Fall 2009
Desert Winds Newsletter
10/23/2009
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Greetings!
A thin layer of white coats the high peaks of the La Sals, a dusting of powdered sugar lamenting the end of the busy summer season and welcoming quiet winter into the desert. Much has happened at CFI since the last patches of white melted into green and brown. Dozens of middle school children bedded down in the Professor Valley Tipis and discovered the way water carves landscapes and lives. Scores of explorers ventured into the world of the Fremont people at Range Creek. Eight women set out to discover nature, literature, and themselves through Labyrinth Canyon, and dozens more people discovered the joys and importance of the Colorado Plateau through CFI's unique land and water adventures. Throughout the season the theme remained the same, a celebration of 25 years of education, stewardship, and changing lives on the Colorado Plateau. Thank you for being a part of these past 25 years, and please enjoy the stories and recaps of this year's monumental season. We couldn't do it without you and we appreciate your continued support.
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Let the Wild Rumpus Begin: Celebrating 329 Moons
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 CFI Celebrates 329 Moons Rising Over Field Camp
Many generations of CFI friends, trustees, staff and
supporters gathered at the Professor Valley Field Camp to commemorate
CFI's 25th season. In true form, this CFI event was a celebration of
the Colorado Plateau's beauty and grace. The
sun streaked below dark clouds to illuminate the Fisher Towers in orange splendor
at sunset, followed by a suspenseful game of hide and seek before the clouds
finally parted, revealing the full moon on Professor Valley.
Keynote
speaker, Tim Brown of the Tracy Aviary, distilled the essence of CFI's
accomplishments, by reminding us that children develop a connection to
nature through immersion. Mini-lessons
on environmental education, standardized playgrounds and structured activities
do not connect children to nature as effectively as being outdoors and having
the freedom to explore. Learning to love nature on its terms is the spark that
creates future defenders of the environment. Mr. Brown applauded CFI for
immersing young (and old) in the experience of the Colorado Plateau.
Director and founder of CFI, Karla
VanderZanden, recalled the similar vision of co-founder, Robin Wilson. Mrs. Wilson wanted
to bring children into the environment and let nature speak for itself. The naturalist guides simply offer an understanding of the language of nature. Ben
Phillips, Chair of the CFI Board of Trustees spoke of the accomplishments of
the past and the challenges facing CFI in the next few years. He announced that
the BLM does not intend to renew the lease of land for the Professor Valley
Field Camp after the current lease expires in 2012. A public hearing is being
requested and CFI supporters are welcome to contact CFI for ways they can help. Mr. Phillips also announced that Range Creek will come
under the supervision of State Institutional and Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) and the University of Utah, which may discontinue commercial contracts after the 2010 season.
The evening
culminated with a Chicken Cordon Bleu Dutch Oven dinner for 60 guests, prepared
by CFI chefs, Ben Moline and Allyson O'Connor. Wine was provided in part by Red
Cliffs Lodge and the Castle Creek Winery, while food was donated by Ye Old
Geezer Meat shop, City Market and Village Market. The evening was capped with a
campfire and songs by Rory Tyler. Many thanks to all the volunteers and
sponsors that made this event a huge, sold-out success.
The next morning participants loaded into CFI rafts for a unique float to the Red Cliffs Lodge for a gourmet brunch. Though storm clouds and high winds threatened the crew, everyone had fun earning their breakfast paddling through small rapids. The brunch float was such a success that CFI will add this trip to next season's line up. Stay tuned for details.
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CFI's 2010 Calendar
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 Our website will be updated by November 15 with details on these trips and workshops. To inquire or reserve your spot right away, please contact the CFI office.
Rainbow Bridge and Navajo Mountain Hiking with Packstock April 28 (eve) - May 2, 2010.
Join Founding Director Karla VanderZanden and packer Eric Atene for this one of a kind adventure through Navajo Mountain and Rainbow Bridge. One night at traditional Navajo home is followed by 3 nights camping on the trail ending with a boat trip across Lake Powell. Navajo horses travel separately and carry everything you need for a high quality adventure.
Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley featuring Gene Foushee - May 14-16, 2010
Get the real local's "weekend tour" with retired geologist and life long adventurer Gene Foushee and CFI's Director, Karla. From a comfortable lodge base, we explore by van and short hikes Gene's "special spots" in the Valley of the Gods and San Juan River Canyon. Features will be geology, rock art, early settler and Navajo history and desert wildflower extravaganza!
River Skills I Course
April 3-4, 2010
For the beginner who wants to learn proper rowing techniques as well as river camping skills.
