Protecting water resources is a key step in supporting more resilient forests, especially as the climate changes. Join us as we work to restore the health of wetlands and streams that flow through the beautiful northern Arizona ponderosa pine forests. These streams and spring-fed systems are small but vital water sources — supporting a wide array of plant and animal species often not found anywhere else on the forest.
We'll be working on a stream section of the Kaibab National Forest that has been impacted by drought and heavily grazed by livestock, elk, and deer, resulting in erosion, steep banks, and loss of vegetation. These impacts have forced seasonal water to flow into narrower channels, leaving less water on the surface and shrinking the wetland habitat. On this trip, we will install loose rock structures in eroded areas to help slow and spread out the water flow. This will provide an opportunity for native plants to re-establish, support downstream water availability, and will improve forest health even beyond the boundaries of our work.
This will be a tough but rewarding trip! At the end of the week, you will see the positive results of your hard work to improve a precious water source.
Anyone! We ask that each participant become a member of the Grand Canyon Trust with a $50 donation, if you’re not already a member. Please contact us if you have any questions. You’ll also need to submit your Volunteer Application Form to secure your spot on the trip.
We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic as we plan for our field season. If we feel that a trip cannot be safely conducted due to public health conditions, we will cancel the trip with as much notice as possible. For the safety of all trip participants, we ask that each volunteer show proof of vaccination prior to attending. Other precautionary measures to be taken on trips will be communicated in pre-trip emails. The safety and comfort of our trip participants is our first priority. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
We will meet at the project work site (exact location will be sent to trip participants via email), set up camp, do a project orientation with our U.S. Forest Service partners, feed you lunch, and get to know each other. We will begin fieldwork in the afternoon. Enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by our staff before settling in for a starry night!
Wake up early. Coffee and breakfast served at 7:00 a.m. Work on wetland restoration activities from 8:00 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m., with a midday lunch break. Return to camp for dinner, discussion, stargazing, and free time.
Wake up early. Coffee and breakfast served at 7:00 a.m. Work on wetland restoration activities from 8:00 a.m. until our midday lunch break. After lunch, we’ll go for a hike in the area to enjoy the forest we’ve been working hard to restore. Return to camp for dinner, discussion, stargazing, and free time.
Wake up early. Coffee and breakfast served at 7:00 a.m. Complete the wetland restoration project in the morning, if needed. We will then have a trip wrap-up discussion, pack up camp, and head home by midday.
We will have a car camping base camp for four nights near our project site. The Trust will provide water, a full kitchen, and a groover toilet.
The Trust provides: All meals, snacks, field equipment, tools, and risk management.
Participants provide: Personal transportation to the site, individual camping gear, work clothes for the week, hiking gear (including wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses), rain gear, and clothes for warm-to-cool days. Please come prepared!
Our Gear Packing List will help you prepare. We can loan some camping gear items on a first-come, first-served basis — contact us for details.
As the climate resilience director, Cerissa works with decision-makers, volunteers, and other experts to protect wetlands, restore habitats, and improve the health of our public lands. She believes that through collaborative, on-the-ground conservation work, we can help forests and watersheds thrive. She looks forward to teaming up with you on this work.
Lena has been a river and hiking guide on the Colorado Plateau since 2006 and loves nothing more than connecting people with nature! As a social scientist, she is a skilled organizer for impactful research and action. As a river rat, she just enjoys playing with others in the mud. At the Trust, Lena is excited to create outdoor adventures that advance both social and environmental justice.