Deadline extended to submit your event during the Flagstaff Festival of Science! Do you have an idea for a presentation, guided hike, hands-on workshop or more?
Northern Arizona, we are looking for you! Calling all science presenters, educators, demonstrators, and guides!
Submit your idea today before the June 24th final deadline!
Impressionistic Painting
with Gretchen Lopez
July 12 : Friday 10am – 4:30pm
I love the “Impressionists”! They had an incredible way with color and light. In this class, we will explore the color mixtures and brush work the Impressionists used, and work from the still life and the landscape! Let’s plan to learn more about the light, and discuss Artists such as Monet, Sorolla and Renoir!
Dear Museum Friends,
I am thrilled to invite you, your family, and friends to our highlight event of the year – the Heritage Festival of Arts and Culture – June 22 & 23 at the Museum. The festival promises an immersive experience, connecting you with the rich and diverse traditions of the Indigenous peoples of the Colorado Plateau. Dozens of Native American artists will showcase their work, interspersed with dancers, musicians, demonstrators, and cultural experts sharing their knowledge and insights. My favorite part of this MNA annual festival is the opportunity to talk with artists directly and purchase unique handmade pieces reflecting the beauty and spirit of the Plateau. The painting above by Venaya Yazzie (Diné) gives you an idea of the talented artists who will be on hand. There will be something for everyone to enjoy, including activities for children, energizing music from Tha ‘Yoties, and tasty regional foods like frybread from Sacred Hogan.
The anticipation for summer is building! I can’t wait to see you at the Museum.
Mary Kershaw
Executive Director & CEO
Museum of Northern Arizona
As we welcome the warmth of summer, I am pleased to reconnect with you. It’s always a remarkable time of the year when we celebrate the achievements of our graduates, welcome all the lambs, and feel accomplished with the completion of shearing the sheep. Within this dynamic, we find ourselves poised at an intersection of tradition and innovation, resilience and progress.
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Community College (CCC) is thrilled to announce the addition of 13 talented recruits to the cross country team for the upcoming fall 2024 season. These new athletes, hailing from diverse backgrounds and bringing a wealth of experience, are poised to strengthen CCC’s already formidable cross country program.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome these outstanding runners to our team,” said Head Coach Craig Hunt. “Each of these athletes brings unique strengths and a dedication to excellence that will help us continue to build a competitive and cohesive team.”
The 34th annual Grand Canyon Star Party will conclude for the season on Saturday, June 8. South Rim events include a nightly slide show from a special guest speaker at 8 p.m. in the plaza of the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
The list of speakers can be found on the Grand Canyon Star Party webpage and also in the NPS Mobile App. The talks are followed by free telescope viewing behind the building. Green-laser constellation tours will be offered nightly at 9, 9:30, and 10 p.m.
North Rim events include telescopes set up on the terrace of the Grand Canyon Lodge every evening along with astronomers with green lasers to pointing out constellations. By day, look for solar telescopes on the terrace and surrounding the Grand Canyon Lodge. A flyer for the evening events on the North Rim can be found here.
Flagstaff Pro Rodeo, Fort Tuthill County Park
Get ready for thrilling rodeo action, live entertainment, and fun for the whole family in the cool pines of Flagstaff! 5 p.m.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
“We ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families.”
That is the Mission Statement of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth. And with a county as large as Coconino (second largest in the nation); with an individual, non-profit and for-profit membership approaching 100; and a diverse, dedicated and talented board of directors — it takes a special individual to bring all these moving parts together to benefit families throughout Northern Arizona.
Virginia Watahomigie joined CCC&Y as executive director in September 2016. In a CCC&Y news posting at the time, she said: “The opportunity to work with CCC&Y is rewarding and very exciting as the work and reputation of the Coalition is impeccable. I have found the members to be genuinely dedicated to children’s issues. I feel privileged to further this mission, as well as, continue building relationships with the community” …
READ MORE
For the first time, the School of Communication hosted a free two-day seminar for Hispanic and Latine high school students looking to explore film and visual communication.
Junk Journal Deconstruction
with Nicole Austin
July 17 – 18 : Wednesday 10am – 5pm, Thursday 9am – 4pm
Some call us monsters for ripping up and altering books – I think of us more as creatives who can see potential in anything! Let’s gather together with kindred spirits and rip and alter to our hearts’ content! We’ll take an ordinary vintage book and turn it into something extraordinary using paint, embellishments, and reconstructive techniques. You bring the book, (BYOB!) and I’ll supply the rest!
• Hello From Supervisor Horstman
• Andy Bertelsen Appointed Next County
Manager
• 4FRI and Upper Rio de Flag Forest Restoration Update
• Flood Control District Receives $19.3 Federal
• PROTECT Grant for HWY 89
• Pinyon Uranium Mine Continues to Extract Ore
• County Designates Lake Mary Road as Recreation Corridor: Where the World Comes To Train
• Valle Arizona: An Innovative Community
ª Cheshire Community Gets Creative about Improving Street Safety
• BLM/AZ RAC Meeting on Proposed Recreation Fees at Arizona BLM Sites
• Western Interstate Conference in Yosemite Highlights Partnership and Responsible Land Management
• Northern Arizona Tradition Continues … Next generation of Moon-Bound Astronauts Train at Babbitt Ranches.
