Additionally, all building entrances should have signs stating that masks are optional and to practice physical distancing.

Total COVID cases in Arizona for the week of December 8-14 was 11,550 cases, which is a decrease by more than 4,000 cases from the previous week. For the seven-day rolling average, the state is averaging 1,650 cases per day. There were 6 new COVID-19 cases reported in the park this week.  While case numbers are going down, we all need to recognize that COVID-19 is still a real concern.

As a reminder, be sure to promptly report any illness, to include possible COVID-19 symptoms, COVID exposure, or a positive COVID test to your supervisor and our Public Health Consultant, Ronan King. Ronan can be reached at: 202-891-8599 or Ronan_King@nps.gov.

Now through January 4, 2023, please include Grand Canyon’s Manager of Employee and Organizational Development, AJ Lapre in the contacts. AJ can be reached at 928-707-3485 or aj_lapre@nps.gov. AJ will respond to all reports and provide information on reporting of possible COVID-19 symptoms, COVID exposure, or a positive COVID tests.  

Free COVID tests available again

Beginning, Thursday, December 15, you can order four more free COVID-19 tests through the mail. This is part of the Biden administration’s plan to address the increasing COVID cases sparked by indoor holiday gatherings. The is the fourth round of free rapid tests this year.

Tests can be ordered through COVIDtests.gov and will start to ship the week of Dec. 19. We continue to urge testing yourself when you have symptoms, and before visiting with family this holiday season.

Grand Canyon receives $250,000 grant from National Park Foundation and Subaru

GRCA is the recent recipient of a $250,000 Don’t Feed the Landfills grant through the National Park Foundation (NPF) and corporate sponsor, Subaru. Congratulations to Dierdre Hanners (FMD) for her work in securing this important grant for the park.

The park is committed to revitalizing its recycling program. The funding will provide for new solid waste and recycling containers, as well as outreach and education programs to focus on re-educating the residents, employees, and visitors of the park on recycling and reduction of solid waste. The overall goal is to have demonstrated reductions in solid waste output and an increase in recycling tonnage, which collectively will reduce the park’s input to landfills.

Throughout FY23, the park will: 

• Procure the necessary infrastructure to provide labeling consistency across trash and recycling containers
• Work with concessionaires to start the “Back of House” recycling operation
• Develop and implement an employee/resident recycling training program
• Hire interns through Northern Arizona University and the Greening Youth Foundation to observe visitor and employee solid waste/recycling patterns
• Produce recommendations to address visitor and employee habits including decreasing solid waste drop-off, increasing recycling, and reducing recycling contamination.
• Develop an outward focused recycling program for visitors

Many thanks to the National Park Foundation, Grand Canyon Conservancy, and sponsor Subaru for supporting this important park initiative! This past week, Grand Canyon Partnerships Coordinator, Jenn O’Neill was interviewed by the NPF on the significance of this grant for Grand Canyon (see photo above).

NPS Employee Wellness Incentive Program Launches at GRCA

The Employee Safety and Wellness Team (ESWT) and park management have been looking for ways to support and encourage the mental and physical health of our employees. To meet that goal, ESWT is rolling out a new program open to all GRCA NPS employees.

The Employee Wellness Incentive Program (EWIP) is a new way to encourage, support, and reward staff to make a habit of their mental and physical wellness. By using a log to record your (non-duty time) wellness activities over the course of 6-12 months, you can earn time off awards of up to 16 hours! The program is voluntary and is open to all employees who are achieving a fully successful or higher rating in their current performance period.

The goals of this program are:

• Increase employee well-being through improved health and wellness.
• Improve overall morale and job satisfaction.
• Develop and maintain employee effectiveness and job performance through increased health and wellness.
• Reduce lost work time due to injury, illness, disability, and mental fatigue.

Cultural Demonstrator this weekend at Grand Canyon Visitor Center   

This weekend, the Cultural Demonstration Program presents renown Diné artist, Florence Riggs, who will demonstrate the fine art of pictorial rug weaving.

In contrast to traditional Diné rug designs woven in mostly geometric patterns, pictorial rugs include images of the landscape, animals, and people, woven into the overall design.

