The phrase “March madness” takes on a whole new meaning at Grand Canyon National Park. Rather than the crazed national college basketball tournament, this is the month in the park for spring breaking families, road tripping dorm pals, and organized school groups from far and wide.
It was with the latter that I spent a recent day on the trail, teaching them a blend of landscape photography and natural history. The adventurous dozen from Colorado Springs showed no signs of suffering from the phenomena of “nature deficit disorder” described in Richard Louv’s groundbreaking book “Last Child in the Woods.” Indeed they assured me that our cherished public lands will be in excellent hands as tomorrows leaders come of age.