Native Species Restored In First Bloom Planting

On Earth Day 2009, the National Park Foundation, Aramark, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Page Unified School District staff and sixth-grade students completed the Four Directions native plant trail at the new Wahweap campground amphitheater.

The First Bloom project began two years ago when the National Park Foundation received a large donation from Aramark to connect kids to nature through hands-on planting and garden projects inside national parks. Glen Canyon was one of five National Park Service sites selected last year to participate in the 2009 First Bloom project.

NPS education specialist Joan Mayer and her staff worked with teachers and club leaders Pauline Mooring and Tasha Racawan to help students become more familiar with the outdoors and national parks by getting to know native plants, both inside the park and in their own community. 

During the last eight months, students studied native plants and gained an understanding of their cultural uses. They participated in a variety of field trips with rangers and teachers, including an all day tour boat trip to Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Students revitalized the Page High School greenhouse to propagate native plants from seeds that they had collected. They also kept journals, wrote poetry, completed art projects, designed and installed paving stones at the planting site, and took photos to document their experiences.  A trail brochure was compiled with students’ help.

In addition to the planting, environmentally-related games were held and students earned their Junior Ranger badges. Speakers from the NPS and Aramark thanked the community for lending support to the planting and congratulated students for their months of hard work.  Park staff look forward to First Bloom plantings in future years.