Connection and Conservation in the Grand Canyon

Each year, Southwest Conservation Corps(Se abre en una nueva ventana) Youth Crews comprised of indigenous youth and Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps(Se abre en una nueva ventana) crews, come together for a powerful ten-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. It’s more than just time on the river—it’s a chance to reconnect with culture, build leadership skills, and take part in hands-on conservation.

For many crew members, it’s their first time seeing the Grand Canyon up close. Over ten days on the river, they learn from scientists, share stories around the campfire, push through intense desert heat (sometimes over 115°F), and connect with each other in meaningful, lasting ways.

As we gear up for another Grand Canyon trip in 2025, we’re reflecting on some of the powerful moments shared by participants over the years—the kind that stay with you long after the river has ended.

In Their Words

“Being on the Grand Canyon and what we are taught culturally in Navajo tradition is that’s where we came from, that’s where we emerge from, that’s our home. For it to be colonized a long time ago, that hurts. Being down there I felt more reconnected with the people around me and my ancestors. It made me feel like I was at home.”
— Participant, age 16, returner for 2025

“Being on the Grand Canyon helped me connect with my tribe, before I hadn’t been connected to my cultural background. There were other crews—Hopi, Zuni, Lakota—I got to learn and know about their tribes. I got to see other people’s backgrounds. Being on the crew it was everyday—laughs, jokes, a great vibe. All of us were unique in some way.”
— Participant, returner for 2025

“The canyon walls are pretty cool—it’s like being in a natural castle surrounded by some cool people and just living in the wilderness. The views and the feeling of this trip and being in the canyon is just otherworldly.”
— Participant, age 16

“Today is the last day on the Grand Canyon trip. It was the most awesome youth trip I've ever been on… I’m happy that Native Americans can go back to their original lands where our ancestors were at before us. I hope that more Indigenous people are able to go back to where their roots are and connect with the land and other people.”
— Participant, age 18

“SCC has changed me to be a better person for myself and others. I don’t know what I would do if SCC was never introduced to me.”
— Participant, age 18

Hands-On Learning

During the trip, crew members teamed up with scientists to study the health of the Grand Canyon ecosystem. They collected dragonfly larvae to study environmental toxins like mercury, downloaded data from sandbar cameras and acoustic bat monitors, and even helped track fish populations in the Colorado River.

They weren’t just on a river trip—they were doing real conservation, all while discovering career paths in environmental research, river guiding, archaeology, and more.

Just as meaningful were the moments of cultural connection. Youth shared stories, language, and late-night conversations under the stars. At the sacred confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers, many felt the power of returning to ancestral lands and the importance of protecting them.

Why This Program Matters

SCC and ALCC create space for Youth crews comprised of indigenous youth to reconnect with place, with culture, and with purpose. This trip wasn’t just about science or recreation—it was about history, growth and belonging.

With every mile down the river, confidence grew. Every story shared brought the crew a little closer.

When we support young leaders and invest in their connection to land and community, we help shape futures. We invite you to join us in making more of these life-changing experiences possible. In 2025, funding challenges have put this trip at risk. We are turning to champions to support this amazing program and its life-changing impact on youth in the Four Corners. We are looking for funders, partners, corporations or anyone else looking to support, to help bridge our $45,000 funding gap. Please consider donating(Se abre en una nueva ventana) to this expedition or reach out to [email protected] if you’d like to connect on what funding or future partnerships could look like!

Photo Credit: Southwest Conservation Corps