We're Growing!
t has been a busy and exciting few months at Grand Canyon Youth (gcy)as we have been working hard to put together our 2005 river program schedule. Believe it or not, gcy has 21 river education programs scheduled for this upcoming season, which is our largest season by far! Youth from across Arizona and from as far away as Boston are joining us on the river this year.
Our programs are not just on the river anymore. Since September there have been Grand Canyon Youth Corps service learning clubs at several schools and a community club open to all youth. These clubs are a collaborative effort between Youth Volunteer Corps, Willow Bend Environmental Education Center and gcy. These clubs provide experiential education and service learning opportunities for youth in Flagstaff. So far, over seventy youth have participated in a number of projects including a house revitalization project, pottery shard washing with Elden Pueblo and working with the Flagstaff Family Food Center putting on parties for their after school program.
By the time you are reading this, Grand Canyon Youth will have reached another milestone by hiring an Assistant Director to help with the increased growth of our organization. Stay tuned in future bqr's for more news about our expanding and deepening programs.
Why are we growing? The answer is complex but in several of our parent evaluation forms this season came a plea from parents for more of Grand Canyon Youth-like programming for teens in Northern Arizona; expressing that a real need exists for positive and educational opportunities for youth. Our organization has also seen the continued return of youth participants from one year to the next who have created a relationship with community, the river, and gcy. In response to this need and to the community partnerships we have created, our program continues to grow at an exponential rate with the valuable financial backing of our donors. More information about who all these great folks are will be available in our 2004 Annual Report which is on-hand at the gcy office.

We Have a New Home!
Due to our increased capacity, we are thrilled to announce that we're moving into the Adventure Discovery warehouse, just a block from our current address. Jene Vredevoogd, one of gcy's long-time Board Members has been extremely helpful, creative and generous in making this a reality. The space is the perfect size with an office space and shop. We will be keeping our main office at 515 W. Birch at least until the fall.
Upcoming Programs
Some of the exciting programs we've got going on this year include a new partnership with the Authors in Schools Foundation which has been hosting writing workshops for high school students with local and regional authors throughout the school year. These workshops will culminate with a seven-day on-river writing workshop with a couple of authors called “White Water Writing.” This season will also have on-river service learning programs that began last season with the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center where youth effectively recorded detailed site descriptions and photo-documented over five hundred geo-referenced control points along the Colorado River for inclusion into a web accessible database. The control points are used by scientists to geo-reference data collected along the Colorado River. Youth also will again be working with the National Park Service's Below the Rim Revegetation project.

The Native American Youth Artist program continues this year with artist Bahe Whitethorne. You can check out some of last year's artwork at a Native American Youth Arts Exhibit, which is taking place at the Museum of Northern Arizona as part of the Youth Celebrate Arts and Culture Month in Flagstaff from February 25–April 3, 2005. More artwork will also be displayed at the downtown Flagstaff Library in April.
These are just a few examples of the programs we have planned for the coming season. If you'd like to learn more about these or other programs or know some middle or high school aged youth who you think would benefit, please don't hesitate to call the office or send an email our way.

Guides, Guides, Guides!
If you are a licensed guide and have a little free time in your schedule and a desire to experience a river trip with young people, we are still looking for both Grand Canyon and Utah licensed guides for the upcoming season. You don't have to volunteer anymore. We pay our guides a competitive wage for their skills, talents and experience. If you are unable to do a trip this year but would like to be included on our guide list for the future, please call or email and we can send you a schedule and more details.
Another way guides really help out at gcy is by spreading the word about our programs to passengers. We will have guide packets available at the Guide Training Seminar with brochures and other information that fit conveniently in an ammo can. If you aren't able to attend the gts, please drop us a line with your info and we'll get a packet to you. Guides spreading the word about gcy help raise needed scholarship money and recruit youth from other parts of the country. A heap of gratitude is extended to all the guides and passengers who help year to year to extend the impact of our program.

5th Annual Art Auction &
River Runners Film Festival
The date has been set for our annual fundraiser. Join us Friday, April 8, 2005 at the Museum of Northern Arizona from 6-11 p.m. for an evening of films, fine art, food and fun. We are now graciously accepting gifts of art, jewelry, gear, and sponsorship contributions for this great event. Volunteers are always welcomed and needed and if you know of any great films, especially shorts, we welcome those as well. So mark your calendars and tell your friends. It's sure to be a fun event with something for everybody.

Get Involved—Support GCY !
As always, your support, in whatever form you can give it, is much appreciated. To learn more about Grand Canyon Youth, to donate, to volunteer, or to guide please call Emma Wharton (928) 773-7921 or email info@gcyouth.org or check out our website, www.gcyouth.org. Our office is currently located in the same little house with gcrg, 515 W. Birch in Flagstaff. Again, thank you to all of our current supporters, you know who you are, thanks for all you do!

Emma Wharton
Executive Director gcy