Young People, Big Changemakers

 by Lisa Winters, Research and Stewardship Volunteer Coordinator

Each month, the Grand Canyon Trust visits Ms. Wertz’s science class at Sinagua Middle School as part of the “Scientists in the Classroom” program. Our goal is to teach students about environmental issues on the Colorado Plateau, and today’s lesson is on uranium mining’s toxic legacy around the Grand Canyon region. 

After showing them “Too Precious to Mine,” a film about uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, I ask the 6^th grade students about how it makes them feel. Hands fly up.

“sad” 
“anxious” 
“scared”

They are not alone with these feelings.

The conversation around uranium mining has ramped up in recent months, as the Trump administration threatens to remove a temporary ban on new uranium mines on over a million acres of public lands surrounding the Grand Canyon. 

Following the lesson, the students write letters to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke urging him to protect the Grand Canyon from uranium mining. Here’s what they have to say:

This is important to me because the contaminated water can kill animals and make people sick. Also the Colorado River and Grand Canyon are beautiful. I wouldn’t like to see them get ruined by mining. — Tristan

The ban on uranium is keeping water clean and helping other people in the Grand Canyon. — Jessica

It is important to me that you keep this ban because I live in the Grand Canyon area and I know that the Colorado River is important to many things and with the uranium mines it will ruin them. Please try and compromise with me and save the river. —Megan 

There’s no age limit on who can speak up for our public lands. I think the next generation is in good hands with these young conservationists.

Have you written to Secretary Zinke yet? Sign our petition asking him and the Trump administration to keep the ban ›