Support sought for programs for youth and Zion National Park’s ‘cherished landscapes’

ST. GEORGE — Inspiring the next generation to care for Zion National Park and providing programs to do so is made possible through donations.

A student in the Concrete-to-Canyons outreach program talks to a ranger in Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah, unspecified date | Photo courtesy of Wyatt Larsen with the Zion Forever Project, St. George News

The Zion Forever project, one such nonprofit organization that supports the park, invites the public to participate in Giving Tuesday

“At the Zion Forever Project, we understand that caring for these amazing natural resources means engaging with and providing for the next generation of public land stewards and leaders,” Mark Preiss, vice president Zion Forever Project, said. “These programs bring students into the parks and bring rangers outside of the parks and into the classrooms to inspire young minds to care for these cherished landscapes.

“We don’t do this work alone; the donations and support we receive from the community and beyond are what make this possible.”

The Zion Forever Project is the official nonprofit for Zion National Park and both Cedar Breaks and Pipe Spring national monuments.

Giving Tuesday began in 2012 as a yearly celebration wherein people are encouraged to provide, collaborate and celebrate generosity, according to the  Giving Tuesday website. It is a day many nonprofits ask for donations – not just the Tuesday after Thanksgiving but every Tuesday throughout the year. 

Preiss said donations support Concrete-to-Canyons, Camp Kwiamuntsi (K-Camp), Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative interns through Southern Utah University and the distance learning program. 

Concrete-to-Canyons

“Having decades of experience as an educator, I have witnessed firsthand the power places like Zion have on young minds,” Billie Rayford, board chair of the Zion Forever Project, said. “It’s more than a single lesson or short hike; it’s transformative experiences that shape how they think, act and engage with our parks.”

Rayford said the Concrete-to-Canyons outreach program involves students from Las Vegas and Mesquite, Nevada. They are invited to Zion National Park for three days of activities and camping inside the park.

The students hike with a ranger and become more comfortable and confident outdoors. They participate in lessons that connect their classroom curriculum with Zion’s resources. The students’ transportation, camping supplies and food costs are fully covered. The partner schools participating are Title 1 schools; most students have not visited a national park. 

Camp Kwiamuntsi offers Paiute tribal youth opportunities for a summer camp experience, Zion National Park, unspecified date | Photo courtesy of Wyatt Larsen with the Zion Forever Project, St. George News

Another educator, Robert Mitchell, coordinator of Kit Carson International Academy, also spoke highly of the program. 

“I specifically want to compliment the rangers on their patience when working with our students,” Mitchell said. “I am sure that this program will have a lasting impact on all of these students as they move forward. I am so grateful for this opportunity and am looking forward to a continuing partnership with C2C, Zion National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area.” 

Camp Kwiamuntsi

Camp Kwiamuntsi, also known as K-Camp, offers Paiute Native American youth opportunities for a summer camp experience. The program connects the youth with their elders. It exposes them to public lands careers at the local, state and federal levels.

Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative through SUU

This program is a partnership between Southern Utah University, Utah Tech University, land management agencies, outdoor recreation-focused businesses, foundations, nonprofits and Native American tribes.

The association develops challenging internship opportunities for students from various professional fields. Zion Forever Project is a significant funding partner every year. 

 “That one internship opened me up to a world of options I didn’t think were available and helped me understand the importance of caring for these delicate environments,” Bryan Larsen, natural resource specialist Cedar Breaks National Monument, said. “Now leading these crews, their value cannot be overstated. They can double or triple our workforce.” 

Distance learning 

Zion National Park piloted a virtual distance learning program in 2017 to  focus on young students as part of the National Park Service’s Every Fourth Grader in the Park Program.’ It was so successful that its lessons were developed to include students of all ages. The program also reaches adult education programs and assisted living centers.

The program has also gone global, streaming rangers worldwide into three different countries. Eight-thousand students have been reached in the U.S. and lessons are broadcast globally to three other countries. 

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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