Grand Canyon is home to nearly 1,800 plant species making it the most botanically diverse national park in the country. The National Park Service (NPS) vegetation experts are devoted not only to understanding and protecting this critical resource, but to proactively restoring disturbed landscapes through a vigorous habitat-restoration program.

This class will help in this noble endeavor, with a special emphasis on the ponderosa pine forests and pinyon-juniper woodlands found on the South Rim. In the company of NPS experts, students will learn to identify native plant species while participating in guided plant walks from Hermits Rest to Desert View and by paying a visit to the park’s plant nursery. Instruction on how to grow and plant high-elevation native species will also be discussed. This fun-filled, informative class will allow participants to get their hands dirty while learning plant propagation and planting techniques.