The NAU community took action following the 2025 Dragon Bravo fire, which devastated the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, damaging thousands of acres and 40 miles of fencing. In collaboration with the Grand Canyon Trust, students from the Grand Canyon Semester program participated in a clean-up effort to restore the damaged land.
Student Engagement in Conservation
Honors College professor Ted Martinez organized the initiative, allowing his students to clear five miles of barbed-wire fencing over two days in August. This effort was part of the students’ first trip for the Fall 2026 semester, aimed at contributing to on-the-ground conservation work in the Grand Canyon region.
The Grand Canyon Semester program integrates classroom learning with practical experience in northern Arizona’s public lands. Students engage in multiple overnight trips, gaining insights into geology, biology, and Indigenous history, among other subjects. Many students aspire to careers in public lands policy, park management, or environmental engineering, finding the hands-on experience invaluable.
Personal Growth Through Service
Students expressed the significance of this experience. LeaLynn Scott, a junior in environmental sciences, remarked on the importance of making natural spaces more habitable after the fire. Samuel Grumeretz, a senior studying journalism, reflected on how the project resonated with his childhood experiences and enhanced his understanding of conservation efforts.
Charles Root, a junior in ceramic arts, shared his shift in perspective regarding conservation work, realizing that proactive measures are necessary to address human impacts on the environment.
Support for Public Lands
Audrey Kruse, community engagement director at Grand Canyon Trust, noted that recent federal budget cuts have increased the organization’s reliance on volunteers for recovery efforts. She emphasized the importance of public support in maintaining the integrity of national parks.
Justine Bushman, a sophomore in environmental sciences, highlighted the anthropological insights gained from the project and its effects on ecological systems. The partnership between the Grand Canyon Semester and the Grand Canyon Trust has been ongoing for over a decade, fostering a collaborative spirit in conservation efforts.
Kruse, who participated in the program as a graduate student in 2014, remarked on the mutual benefits of the partnership, which continues to impact students and the community positively.
Source: Northern Arizona University
