Grand Canyon Conservancy Explained

Grand Canyon Conservancy
Predecessor:Grand Canyon Natural History Association[1]
Founder:Edwin “Eddie” McKee
Founding Location:Grand Canyon National Park
Type:501(c)(3) nonprofit
Vat Id:(for European organizations) -->
Registration Id:EIN #86-0179548
Headquarters:Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
Owners:-->

Grand Canyon Conservancy, formerly known as Grand Canyon Association, is the National Park Service's official non-profit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, raising private funds, operating retail shops within the park, and providing premier guided educational programs about the natural and cultural history of the region. Supporters fund projects including trails and historic building preservation, educational programs for the public, and the protection of wildlife and their natural habitat.

History

Grand Canyon Conservancy was founded in 1932 as the Grand Canyon Natural History Association by naturalist Edwin "Eddie" McKee.[2] A ranger working on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, McKee saw the need for a park partner that would support interpretive programs and publications about the canyon, and from its beginnings the natural history association did just that, funding interpretive talks, research, and scientific papers. In 1937, the GCNHA was legally established as a cooperating association, a private, nonprofit organization whose mission was to support the education and preservation programs of federally protected lands.[3] The purpose of the GCNHA was "to stimulate and encourage scientific research and investigation in the field of geology, botany, zoology, ethnology, archaeology, and related subjects in the Grand Canyon region."

In October 1994, the conservancy's board of directors approved changing the name of the association from the Grand Canyon Natural History Association to Grand Canyon Association, in part to emphasize an expanding list of services, books, and products focusing on cultural history, thus not always fitting the bill of "natural history."

Today, Grand Canyon Conservancy still serves its founding mission. Membership, general-audience publications, educational outreach, a field institute, and philanthropy programs were added over the years to serve the association's mission of cultivating support, education, and understanding of Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute

The Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute was founded in 1993 to support the Grand Canyon National Park's efforts to offer educational and interpretive services.[4] The Field Institute offers over 360 guided hiking, art classes backpacking and river rafting tours and classes at Grand Canyon National Park annually.

The Canyon Field School is a collaborative program between Grand Canyon National Park Service, Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute, Arizona Public Service (APS), The McCain Institute, and the Udall Foundation to expand youth education programs at Grand Canyon National Park. Through this program, hundreds of youth will have an opportunity to discover, explore, and learn about by participating in outdoor experiences.

Grand Canyon Artist-in-Residence Program

Grand Canyon Conservancy's Artist in Residence program began in 2021 and hosts individual artists from around the world who wish to engage with Grand Canyon National Park and its people during a four-to-eight-week residency at the South Rim in Arizona. The program is designed to support artists with a well-developed body of work that engages contemporary themes, especially those tied to conservation, cultural identity, and community.

Previous Artists-in-Residence have included:

Grand Canyon Astronomer-in-Residence Program

The Astronomer-in-Residence Program at Grand Canyon National Park began in 2021 and offers astronomers, both amateur and professional; educators, scientists, visual and performing artists, and writers, the opportunity to practice and share their discipline under one of the most pristine night skies in the United States. Through artwork and educational outreach, the Astronomer-in-Residence inspires visitors to see the values of dark night skies, spreads awareness about the threats of light pollution, and explores society’s complex relationships with natural darkness.

Previous Astronomers-in-Residence have included:

Projects

Completed Projects

Grand Canyon Conservancy has helped to fund and execute a variety of projects within the park. Recent projects include:

Bright Angel Trailhead

Kolb Studio renovation

Mather Point Amphitheatre

Greenhouse

A Grand Vision Campaign

A Grand Vision is Grand Canyon Conservancy and National Park Services' strategic vision for improvements at the park. The campaign will celebrate Grand Canyon's Centennial in 2019. The projects listed below are the priorities of the campaign.

Grand Canyon Trail Restoration

Supporter funded trail restoration has been an ongoing priority for Grand Canyon Conservancy, already completely restoring multiple trails. Completed restoration efforts include:

Because trail restoration is so challenging, it’s estimated that a single mile of trail restoration work costs $250,000. Mules haul equipment and materials to work sites and often the trail crews only tools are pickaxes and shovels.

A Grand Vision Campaign hopes to establish a Trails Forever endowment which will support a full season of Youth Conservation Corps workers dedicated to trail restoration and will allow the park to plan a comprehensive program for trail restoration.

Desert View Intertribal Heritage Site

Desert View Watchtower was designed by Mary Colter in the 1930s. Grand Canyon Conservancy, the National Park Service and the Inter-tribal Advisory Council plan to transform the Desert View area into a thriving space that celebrates the tribal heritages of Grand Canyon and create a visitor experience that informs visitors from around the world of the diverse cultures at Grand Canyon.

Dark Sky Preservation

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the last places in the United States where one can experience a star-filled night sky. One-third of the world's population – including 80% of Americans – can no longer see the Milky Way.

Discovery and Exploration

Grand Canyon Conservancy is responsible for expansive science and education programs at Grand Canyon.

32,000 new Junior Rangers. Children complete a series of activities during their park visit and are then sworn to protect the park

Publishing

Grand Canyon Conservancy publishes on average three to five books annually. Topics of their books include original research on Grand Canyon natural history, geology, wildlife, archaeology, American Indian history and culture, pioneer history, and hiking and include historic photographs, maps, charts, and illustrations.

In association with the Grand Canyon National Park, the conservancy publishes a supporter magazine, Canyon Views on a seasonal basis.

Supporters

Grand Canyon Conservancy has an active supporter program. Supporters have always been an essential part of Grand Canyon Conservancy and include those who participate in monthly giving, annual supporters, and Grand Guardians, a dedicated group of sustainers with an annual gift of $1,000 or more.

Supporter contributions have an immediate impact by supporting restoration of world-renowned trails and historic buildings, funding wildlife and habitat preservation, and helping educate the next generation of park stewards.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.grandcanyon.org/about-us/our-history/
  2. Web site: Edwin D. . McKee . Park Naturalist Monthly Report . February 1932 . GCNP Museum Collection.
  3. Web site: History of Cooperating Association and the NPS . National Park Service.
  4. Web site: Grand Canyon Field Institute Schedule for 1993 . GCNP Museum Collection.
  5. Web site: Grand Canyon National Park dedicates the newly renovated Bright Angel Trailhead. Grand Canyon Association. 23 May 2013. 12 August 2013. 12 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131012112028/https://www.grandcanyon.org/sites/default/files/public/Bright%20Angel%20Trailhead%20Renovation%20Dedication_1.pdf. dead.
  6. Web site: American Express awards Grand Canyon Association $100,000 grant to renovate historic Kolb Studio at Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon Association. 12 August 2013. 20 February 2013. 29 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194631/https://www.grandcanyon.org/sites/default/files/public/American%20Express%20awards%20Grand%20Canyon%20Association%20$100000%20to%20renovate%20the%20Historic%20Kolb%20Studio%20at%20Grand%20Canyon%20National%20Final.pdf. dead.
  7. Web site: Restoration of Historic Kolb Studio . Grand Canyon Foundation.
  8. Web site: Grand Canyon Association Dark Skies. Grand Canyon Association. 5 January 2018.