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When visitors come to the Mojave Desert they sometimes
think it is only a dry, barren waste land. But for those of us
who call the Mojave Desert home, it is a wonderland of
plants, insects and animals, some of which only survive
here in the Mojave Desert.
Red Rock Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in the
Mojave Desert. In the spring, it explodes with splashes of
bright yellow, orange, white, and hot pink to mention a
few. The spring bloom is a much anticipated event and the
visitor center receives hundreds of calls from anxious
flower enthusiasts as early as February. “Are there any
wild flowers out yet?” the caller would ask. Some seasons
are more brilliant than others, but once the weather starts to
warm up, the wildflowers start to peek out.
The best way to see wildflowers at Red Rock Canyon is to
go hiking along the Moenkopi trail that starts at the picnic
tables outside the Visitor Center. It is an
easy trail over rocky limestone. If hiking is
not in your plans, you can still enjoy the
blossoms by driving around the loop. Either
way, bring a lunch and take your time to
drink in all that Mother Nature has to offer.
Anti-graffiti Gang from
Mrs. Lynn Zepeda’s class by Patricia Williiams
After the heartbreaking news of the graffiti vandalism discovered in
November, it is wonderful to provide some positive news about the
restoration efforts. Individuals, corporations and school children have
donated over $19,000 to Friends of
Red Rock Canyon to assist with
the costs of restoring the Native
American historical site.
The most heart-warming donation
was received from the students of
Grant Sawyer Middle School in March. The students heard about the recent vandalism at Red Rock Canyon
National Conservation Area and first got angry. Then they got busy raising money to help with the huge costs of
restoring the Native American historical site.
The students, led by social studies instructor Lynn Zepeda, organized a fund-raising event to contribute to the
clean-up efforts needed to remove the multiple panels of graffiti. The students wrote and filmed a commercial
for their school television station, K-Stang, informing the students and teachers of the history of Red Rock and
the destruction caused by the graffiti. Students also met daily before school to make posters advertising their
fund- raiser, Take Back OUR History. On Thursday, February 3, all advisory classes collected money.

Mrs. Zepeda said, “It was so exciting to see the enthusiasm of these students in organizing and following
through with this project. As a social studies educator, I feel it is my responsibility to not only teach my
curriculum, but give my students opportunities to develop their civic responsibility.”

“We are very appreciative and proud of the efforts of the Grant Sawyer students.” said Mark Beauchamp,
president of Friends of Red Rock Canyon. “Their hard work and commitment to value and preserve our past
will certainly help us in our work to protect Red Rock Canyon for future generations to enjoy.”

None of the students involved in the fund raising effort have been to Red Rock Canyon. They undertook this
project simply because it was the right thing to do. In appreciation of their unselfish efforts, Friends of Red
Rock Canyon and the Bureau of Land Management have invited the students to Red Rock Canyon in the near
future.

The Bureau of Land Management, with the assistance of their partners, Friends of Red Rock Canyon and Red
Rock Canyon Interpretive Association, are in the final stages of contracting with a restoration expert. Jannie
Laubser, a renowned and respected archeologist of Stratum Unlimited, has conducted a site visit to prepare a
scope of work for the difficult task of restoring the damaged panels. The restoration efforts will likely begin
before mid-May.

The positive aspect in this act of vandalism is that this has united our friends, neighbors,
national and international advocates in supporting the growing problem of deliberate
destruction of our history and national lands.

“To everything there is a season, and a time and purpose
under heaven.” (King Solomon)

We have been through the time to weep and mourn. Now
is the time to heal, rejoice and dance.
Jannie Laubser
at Lost Creek
Mark Boatwright Blm with students from
Grant Sawyer Middle School
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