Grand Canyon welcomes Environmental Educators in Residence

-Caroline Grass, Science Communications Assistant

Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) hosted their first Environmental Educator in Residence this month to help bring more environmental programming to the park.

Sidney Rainey, the inaugural educator in this residency, taught programs at the South Rim from August 1-25, focusing on three main topics: ecosystems of the South Rim, saving endangered species, and how water has shaped the Southwest.

Rainey lives in Washington, D.C. and has spent his career working in international development, supporting governments around the world to implement development policies, climate policies, and fiscal policies. He’s also worked in organization development to improve the health of organizations through strategic planning, executive coaching, organizational analyses, and teaching ethics.

Most recently, Rainey has been creating a climate resiliency curriculum for youth attending camp. A 2023 survey from Gallup, the National Summer Learning Association, and the American Camp Association, found an estimated 30 million youth in the United States attended a structured summer program, which is over half the school-age population. Rainey works with camps to look at how they can remain sustainable and implement climate programming in their work so children can feel positive about the future and want to take action.

“My vision is that children are empowered and given agency to express their voices in the world of climate change so that they don’t feel victimized by what’s happening,” Rainey said. “That they in fact can contribute their creativity, their energy, their passion toward developing solutions. Giving them that agency opens up a whole new world of solutions that come from these kids.”

Rainey said he was drawn to the GCC residency program because it was an ideal opportunity to play an active part in spreading the word about environmental topics and help people increase their awareness about what’s happening in the natural world. His programs used the natural setting of the Grand Canyon to inspire people to think about the environment and inspire them to think about how they can make a difference.

While some of the program attendance was smaller than expected likely due to fewer visitors to the park as a whole, Rainey said, “the [residency] experience was an absolute delight. I was so grateful to be able to play that role.”

Keaton Vanderploeg, a Flagstaff-based naturalist, educator, and professional guide, will join the Grand Canyon community as the next Environmental Educator in Residence from October 2-28.

The Grand Canyon Music Festival showcases a variety of music types, including classical, contemporary (modern composers and new works) along with Jazz and Blues.

All performances take place in Shrine of the Ages Auditorium. Evening performances are scheduled to take place on Fridays and Saturdays – beginning this Friday, August 21, and running through Saturday, September 5. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by donation, with a suggested donation of $20.

Details: https://grandcanyonmusicfest.org/concerts/

Friday, August 28 (7:30 p.m.) Cellist Karlos Rodriguez, pianist Silvan Negruƫiu, and harmonica player Robert Bonfiglio perform works Inspired by Friendship. Concert Repertoire: J.S. Bach Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 – Benjamin Britten Suite No. 3 for solo cello, Opus 87 – Alberto Ginastera Danzas Argentinas, Opus 2 – Heitor Villa-Lobos Concerto for Harmonica – Dmitri Shostakovich Sonata for Piano and Cello, Opus 40

Saturday, August 29 (7:30 p.m.) America 250 with new music by Michael Begay and Sage Bond. Concert Repertoire: Michael Begay’s “Spirit Echoes of Sovereignty”: The Legacy of Sitting Bull and Chief Joseph, serves as a musical tribute by reflecting on their wisdom and enduring impact. Sage Bond revisits and reinterprets the story of Sacagawea with her composition, “To Know The Land”.

Special Evening Program: Ancestral Plant Knowledge

Join Yavapai-Apache Nation tribal member Angel Martinez on Wednesday, September 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center Theater for a special evening program exploring ancestral knowledge of plants and herbal medicine.

Through Yavapai-Apache perspectives, Martinez will share the importance of maintaining relationships with plants and honoring knowledge passed down through generations. The program will explore ancestral plant knowledge as a pathway toward inner healing, balance, and connection between the spirit and body.

More information can be found in the attached flyer here.

Grand Canyon Rec Center Announces September Calendar of Events

There’s something for everyone at the Grand Canyon Rec Center this September! From fitness classes and group trips to clubs and community activities, the month is packed with opportunities to get active, learn something new, and connect with others.

