The Day Goes to Youth!

River silhouette | Photo by Mike Buchheit

If you have found yourself bemoaning an indifference towards nature in many of today’s youth, a golden opportunity is available to help reverse that trend. Grand Canyon Youth, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Flagstaff, Arizona, has been sharing the transformative powers of the Southwest river experience with teenagers for well over a decade.

Whether you’re an 11-19 year old looking to expand your horizons, or an adult looking to provide an amazing experience for your child (or another’s), Grand Canyon Youth is definitely worth checking out. As a former board member I can attest to the many lives that continue to be changed by a whitewater rafting trip down one of the region’s spectacular waterways.

How to get involved? You can start by attending the Grand Canyon Youth’s 11th Annual River Runner Film Festival and Art Auction on November 13, 2010, at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff, Arizona.

About Mike Buchheit

Mike Buchheit was the director of the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute for over 25 years, a professional landscape photographer and instructor, a freelance travel writer, and a popular lecturer on a wide variety of Grand Canyon-related topics. As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he called home.

As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he calls home. You can see some of his beautiful work on his Grand Canyon Prints website.