Page 21 - summer 2018

Friends oF red rock canyon 21

After gradua- Ranger-led trips are based on student grade lev-
tion, she returned els and are tied directly with their school curricula
to Las Vegas and to help teachers meet their classroom require-
worked with the ments. “We try to be a tool in their toolbox to help
Red Rock Can- teachers meet their educational goals for their
yon Interpreta- students,” said Kate.
tive Association,
now part of the “Another program I facilitate is the Natural-
Southern Nevada ist Educator volunteer opportunity. This program
Conservancy. trains hike leaders, assistant hike leaders and table-
Two years later, top interpreters. There are a number of require-
Kate was hired ments for each of the positions, the most popular
for a permanent being the assistant hike leader,” she explained.
Kate leading the way for a school field part-time position
trip
by BLM. “A good number of students who come to Red
Rock Canyon on field trips have never been here
“Being an interpretative ranger is being a “Jack before. This is a new experience for them, and
of all trades and master of none,” she explains. sometimes new experiences can be scary and ex-
I meet people from all over the world and get to citing at the same time.
introduce them to my Mojave Desert home - and
specifically Red Rock Canyon. “Some are experiencing the landscape of Red
Rock Canyon, the flora and fauna, for the first
“I get to do this by having general conversations, time. They are learning that as visitors you need
setting up interpretive table tops with hands-on to be on your best behavior as you would be when
items and information, leading guided hikes and others come to their homes. That’s because this
speaking at community events.” is the home of rabbits, lizards, birds, flowers and
much more.
Her favorite role is as
Environmental Educa- “Many times students
tion Facilitator, arrang- say they will come back
ing school field trips and to visit with their parents
teacher workshops. “Dur- or siblings, and we hope
ing the last school year, that they do. But mostly,
Red Rock Canyon hosted we have planted a seed;
190 field trips for 9,658 and hopefully it grows,
students and 10 workshops molding that student into
for 177 teachers,” she a good steward as an adult
noted. and a caretaker of our
public lands,” said Kate.
There are two field
trip opportunities in Red As a naturalist and inter-
Rock Canyon. One is led preter, Kate often works
by rangers and the other with Friends of Red
by teachers, who guide Rock Canyon through its
students on one of four generous transportation
recommended trails for grant program that she
a nature walk and place- emphasizes has “contrib-
based learning activities, uted greatly” to getting
explained Kate. students here.
Instructing students at Sandstone Quarry
(Continued on page 22)

Summer 2018