View the full September Calendar of Events here

Grand Canyon Community Choir Seeks Singers

Do you love to sing? The Grand Canyon Community Choir welcomes singers of all experience levels, from beginners to experienced musicians. The low-pressure group will focus on vocal technique and musical skills while celebrating the joy of community singing. No audition is required.

Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 6:30–7:45 p.m., beginning September 8, in the Shrine of the Ages auditorium. The choir is open to ages 13 through adult.

For more information or to sign up, email Sarah Billerbeck atsarahb2500@gmail.com or see the attached flyer here.

*New changes to operations are indicated in red.

South Rim

Xanterra

• Maswik Food Court, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Maswik Pizza Pub, 12-11 p.m.
• Bright Angel Fountain, current hours are from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Harvey House Café/Fred Harvey Burger Restaurant, Breakfast 6:30-10 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Dinner 4-9 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. (food until 8:30 p.m.)
• Arizona Steakhouse, Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Dinner 4:30-9 p.m.
• El Tovar Dining Room and Lounge, Breakfast 6:30-10 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dinner 4:30-9:30 p.m., Lounge 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (food until 9 p.m.), Outdoor patio from 12 p.m. until dusk (weather permitting)
• Fred Harvey Food Truck (located at Grand Canyon Visitor Center shuttle bus bay): 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (weather permitting)
• Canyon Food Cart (Rim Trail between Bright Angel and El Tovar Lodges: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (weather permitting)
• The Grand Canyon Kennel, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Delaware North

• Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast 7-10:30 a.m., dinner 5-9 p.m.
• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Coffee Shop, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.
• The Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Deli 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Camper Services: 7 a.m.- 10 p.m. daily., Camper Services Grab n Go: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Other

• Grand Canyon Rec Center, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
• Grand Canyon Clinic: 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Pharmacy hours: Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Canyon Adventures Cafe and bike rentals: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Kolb Studio, Verkamps, and Yavapai Geology Museum: 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Visitor Center Plaza: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.
• The Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., CLOSED Saturday and Sunday
• Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Monday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday 5:30-7:30 p.m., Saturday 2-4 p.m.
• Summer Shuttle Bus Schedule (May 23 – Sep. 11, 2026)
• Hermits Rest (Red) Route: 8 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Village (Blue) Route: 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route: 5 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Tusayan (Purple) Route: Every 45 minutes from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Hikers’ Express: Daily departures from Bright Angel Lodge at 4, 5, and 6 a.m.
• Fall Shuttle Bus Schedule (Sep. 12-Nov. 30, 2026)
• Hermits Rest (Red) Route: 8 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Village (Blue) Route: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route: 6 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Hikers’ Express: Daily departures from Bright Angel Lodge at 6, 7, and 8 a.m.

Desert View

• Desert View Watchtower, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. with last stair access at 6 p.m.
• Desert View Trading Post, ice cream, and coffee shop, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
• The Desert View Deli and Market, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Desert View Gas Station & Service Station Retail, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with 24-hour pay-at-the-pump access

North Rim

• General Store (adjacent to the campground), open through Oct. 15 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
• Gas Station – 24- hour self-serve pay-at-the-pump; gas and diesel available. Open through Oct. 15.
• The North Rim Campground open through Oct. 15, 2026. Reservations are available for booking at rec.gov.
• The North Kaibab Trail from Redwall Bridge to Cottonwood Campground will close on Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m. to support Transcanyon Waterline construction. Traditional “Rim-to-Rim” hiking will not be possible after this date.

Please visit the Grand Canyon National Park website for a complete list of closures and available amenities.

• Secretary Burgum with Law Enforcement Officer, Corio Bruestle, on the North Rim on August 25 (DOI Photo)
• Sidney Rainey, GCC Environmental Educator in Residence (Photo courtesy of S. Rainey)
• Michael Begay, Sage Bond, and Karlos Rodriguez will take the stage at the Grand Canyon Music Festival this weekend (Photo courtesy of GCMF)
• Sunset at Yavapai Point on August 26 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)

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