Westwater River Rescue
April 9-11, 2010
This course provided hands-on active training in risk management for the experienced commercial guide, private boater, field scientist, or emergency personnel.
WFR Recert & Wilderness Advanced First Aid
Taught by the Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI) of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Moab. This is a two year certification and includes CPR.
Women Wild by Nature Colorado Raft Trip
Aug 3(eve)-Aug 7, 2010
This year's trip will be through Ruby, Horsethief and Westwater Canyons.
Range Creek Overnights June-Oct 2010
Will continue to lead trips exploring one of the best preserved areas of the ancient Freemont culture. 2010 may be the last year to go with CFI as the university is reviewing their permitting process.
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| Wild Women, Wild River
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 by Ann Weiler-Walka, Nature Writer/Naturalist/Guide
Women Wild by Nature, a Green River canoe trip, pushed off from Ruby
Ranch on September 14 and paddled for five blissful days down Labyrinth Canyon, a canyon that Karla reminded us has
the quiet water and gorgeous sandstone walls of the now drowned Glen Canyon.
The eight lucky women on this trip, two young staff members and six
older staff and guests, quickly settled into harmony with this place and with
one another, paddling a sweet stretch of river, living on her sandbars, working
in community.
Along the
way, we took time every day for stretching, painting with water colors or writing in
journals, reading aloud and listening to stories of place. Allyson introduced us to the stars, and on the
last night, when we were dressed to the nines, we belly danced with Katie. Together we compiled an awesome set of Nature
Notes - a kind of map of this stretch of river - including peregrines,
Allison's beaver family, blue beetles that clustered like flowers on the coyote
willows, the music of tent zippers.
Under the
cheerful direction of Karla, Allyson and Katie, we cooked sumptuous meals,
often from Moab produce (watch for the cookbook!), tended
the boats, filtered water and managed the groover. There's much to be learned on a river trip.
Mostly we settled into a mindful
quiet punctuated by plenty of laughter. By
Friday we were comfortable members of both our own small women's community and
the wider, wild community of Labyrinth Canyon. Our senses and intuitions honed, our spirits
refreshed, we came home ready to delve deeper into the detail of our own
habitats and primed to invite others to savor and defend the landscapes of home. I couldn't have had a finer week to carry
with me into the winter.
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Nature Note: How to Live with Wild Things
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by Bambi Stiener, CFI Development Director
Only a few days ago, the first herd of deer this fall wandered
through my yard. Every year we marvel at how close they come to the house and
the numbers that comfortably share their living space with us. I am a resident
of Castle Valley,
a designated wildlife corridor between the La Sal Mountains and the Colorado
River. Ordinances have been adopted restricting the height of
fences and percentage of the land that can be fenced by landowners. Hunting is
prohibited within town limits.
Bear scat,
cougar tracks, endless migrations of deer and the resonant howling of coyote in
the night are welcome reminders of the many species that share this land with
us. After 15 years in Castle Valley,
I have come up with solutions to attract wildlife, while minimizing their
impact on my garden and lifestyle. Here are some of my tips:
Plant
standard fruit trees; deer are unable to reach most the fruit and will not
damage low limbs. Windfalls will still feed the deer once you have harvested
your crop... with a ladder.
Keep a
small pond, especially if you maintain a frost free zone where wildlife can
drink. This attracts all kinds of birds, mammals and reptiles.
Fence poles
and hog wire circles about 6 feet from young trees effectively protect them
from becoming deer munchies. This may use fewer resources than fencing off a
whole windbreak.
As most
farmers know, outdoor cats and dogs can protect your territory from wildlife as
small as mice and as large as cougar. They also tend to consume or at least
intimidate many species in between. Be aware of your pet's safety and impact on
other species.
Compost
piles may be feeding more than worms. Avoid composting or fence it off, if it
attracts bear or other dangerous wildlife.
Never
approach wildlife and avoid being alone outside at dusk or dark. Carefully
watch children. Even deer can have a lethal kick or carry disease.
Before
lamenting the beautiful tomato that has one deer bite out of it, look around at
all the ones left for you. Fall is an
incredibly abundant time and there is enough bounty and space to share.
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| Outdoor Science School 2009
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 The learning Part of Service Learning by Katie Smith, PR Intern
I have had the pleasure of watching and documenting small groups of eighth graders and soon to be eighth graders working, sweating, and understanding their natural world. I stand quietly behind my camera snapping photos of shovels driven into dirt, rocks moved and stacked and tumbleweeds uprooted and tossed on the burn pile.
