Grand Canyon Field Institute - Classes: Canyon A La Carte

Classes in this category are offered on a request basis only. Families or groups that have an interest in one or more of these custom events should call GCFI to inquire. Our toll-free number is (866) 471 4435.

Fees will depend on your group size and the length of the event.

Grand Canyon Wildlife, Yoga, Journaling, Writing, Plants and more!

Grand Canyon Wildlife
Instructor: Andi Rogers

Hike Level: 2

Fee: please inquire

From condors to cougars Grand Canyon’s South Rim is home to a wide variety of critters. Join biologist Andi Rogers for a discussion, and possible viewings, of a few of the more noteworthy species.

Yoga on the Rim
Instructor: Rian McGonigal

and Maria McGonigal

Hike Level: 1+

Fee: please inquire

Stepping up to the canyon’s rim can be an overwhelming experience whether it’s your first or fiftieth encounter. Grounding this experience in both body and mind can be a challenge for anyone. We invite you to join yoga instructors Rian and Maria McGonigal for a three-day workshop on the South Rim in pursuit of a deeper body/mind connection to the grandest of canyons. Prior yoga experience recommended.

Meet the California Condors
Instructor: Andi Rogers

Hike Level: 1

Fee: please inquire

The successful reintroduction of California condors to the skies of northern Arizona is an amazing story. Learn about the program’s highs and lows with Andi Rogers during this one-day class on Grand Canyon’s South Rim. Chances are excellent that the condors will be in view.

Astronomy Meets Geology
Instructor: Gary Ladd

Hike Level: 1

Fee: please inquire

Big as it is, Grand Canyon is still just a drop in the cosmic ocean. Join Gary Ladd as he draws upon the heavens and earth to put the canyon and its origins in perspective.

Growing Native Plants at the Grand Canyon
Instructor: Jan Busco

Hike Level: 2

Fee: please inquire

Learn about Grand Canyon wildflowers, grass and native plants with Park Horticulturist Jan Busco while collecting and spreading native seeds and cuttings.

Yoga Below the Rim
Instructor: Sherri O’Neil

Hike Level: 3+

Fee: please inquire

Join former interpretive ranger and certified yoga instructor Sherri O’Neil for a two-night backpack to Indian Garden Campground with a focus on connecting with the canyon’s energies both mentally and physically. Yoga sessions below the rim will be blended with discussion of the canyon’s geologic formations and their associated myths. Beginners are welcome.

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The Accidental Naturalist: Journaling on the North Rim
Instructor: Teresa Jordan

and Kate Watters

Hike Level: 2

Fee: please inquire

Exploring the spectacular trails and meadows of the North Rim, and learning the art of recording one’s impressions, will be the twofold focus of this first-time GCFI offering facilitated by Teresa Jordan and Kate Watters.

WRITING TO SAVE THE PLACES WE LOVE: Why Our Stories Matter
Instructor: Page Lambert
Hike Level: 2
Fee: please inquire

Writing personal stories about the landscapes we love is a radical act. A protective act. A celebratory act. Even an act of desperation. It is a public declaration of our devotion to Place. Do places tell us who we are? How does an exploration of outer landscape help in the exploration of inner landscape? How do we learn the language of the land? These questions, and more, will be explored during this 3-day writing retreat at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, custom designed by author Page Lambert, recipient of the 2009 Orlando Nonfiction Award. Secluded scenic overlooks provide the backdrop for this unique event. Inspiration for writing facilitation is drawn from poets Mary Oliver and Pablo Neruda, and books such as Wisdom Sits in Places, The Spell of the Sensuous, Woman and Nature: The Roaring Inside Us, and Creating Fiction from Experience.

Page Lambert's article "Writing Life" appears in the Sojourn's Winter/Spring issue JOURNAL. MEMORY. LAND. Read Article

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GCFI, PO Box 399, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 \| (866) 471-4435 \| gcfi@grandcanyon.org \| © Grand Canyon Association 2010