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Collecting stories from Grand Canyon's past
Grand Canyon School students learn the art of oral history one interview at a time

Submitted photo<br>
Grand Canyon School 12th grade students get acquainted with recording equipment at the outset of the oral history project.

Submitted photo<br> Grand Canyon School 12th grade students get acquainted with recording equipment at the outset of the oral history project.

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - The Grand Canyon has a long and storied past with plenty of human drama. Students at Grand Canyon High School recently began a project to archive some of the stories of those living and working at the Canyon to gain a deeper connection with the place and learn valuable life lessons.

The oral history project is made possible through a grant from the National Park Foundation and is part of the Park Steward's Program.

SuZan Pearce, Environmental Education Specialist at Grand Canyon National Park, said the goal of the project is to get high school students more involved with national parks.

"Involved in a way where they were giving back to the park, where they felt like they were doing meaningful service. Service learning," she said. "So, they're learning. It's meeting the criteria of the school and giving them a chance to make the world a better place."

Pearce said when she began writing the grant, Dr. Joyce Ballard, then a history teacher at Grand Canyon School (GCS), suggested an oral history project, having taught oral history previously. Pearce said about the time she received the congratulations letter awarding the grant, Ballard announced she would be leaving the school.

Enter Lori Rommel, GCS language arts teacher.

"She also didn't have a background in oral history so we said 'Hey, we're two smart ladies, we'll figure this out,'" Pearce said. Rommel said she stipulated that she work on the project with the senior class, having been their teacher and sponsor since the students were in sixth grade.

"I want to do something with the Grand Canyon to get them connected with the Canyon. Because, I know they don't appreciate this place and I know they don't appreciate it because it hasn't been given to them."

The grant funding allowed Rommel to work with the park service over the summer, even donning the distinctive uniform, to write the oral history curriculum. She simultaneously spent time getting to know various park service staff and searching for those that might be candidates for the oral history project.

"It was great, great relationship building this summer," Rommel said.

Along with her stint with the park service, Rommel also enrolled in an online oral history class through Baylor University to help her prepare for her first oral history project.

Pearce said the oral histories the students collected will be archived in the park's museum collections. Transcription of the interviews has yet to be completed. The oral histories will likely remain audio resources although some transcription may occur as part of a student internship over the summer. The oral interviews will help build an oral history library for Grand Canyon National Park that will likely help future historians better understand and protect Grand Canyon's historical resources. The interviews will also allow interpretive park rangers to share these stories with the public, enhancing the public's appreciation and stewardship of park resources.

"There is no way our staff can ever interview all the people we would love to interview before they pass on or move away or are out of contact," Pearce said. "The idea is that these kids can capture some of that. We know they are not professional oral historians but that's ok because it is a start."

When she presented the project to the class at the beginning of the school year, Rommel said her students were initially unsure about the project and hesitant about interviewing candidates.

Once students were matched with candidates from a list Rommel compiled over the summer, students wrote letters requesting participation.

"And then they had to make that phone call to set up the interview," Rommel said. "They were scared. They were nervous. They were very intimidated."

Half of the grant money was spent buying digital recorders, microphones and other necessary equipment.

Once the students completed their interviews, Rommel said their written reflection papers were enlightening. She emphasized to her students at the outset that they might glean from their interviews a sense of how to "do" life. How can the person interviewed share their experiences about what it means to be successful? What it means to be happy. And, what can be taken from that and applied to the student's own lives?

"They got it," she said. "How do you measure if a student had a good time doing this oral history project? Through their reflective writing. Which they are really, really good at. That is why I wanted to work with the seniors, because they are there."

For more information about the National Park Foundation visit www.nationalparks.org.


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