Southwest Expedition

Title: "Survival and Resilience" 
Locations: NM, CO, & AZ

What is survival? What strategies do plants, animals, people, and cultures use to survive in challenging environments? What makes something able to adapt to change?

Academic Courses Include
U.S. History, Natural Science, Citizenship & Leadership

Trip Summary
Explore the Four Corners region of the United States and learn about desert ecology and how plants and animals adapt to limited water. Discover the historical and present ways in which people built resilience to thrive in the environments around them. Use those understandings to learn about the current water crisis and its relationship to global climate change. Be inspired by incredible individuals and organizations who are taking action and coming up with innovative and creative solutions!

Highlights

• Raft rivers that have carved ancient rock and see layers of reds, oranges, and yellows in the sandstone.
  
• Study tectonic movement from the rim of the Grand Canyon.
• Delve into stands of ponderosa pine, juniper, and serviceberry, hoping to catch a glimpse of a golden eagle, a badger, or a bobcat and learn about the way that plants and animals adapt to the unique climate of the southwest.
  
• Explore the ancient Puebloan ruins and learn about the way that ancient peoples oriented their lives around water in the landscape.
  
• Learn about and practice irrigation and gardening techniques with Puebloan tribal members.
  
• Tour a wastewater treatment plant in Albuquerque and learn about the history of water storage and usage in the area.
  
• Talk with hydro-engineers, citizens' rights groups, farmers, politicians, indigenous elders and economists about their perspectives on the current situation with water scarcity and climate change.