Posts by griffin-admin
Report From the Field: YCC Fall 2020
Fall 2020 Youth Conservation Corps Pajarito Mountain, NM 10/8/20 – I was called to the field to replace staffer Donna for a few days with the YCC crew. I headed up to Española, hopped on the bus, and drove right up the mountain. The crew onboard assured me they were into rocks and music –…
Read MoreYouth Conservation Corps Fall 2020
In 1933, just seven years after Hillis Howie took to the road with his first Trek, the Civilian Conservation Corps was started in an effort to put young people back to work after the Great Depression. With a lack of jobs, and a need to stimulate the economy, the program put young men to work…
Read MoreAlumni Profiles: Garret Meyer
In Garret’s era, trekkers convened in St. Louis and began the expedition by driving to the Southwest. He was immediately impressed that everyone adhered to Mr. Howie’s goal that everyone should help everyone else – it was an adventure in communal living and being considerate of others. When his group first arrived in Thoreau, they…
Read MoreAlumni Profiles: Mia JespersenChavez
Mia Jespersen-Chavez was introduced to the Gulch through day trips with her elementary school before trekking on the Outfit in 2014 and the Wild Country Trek in 2016. Now a senior in high school, she volunteers at the Bachechi Center in Albuquerque’s North Valley where she develops curriculums for young kids that will give them…
Read MoreInterview with a SIWI teacher
SIWI (the Students in Wilderness Initiative) is a year-long program that combines classroom sessions with field experiences to teach students about public lands, particularly wilderness. In this course, students connect a wide variety of topics in relationship to wilderness: the structure of public land management, the history of federal lands, how the experience of native…
Read More“That Was Really Peaceful”
“That was really peaceful” I got up Friday morning and prepared to do what I hadn’t done in months: work outside with teens. I had the usual nervous thoughts: “Do I have everything in my daypack? Do I have a good backup plan in case it’s needed? Have I given myself enough time this morning?”…
Read MorePartnerships that Meet Community Needs
Partnerships That Meet Community Needs July 2020 is the quietest July our Base Camp has seen in decades–no summer treks, no Rendezvous, no school groups–but we’ve kept ourselves plenty busy. In addition to several infrastructure projects (see the base camp updates article for more details) and many discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion, we have…
Read MoreMiller Moth Madness!
Army Cutworm aka Miller Moth Euxoa Auxiliaris Here in the high desert of the Southwestern US, May brings with it not only strong winds but as you seek shelter from the wind you may find you are not the only creature seeking respite inside your home, or cabin or tent. Numerous armies of “Miller Moths”…
Read MoreCottonwood Gulch Creature Feature: The Reptiles of Base Camp
A couple weeks ago, I found myself taking a break under a large piñon tree at Base Camp. With summer treks cancelled due to the pandemic, a lot of our time has been spent working hard on infrastructure projects such as tilling the farm or preparing lumber. At 10:30 AM, I already needed a breather…
Read MoreGratitude and Reciprocity
The day before Albuquerque closed all schools, Monica and I were at South Valley Prep teaching the eighth graders “how to pack a backcountry backpack” in preparation for their upcoming five-day Wilderness expedition. As part of the Students in Wilderness Initiative (SIWI), these students and hundreds of others had been preparing for this trek since…
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