During her childhood, Florence was interested in watching her mother weave, though she never helped with shearing, carding, or spinning, “like they used to do in the old days.” At the age of 18, a year after graduating from Tuba City High School, Florence decided she wanted to learn weaving and asked her mother to teach her. She began to weave pictorials when she was 20 and later became a full-time weaver. She weaves about 10 hours a day and her pieces are on the loom for one to three months, depending on their size.

“And now that’s all I do,” said Riggs. “Just weave and weave, but I like to do it that way because I’m with my kids more.” Her ideas come from books, magazines, and observations of everyday life. Florence comments, “My figures are so realistic because I draw them first. I use store-bought, pre-dyed yarns, but I only use the fine ones because it makes the detail easier.” In this video, Florence discusses how she incorporates traditional Diné concepts and practices in her work.

Meet and watch Florence at work in the Grand Canyon South Rim Visitor CenterFriday, Saturday and Sunday, December 16 through 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 New episode of ‘Behind the Scenery’ podcast now available

First Voices – Interview with Autumn Gillard

Autumn Gillard is a descendent of the Cedar Band of Southern Paiutes and has been an important voice in the Inter-Tribal Working Group. This group works very closely with Grand Canyon National Park staff and is made up of many voices from the associated tribes. They are responsible for helping the park with management decisions, Indigenous representation, and resource protection. Autumn works at Pipe Spring National Monument where she helps to interpret Kaibab Paiute and Fundamentalist Mormon stories.

Listen to the full interview on the latest episode of Behind the Scenery on Apple Podcasts or at NPS.gov.

South Rim District Report Available

Check out what South Rim patrol was up to in November by reading the latest South Rim District Report here:

• South Rim District Report-ending 11-19-2022
• South Rim District Report-ending 12-03-2022

Grand Canyon Conservancy offers holiday discount for locals

Once again GCC is offering a holiday discount for community members. From Monday, Dec. 19 through Tuesday, Dec. 20, community members can save 30% off their total purchase in-store at any GCC retail location.

This discount applies to the Grand Canyon Village Stores and the Desert View Watchtower. More information on this discount can be found in the attached flyer here.

Community Blood Drive at Rec Center on December 20

The Rec Center will again be hosting a community blood drive through Vitalant on Tuesday, Dec. 20 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.Appointments are suggested, and to schedule, individuals can visit www.donors.vitalant.org with blood drive code: “grandcyn.”

Vitalant is the sole supplier to 96% of AZ Hospitals including the Flagstaff Medical Center. All donors are critically needed right now to help hospital patients through the busy holiday season. As a special thank you for giving whole blood, plasma or Power Red during this crucial time, Vitalant will offer all donors who come to donate Dec. 1-25, 2022, a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card, redeemable by email. Fratelli Pizza of Flagstaff, AZ, would also like to thank all donors for giving blood with a voucher for a free pizza slice and soft drink.

More information on this event can be found in the attached flyer and also through the Grand Canyon Rec Center.

Pride Club to host Second Chance Prom on December 21

Grand Canyon Pride Club will be hosting a Second Chance Prom on Wednesday Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Rec Center. This is open to the entire community, both members of the LGBTQ+ and allies. The evening will be themed “Yule Ball.” Attire is whatever speaks to your soul and your identity. Formal, holiday, gender-fluid, etc. Masks will be available if you need one. $10 donation requested. Please email Sam Troi (she/her) at stroi@xanterra.com to register or with any questions. See the attached flyer for more details.

Grand Canyon Pride Club meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm in the Rec Center. Join the Facebook group Grand Canyon Pride or email GrandCanyonPride@gmail.com to get involved.

Canyon Community Yoga is looking for your feedback!

Canyon Community Yoga is hoping for feedback from the community to best serve you. There is a survey to get feedback on the best times for yoga class and what types of yoga the community wants.

Please visit linktr.ee/canyoncommunityyoga, scan the QR code on the attached flyer, or email canyoncommunityyoga@gmail.com to take the survey, get on our mailing list, or with any questions.