RSB, Grand Canyon 2024
On March 9, 2020, I and fourteen other Red Raiders were preparing to spend spring
break volunteering in Grand Canyon National Park. We were slated to leave on March
15, and had completed all the mandatory meetings leading up to the trip. I was fresh
off the January 2020 trip to New Orleans and the excitement was palpable. I had never
been to the Grand Canyon and was eager to check another national park off my list
with a great group of people. March 10, 2020, our trip was cancelled. The world shut
down. A week was added to our spring break that year and our classes resumed online.
Life moved on and we adjusted to our new normal. Despite my best efforts, I graduated
in December 2020 and continued as a master's student in January 2021.
I got my first taste of RSBs in 2019 with a trip to Caprock Canyon State Park. I was
immediately hooked.
In November 2021, Jacy Enloe and Levi Johnson reached out to ask if I was available to help with an upcoming RSB. The McNair Scholars were slated to go to the Grand Canyon for spring break 2022. Jacy, the captain of the RSB ship, was expecting her first child and was unable to make the trip. I immediately said yes. We had the first rounds of preliminary meetings and the group of McNair Scholars had been selected. January 11, 2022, the trip had to be cancelled once again. It was starting to feel like the trip was cursed.
Little did we know New Orleans 2020 would be the last RSB for four(!) years.
November 2, 2023, I received a message from Levi asking if I would be available to help with an upcoming RSB to the Grand Canyon. In a bizarre case of de ja vu, the McNair Scholars were slated to go to the Grand Canyon for spring break 2024 and Jacy was expecting her second child. I immediately said yes but was skeptical that the trip would happen. As the old adage goes, fool me once… We had a few preliminary meetings, and things seemed to be progressing well. However, a series of unfortunate events led to me deciding to move out of Lubbock. I called Levi to pull out of the trip, and instead came away with a job offer to help TrUE for the spring semester. Task failed successfully, I guess.
In January the real work began. It was fascinating to see just how much work goes into creating an RSB. Jon, Aurelia, Jace, and I worked on planning every minute detail of the trip. We finally had the opportunity to meet the McNair Scholars—though I don't believe we got everyone in the room at the same time until the final meeting! They seemed quiet, but excited to be going on the trip. Before I knew it, March came around and we were making the final preparations to leave. Honestly, I didn't believe the trip was actually happening until the morning we piled into the vehicles and drove out of the lot. After all these years, we were finally on our way.
This was the moment it finally felt real.
My mind was buzzing with thoughts and worries as we began our long journey to Arizona—did I miss anything? How are the students handling the drive? Are we going to have enough food? Can I live up to the trust Levi and Jacy placed in me? With four years of buildup, could the Grand Canyon possibly live up to my expectations? Well, no—because everything about Grand Canyon National Park and this RSB exceeded my expectations.
It was well worth the wait.
The natural beauty of the park was absolutely breathtaking, but what really set this trip apart for me were the McNair scholars and the Park Rangers. Ranger Todd and “the Band” (Debbie, Joanne, and Max) went above and beyond to make this such a memorable trip. Knowing that none of us had experienced the Grand Canyon before, Todd had us stand in a single-file line and close our eyes as Joanne guided us to the rim. They positioned us along the railing and had us turn towards the canyon and open our eyes so we could take in the view all at once. It feels cliché to say pictures don't do it justice, but it's the truth. My little lizard brain almost couldn't comprehend what I was looking at. The canyon is so massive, it doesn't even look real. What made that moment so memorable was that Todd and the volunteers had the thoughtfulness to make our first glimpse of the canyon that much more special.
Walking blindly towards a giant cliff: the ultimate trust exercise.
Those faces say it all.
We began our volunteer work in earnest the following day. We were tasked with helping reduce traffic to the severely understaffed visitor center. Todd placed us strategically around the Visitor Center armed with maps and brains overflowing with details about the area. We passed out maps and provided guests with basic information— “bathrooms are that way,” “the giant hole in the ground is over there,” “take the free shuttle to get around easier,” “go see these things if only have a few hours here.” Initially I was disappointed we weren't doing any volunteer work that would get our hands dirty, but I ended up really enjoying talking with everyone. You could help make someone's trip a little less stressful and a little more fun, and at the same time we were helping the rangers who were making our trip so special. At the beginning of the first day, I snuck into the Visitor Center to snag some maps and saw two rangers struggling to get through a line of about 50 people looking for help. That helped the importance of what we were doing sink in.
The Visitor Center was noticeably busier on the days we weren't volunteering.
The Rangers in the Visitor Center definitely felt the difference! 
Meanwhile, I was having way too much fun joking with the people who made the mistake
of coming to me for help.
After we finished volunteering for the day, we had evenings to ourselves. Most people typically gathered in the main house to decompress and play games, others wandered to their rooms for naps. Game nights were competitive but fun—although I'll never forgive Oliver for costing me my first Settlers of Catan win… However, I really enjoyed the quiet moments. I had the chance to get to know everyone on this trip fairly well. I loved the smaller conversations that would inevitably break out. It was clear to me that this was indeed a special group. We talked about all sorts of things, from life, to school, to girl talk. I loved that this group wasn't afraid to get deep but were also quick witted and hilarious. I don't think a single day passed by where someone didn't cry from laughing. One of my favorite moments was Taylin making a deadpan joke to a guest while we were volunteering. Gabriel, Oliver, and I immediately lost it. Oliver was laughing so hard he was on the ground while an onlooker teased him that he was about to wet himself. That group was a dangerous combination!
I also appreciated how open-minded this group of students was. The weather turned on us, the time changes took their toll, and being that far away from home was new to some of the students. Despite the cold and the discomfort, the Scholars soldiered on and made the best of it. I think they've all got bright futures ahead of them. They're doing way better than I was as an undergrad! They also took well to helping me prepare dinners. It was fun getting to see who already had some cooking chops and showing them new tricks. Hopefully everyone got a little something out of it!
I really thought I was about to win here. What a fool I was…
It got cold, y'all.
It feels strange to finally be on the other side of this trip. As I look back, it's
clear that this RSB will play a role as I begin another major life transition. My
research as a grad student has centered around the tumultuous relationship between
Native Americans, National Parks, and the National Park Service. I had the opportunity
to meet Jason Nez, a Navajo fire archaeologist for the park service, and Deputy Superintendent
Brian Drapeaux, who is half Native American. Both were eager to talk about their complicated
relationships with the park service. They even indulged me as I talked about my research.
It solidified for me not only the importance of this research, but also the continued
need for service learning. No one can tell their stories better than they can, and
young people should be given the opportunity to hear it and help support their national
parks in the process. I've proposed a similar service-learning trip through the History
Department that would serve as my master's capstone project.
Jason Nez talking to us at the Wildland Fire Center.
Shoutout to Nez for letting me play with the chainsaw!
Deputy Superintendent Brian Drapeaux sharing his life experiences with us.
Five years ago, I wrote my first RSB blog entitled “Coming Home Again.” The inspiration behind that title was my return to Texas from living in a national park for several years. This trip feels like I've come full circle, as I'll soon be done with school and returning home to the National Park system in some capacity. I don't know where I'll be in a year, or even in two months, but I know I'll be in a better position because of this amazing program. If you are ever given an opportunity to go on a Raider Service Break, take it. Some things can only be learned and experienced outside of your comfort zone.
Until next time,
Sarah Tapia