RSB, Grand Canyon 2025
It was a bit over two weeks before the departure of Raider Service Break 2025, supported by TrUE and McNair Scholars Program, when I received the message from staff member Sarah Tapia, “Have you made any spring break plans?” I officially got a spot in the group to go. The weeks leading up to spring break started to buzz with excitement because what I thought would be an uneventful week off was becoming one of the best trips of my life.
On the crisp, early morning of the Sunday kicking off spring break, the group of us,
comprised of seven students and four staff, drove 12+ hours from Lubbock to Grand Canyon National Park, where we would be dedicating our time to service work with Wildland Fire. There were a lot of components to this work that made it all really special—not
only did we get to stretch our muscles and get our hands dirty, but the leaders of
the department took careful time and effort to explain to us why it’s important to
do so. While sitting in front of professionals who have stories upon stories, I gained
a lot of clarity about a lot of different subjects and details that I have not taken
the time in the past to consider. For example, a highlight of the week for me was
on our second official day when we met Jason Nez, a Diné archaeologist from the Navajo Nation working at the canyon. Honestly, I think
he has one of the coolest professions in the world. Nez explained the significance
of archaeological sites found in nature and how they relate to Indigenous and non-Indigenous
people, and why we would be putting in the laborious, albeit incredibly fun, work
of protecting those sites by picking up sticks and logs to prevent wildfires from
making devastating contact. That workday was a blast! We filled up at least five trailers
worth of sticks and logs, and I think we all really got a really good reminder of
the power of teamwork, as cheesy as it can sound.
While learning about the importance of our task at hand, I especially took notice of a section of his presentation when he spoke on the life of historical pieces all around us and how archaeology is, in essence, a language. We can learn so much from the world if we just open our eyes, and I think that’s the theme I held close to my heart for the rest of the week—learning to keep my eyes open and expand my senses and acceptance of the lessons the historic Grand Canyon and its people had to teach me. I had to let go of the mildness and normality from back home to fully immerse myself in the landscapes, artifacts, and history that made my surroundings oh so exceptional at every minute of the day. I felt separated from the jaded perspective that had overcome me from the realities of home, and I loved it. Admittedly, prior to Nez’s presentation, I did not quite understand just how remarkable his profession is and how much it contributes to global understanding of the people and lives that came long before us. I was incredibly grateful to have flipped that misunderstanding from an individual who clearly had a deeper attachment to his work than I think I will ever understand. But what I did understand is our—despite the corniness of the following term—duty to protect those archaeological sites and the extensive life that they hold.
Nathan, Kacie, Justin, Ally, and Ed with Wildland Fire also told incredible stories and relayed information that can really shift one’s idea of their role in serving the park. Mostly, I was reminded that, simplistically, not all fires are bad. There is a key method, an art, to how controlled fire can beautifully paint healthy, thriving nature, even though it is easy for humans to glare at it with fear and distaste. The individuals within the station held deep regard for how fires are to be treated, especially when considering the historical context of how fires have shaped nature far before there was anyone to put in the effort to control them. Relating to my earlier theme, I found myself wanting to expand my acceptance of life’s unexpected normalities and the professional work made by people I deeply admire. A key experience that I find myself continuously thinking about was our clearing of the cache upstairs at the Wildland Fire station, a collection whose needed organization and cleaning took up our afternoon on the day we were supposed to go to an archaeological site but couldn’t because of the bad weather. The aches and sweat that had accumulated by the end of that afternoon were completely forgotten when we saw the looks of elated relief and gratefulness on Nathan and Kacie’s faces. Then, a couple of days later, my heart soared when Nathan and Kacie told us how excited they were to keep bringing people up to the cache to see how nice it looked after we had fixed it up. We helped them so much to the point that they were overly happy to show other people, and there was something in that small action of theirs that will not leave my mind anytime soon. It was such a sweet gesture of theirs that I do not imagine they even found it to be all that significant, but it was such a relevant reminder of how undeniably special the act of volunteering is. We discussed frequently as a group over the week how the most monotonous work, such as clearing that cache, can be the biggest gift to good people, and I can sincerely say that that is one of the most gratifying feelings in the world. In the words of fellow student Christopher Edwards, who shared one evening around the RSB dinner table, I was intensely reminded of the power of gratitude. We made a difference for people who were so deserving of it, and that sensation alone made my whole week, hands-down.
So many other individuals absolutely made the trip. Todd Nelson with the Volunteer Resource Program did so much for us in light of so many forces nearly throwing the trip off balance.
His dedication to his profession and adoration for what he does was so contagious
in layering the whole experience with optimism and quality. Additionally, we made
connections with other amazing people at the Albright Training Center, which is where we were housed for the week, as well as others in the volunteer program.
Ashley, Luis, Trey, and so many others with the Training Center were so exceptionally
grateful as well for some volunteer work we did for them, from inventory to classroom
prep for future park rangers. Max, Joanne, and Deb with the volunteer department were
the sweetest, most kind-hearted individuals we could have had join us in our adventures
throughout the week, and I hope with all my heart that I will be able to see everyone
again someday. My fellow students and the staff also had such an impact on my positive
perception of the trip, and a highlight of every single day for me was hearing everyone’s
favorite part of their days, as well as their least favorite parts. It was such a
memorable moment every evening to hear each unique take on the day and how our differences
complemented each other and allowed us to be efficient and ambitious in our service
to the park. Additionally, one of the best parts of the week, hands-down, was having
the honor of listening to Sarah’s presentation at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center
for her master’s capstone. To watch and hear her present on the wilderness and American
identity was captivating, and every single one of us was so proud to see how far her
hard work has taken her.
Sitting around the bonfire on our last evening was emotional. I did not want to go home—I was terribly upset at the fierce speed with which the week had passed, and I was not ready to go home. Yet, staring into that fire as I listened to my peers speak of their days and their reflections of the trip was so dear a moment in our RSB bubble, a memory that beautifully marked the end of a spring break that left a mark in the world. From the beginning of the week to this very moment, I want to do more. I could not get enough of all of those fulfilling sensations, realizations, and understandings that enveloped the trip with the most positive atmosphere I could have imagined, and then some. I felt peace at the canyon that I hope to carry with me through my semester, through my year, through my life—and I want to do so by continuing my efforts in volunteer work. Whether it is helping a family friend with a task that neither of us wants to do or helping a large group in an official volunteer organization, I hope to continue pursuing that meaningful gratification I received from being a part of Raider Service Break. In fact, I have been heavily considering returning to Grand Canyon National Park following my upcoming graduation to pursue more volunteer and work opportunities. The lovely rangers and coordinators at the park helped me feel encouraged to go for it, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds in that regard. It feels difficult to accurately encapsulate how lucky I feel to have had the opportunity to join such a wonderful, outlook-altering experience. This spring break was one for the books, indisputably, and I cannot think of any other way I would have wanted to spend it.