Unless you have visited the Grand Canyon I cannot put into words the excitement and beauty the canyon holds when you gaze out across the rim. This trip we are exploring the South Rim and all the excitement it has to offer us while completing our South Rim Junior Ranger Program.
One of the many reasons I enjoy traveling to National Parks are the many Park Ranger Programs they have to offer. We all learn so many new things as we explore the parks along side the rangers, soaking in all of their knowledge of the area. Below is an example of what is offered during the summer months. This trip we actually attended almost all the programs listed below with the exception of one or two.
One of our absolute favorite Ranger Programs was the Nature Walk that departed from the Park Headquarters daily during our visit. We had the pleasure of joining Ranger Ronnie during her two hour exploration of the forest that is in between the park headquarters and the south rim trail. She was so fantastic that two hours felt like ten minutes and i could have followed her around all day.
She took us on an exploration of the entire area and the same walk we had made to the Park Headquarters that took ten minutes took two hours making our way back towards the rim trail. We dissected owl pellets, smelled trees, looked for animal tracks and discussed the different fauna and flora of this elevation. She held the attention of adults and children the entire nature walk. It takes a special person to appeal to all generations. So many times I have attended walks and talks and someone in our group was lost or overwhelmed with boredom. This was not the case on this adventure to the rim. If I ever return I will seek out any Ranger Programs she might be leading and return daily just to soak up the knowledge she has to share.
The other amazing Ranger Program we attended was the Fossil Walk that took place near Bright Angel Trailhead lead by Ranger Joel Kane. This upcoming year Jaxon will be studying Rocks, Minerals and Fossils which is a foreign subject in my area of knowledge. So when we sat down and Ranger Kane explained the different types of rocks in the simplest definition within the first five minutes I was ecstatic. Light bulbs were going off the entire time I listened to Ranger Kane as he explained so well I wondered how I had never understood any of these concepts previously.
After deep explanation he led us to an area right next to the trail full of fossils. From a distance I would have assumed this area was full of boulders not until we stopped and took a closer look did I see all the fascinating fossils from times of earths past. If I had been making my way up the trail, that runs parallel to Hermit Road right past the Angel Bright Trailhead entrance, I would have walked by unknowingly missing so much history. This is one of the many reasons I so enjoy attending Ranger Programs they always seem to take you off the beaten path exploring what you would have missed otherwise.
Jaxon could not contain his excitement to actually be hunting for fossils on his own and not in a excavation kit he had purchased at the local education store. This was so much more to be outside exploring as if he himself was a Paleontologist on a search to answer questions from the unknown.
Located a short walk from El Tovar is the Hopi House. The Hopi House was designed by Mary Colter and is famous for it's architecture. While I found it be a beautiful building I found it much more interesting to walk around inside and gaze at all the amazingly crafted Native American arts and crafts for purchase.
As we explored the Native American crafts inside the Hopi House it was solely by chance that a poster caught my eye displaying scheduled performance times for a Navajo Native American Dance Troup for 1:00 pm that day. I was so excited to have Jaxon experience his first actual authentic native american dance it would completely set the stage for our next adventure further east through Navajo Nation. Jaxon was in complete awe over the entire experience and just continued asking if they were real. It is such a great feeling as a mother for you to see your child experience something that will change how they look at the world and history of our country.
As we rushed down the Trail of Time to make it to the Ranger Program that was taking place at the Yavapai Geology Museum we actually ran right past a grazing elk and had to double take as we stopped for a brief second to take in her beauty before continuing our journey.
Once we began to venture away from the village we found ourselves at the Tusayan Museum and Ruins. This would be our first official introduction to Native American ruins on our journey across the southwest. We arrived early with great excitement and anticipation.
As we made our way to the museum it happened to be the perfect introduction to the tribes we would later learn more about. In the museum a single glass display case gave visitors the opportunity to observe pictures along with items that represented each individual tribe.
While at the Grand Canyon we learned repeatedly about the split twig figures you see above. It is thought that they were once children's toys. They were found by archeologists in caves that date back between 2000 to 4000 years old. We were lucky enough to find a kit showing Jaxon how the children of the ancient civilizations had made them. When we returned home and were reviewing and discussing our adventures discovering the history of the Grand Canyon we sat down and took the opportunity to create a couple together.
By the time we were done touring the museum the Tusayan Ruins Ranger led program was just about to begin. The program took us on a journey through the Tusayan Ruin walk trail which lays a great introduction to the Ancient Puebloan People and how they might have lived long ago. It guides you through the farm area introducing you to the three sisters, the different storage areas used to store their food after harvesting, the living areas they shared with their families and two Kivas.
Almost everything we had just learned was new to us. I had studied Native Americans but not at this depth. Until this trip I had never heard of the three sisters, or a Kiva. This is one of the many reasons I love the decision we made to embark on an education based on experience. To have the opportunity for Jaxon to learn from so many different subject from knowledgeable people is a great gift.
Our last stop prior to exiting the park was the Desert View watchtower. Perched on the rim of the canyon stood an amazing piece of history which I would have completely passed if it was not for a flyer catching my eye discussing a Cultural Demonstration series featuring a Hopi Potter and Painter. This perked my interest as we made our journey to the watchtower to embark on a cultural experience.
Upon our arrival Jaxon was drawn to Bobby Silas the Hopi Potter and Painter who was demonstrating his tribes techniques and had no problem discussing and sharing with my son the culture and history he had learned to perfect through the years. He was such a compassionate person to give my son the attention he did and took the time to explain and teach Jaxon all the techniques and ways of his tribe. As we left with new knowledge of the Hopi Tribe we left an amazing awe inspiring experience as we pulled away from the Grand Canyon we all felt a small piece of sorrow.
