From San Luis to the Canyon: Students Experience the Grand Canyon Up Close for Latino Conservation Week

This year, Latino Conservation Week took the Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE) team and a group of young leaders from San Luis, Arizona, on a journey far from their rural border town and into the heart of the Grand Canyon. For many of the students, members of the RAZE Leaders and RAZA Advocates programs, it was their first time seeing the Grand Canyon up close.

RAZE Leaders, RAZA Advocates and RAZE staff at the Grand Canyon before rafting the Colorado River for Latino Conservation Week.

The trip was organized and led by Antonio Ramirez, Rural Arizona Engagement’s Political and Policy Director, whose goal was to help these students witness the Colorado River’s beauty and delicate nature firsthand.

“Whitewater rafting down the Grand Canyon was a fun, adventurous trip of a lifetime, yet more importantly, it was a radical way to fulfill a duty we have to our younger generations,” shared Antonio. “If we want our youth to feel a sense of stewardship for the environment, to feel connected to the natural world, we have a duty to help them engage directly with nature.”

The group embarked on a one-day motorized rafting trip with the Hualapai River Runners, who guided them through the Colorado River. Tour guides shared stories about the canyon’s history, geology, and wildlife, pointing out blue herons and bighorn sheep spotted along the way. They even slowed down the rafts to let the students explore and hike, giving them a chance to connect directly with one of Arizona’s most sacred natural wonders.

“It was interesting and I would say for [my family] to come next time,” said Amir Lopez, a former RAZE Leader who is now part of the RAZA Advocates program. His favorite part? “The rapids, since I was in the front, and the water hit me more.”

Other students described the experience as unforgettable. “My favorite part of the rafting trip was what we got to explore and everything we learned,” said Arwin Tellez, a current RAZE Leader.

Along the way, the guides discussed conservation and the increasing challenges facing the Colorado River. One guide, Kyle, made a remark that stuck with the group. “They joke that when the water runs out, we’ll be doing ATV tours instead.” It was a lighthearted comment that carried a serious message, one that hit home for students from Yuma, where water is the backbone of local life and agriculture.

RAZE Leaders, RAZA Advocates, and RAZE Staff raft down the Colorado River during Latino Conservation Week. September 13, 2025.

For many of them, this trip also served as a reminder of what’s at stake. As student Katie Becerra put it, “We have to preserve water and use less because we’re running out.”

Through experiences like these, RAZE and Rural Arizona Action hope to show young Arizonans that conservation isn’t something that happens far away; it starts at home.

Community Support helps make experiences like this possible for rural youth. Donate today to help RAZE Leaders keep learning beyond the classroom.