The conversation I hear astounds me. "Let's move this rock over here; it will divert the water towards the middle of the stream and stop it from eroding over here. "One boy consults with another on how to keep the stream from cutting back the land during times of high water.
"We have to finish this, we have to get this tamarisk out of here so the native plants can grow," Another girl shouts on the verge of whining as she clips away the branches of the invasive species at field camp.
All around me I hear kids talking about the land. As they work they are determined to finish their projects and they know all the reasons why. They relate it back to their own lives, the tumbleweeds they have growing near them, the stream bed they are used to at home. I hear them recalling these places and matching these memories with their new knowledge.
"You know, I really like technology and video games. But I also love to mountain bike" Donovan, a student from Grand County Middle school tells me as I snap a picture of him and his shovel. "This place has changed me. I'm really going to make mountain biking and nature a higher priority. "He wipes the sweat from his forehead and goes back to cutting down tumbleweeds at the root. I don't say anything because I am stunned.
Each year CFI allows kids to learn about their environment, land management and stewardship through hands on experiential based land and river trips. For 25 years the Outdoor Science School has been planting the seeds of stewardship early and allowing children to understand the land and the connection they have to it. We appreciate all your support through the years to keep our program going, and we look forward to providing this opportunity to many more students with your continued donations. Thank you so much.
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In the Spotlight: Reflections from the Intern
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by Katie Smith, CFI Public Relations Intern
Steam curls up from the bowl of polenta and stewed vegetables harvested by the Youth Garden Project as I leaf through the collected works of Rumi searching for an appropriate dinner quote. This is CFI's version of grace, and it's something I've adopted as well. Reading aloud before meals from poets, novelists, or sufi mystics in this case, is a way to stop and acknowledge the food, to slow down and add meaning and ritual to something I used to rush through. This is not the only ritual or meaning I will take with me at the end of the season, and it is far from the only lesson I learned as the Fall intern for CFI.
I come from eight years in the outdoor industry and have worked in every capacity from ski and snowshoe guide, sales clerk at a climbing school, manager of an adventure travel department, to a short stint as an accounts executive at a small PR firm. I wasn't sure what to expect when I accepted the public relations intern position. Each adventure has knocked me farther from my frantic rush to define my own life and brought me closer to recognizing the wealth of life and cycles that allow my life to exist.
During my first experience at field camp, I watched ten students build a dam in the creek that runs through Professor Valley. Stacking smooth stones and pouring sand, they discovered the power of water, and so did I. As the damn grew, water flooded the banks of their "stick village" above the stack of stones and mud. Shrieking, they moved the sticks to a bank downstream thinking they would be safe. The water, determined to follow its course, pushed through the sand and stone, breaching the dam and flooding the new village. Before the shrieking commenced, each student was imprinted with those consequences.
On the Green River, I clawed my way up a steep, slick slope grasping tamarisk branches and scraping my shins to get a glimpse of D. Julien's inscription in the sandstone above. The French trapper paddled his way upstream through the high waters of May in 1836, the first known person to make this journey. The river has changed the landscape drastically, as has man, since Julien's burly arms paddled the length of this river. He never encountered the tamarisk branches choking out the beaches, visited different canyons carved by flash floods, and saw only native fish species as he traveled. This river will look much different to people traveling it one hundred years from now. I've learned how important it is to take stock of my own surroundings so that I may track the subtle changes and note what stays the same.
I am thankful for my time in Moab, experiencing the slow and patient lifestyle of those who do track the changes of the seasons. I am thankful to Bambi for teaching me the ins and outs of non-profits and trusting me to follow my own ideas. I am especially thankful to Karla for allowing me to follow along on these adventures and opening my eyes to the impacts experiential education has on the lives of young children, self absorbed twenty somethings (like me) and older women searching for creativity. This has been time well spent.
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Canyonlands Field Institute inspires enlightened perspectives, passion and care for the Colorado Plateau. Thank you for all you have done to support for the last 25 years.
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CANYONLANDS FIELD INSTITUTE
P.O. Box 68 ∙ Moab, UT 84532 ∙ 435-259-7750 Fax 259-2335 email: info@canyonlandsfieldinst.org
web: www.canyonlandsfieldinst.org
Inspiring enlightened perspectives,
passion, and care
for the Colorado Plateau since 1984.
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for school/youth environmental education programs. Member benefits include
discounts on CFI's exciting outdoor programs, invitations to special events,
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contributions are tax deductible. CFI is a 501 c(3)non-profit organization.
THANK YOU!
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