
of an experience when they were sixteen years old, influences them to
take action to protect natural resources. This sense of stewardship, awareness
and awe that youth inevitably come away with, however small, can grow
stronger with age. One participant from a trip this summer says it best,
“I never thought it would be much—just going on a river—but
how wrong I was. It doesn’t get any better than this. This was a
life-changing experience that I will always remember. A part of me has
changed because of this trip.”
Other Grand Canyon Youth News
Huge thanks are in order for the great guides, staff, and owner of Arizona
Raft Adventures (azra). Thanks to azra, Grand Canyon Youth was able to
run an additional seven-day fall upper-half Grand Canyon trip. This trip
had students from the Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy as well
as the Youth Volunteer Corps, a nationally affiliated non-profit service
learning program. Thank you again for this incredible opportunity. For
more information, to volunteer or donate please contact Grand Canyon Youth,
P.O. Box 23376 Flagstaff, az 86002 (928)773-7921.
Emma Wharton
Executive Director of gcy