• Mount Elden Trailhead Re-Opens
Frontiere Draft Concept Master Plan
Thank you to everyone who participated in our May Values and Vision workshop. Join us on June 13th, 10:00 a.m. to noon, at the Fort Tuthill County Park Mess Hall, to review the Draft Concept Master Plan. Share your insights and comments regarding this beautiful property and its continued use! For more information, click here.
Are you a science professional that works as a researcher, in medicine, engineering, environmental sustainability, any scientific field, or for a science institution? Bring your scientific concepts to a classroom right here in Flagstaff and make a difference in the lives of students.
When you present to students, they see and hear about novel scientific fields that aren’t covered in their textbooks and they learn directly from you, a specialist in the industry. This makes science more exciting, more real, and more accessible and interesting to students. When you demonstrate your enthusiasm and employ engaging displays you capture students’ attention and keep them actively involved in the learning process.
As we bid farewell to the bustling Memorial Day weekend, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated frontline staff. Your unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and enjoyment of visitors during this busy time does not go unnoticed. Thank you!
At the ECoNA Advisory Council meeting last week, we took a deep dive into programs dedicated to cultivating budding entrepreneurs in northern Arizona.
The initiatives range from a free entry-level program to help potential entrepreneurs determine if their innovative ideas could be commercialized, to loans and venture capital investments for early-stage businesses.
Cristy Salanga, Patent Manager at Northern Arizona University, discussed the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program, an immersive entry-level training program, which focuses on determining the potential customers of a business as well as the potential value proposition of a product or service.
Learn, feel, and take home the magic of wool and fiber at Arizona’s largest fiber arts festival, only in Flagstaff. 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 1, 2
Learn More
Summer Youth Clay Camp!
with Dennis Ott
Ages 8–12
June 24 – 28
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9am – 12pm / Friday 1 – 4pm
Come Play in the Clay!
Come spend the week playing in the “mud” with two ceramicists who love sharing their clay talents with young folks. Each student will have the opportunity to learn throwing skills on the potter’s wheel as well as create several hand-built projects. You will also learn how your clay projects will be fired and glazed.
No experience is necessary – just your willingness to come and have fun creating in clay.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
Please join CCC&Y for its next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 6. Our meetings provide our coalition partners with the opportunity to share the latest news about their projects that support children, youth and their families in Northern Arizona.
The Council meets the first Thursday of the month.
Want to be a guest speaker at our next meeting? Send an email to CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie at coalition@coconinokids.org to be placed on the agenda.
The CCC&Y Prevention Council has its roots in our long history of child abuse prevention, our most recent work with substance misuse prevention and our overall commitment to understanding the protective factors, resiliency research and assets our community needs to thrive.
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Community College’s nursing program recently celebrated the achievements of two of its graduates, Jennifer Swomley and Joseph McIntire. Each brings a unique background and a personal story of dedication to the nursing field, reflecting both the diversity and the challenges of modern healthcare education.
Jennifer Swomley, 27, moved from Colorado to Flagstaff in 2021, drawn not only by personal relationships but also by the strong reputation of Coconino’s nursing program. Initially interested in becoming a firefighter, influenced by her friends in the emergency services, Swomley’s career path took a pivotal turn after her experiences on an ambulance crew. These experiences exposed her to the realities and complexities of medical care, sparking a new passion for nursing. “I was drawn to the depth of patient interaction and the broader scope of care I could provide as a nurse,” Swomley explained.
Intermediate Watercolor
Monday, July 8 and Tuesday, July 9
12:15 – 5:30 p.m.
This class is for intermediate watercolorists. Learn techniques through demonstrations and guidance to help you plan and create successful compositions.
Watercolor – Learn more and register!
FLAGSTAFF — An overhaul to Flagstaff’s busiest trailhead and a brand-new mountain biking trail are just two recent improvements in the Mount Elden-Dry Lake Hills (MEDL) area.
The Mount Elden Trailhead reopened Thursday following eight weeks of construction with a new parking lot designed to accommodate 50 vehicles as well as additional visitor services.
“We’ve been working really diligently on improvements in the Mount Elden-Dry Lake Hills area, and we hope that work is apparent,” said Patrick McGervey, Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) Recreation and Wilderness Staff Officer. “We’re excited for the upcoming projects we have planned in the area for the coming months.”
This weekend we will mark a somber tradition that dates back to 1868, just three years after the end of the Civil War. Known then as Decoration Day, it was a time to honor those who perished in the conflict by adorning their graves with flowers. In 1971 the last Monday in May was established as Memorial Day.
We wish you a safe holiday weekend as we continue the tradition of honoring those who gave all so we could live in freedom.
Erika Acosta of Ash Fork Middle School has been named a 2024 “Esperanza” Latino Teacher Award winner by Chicano For La Causa (CPLC).
“(May 6), we honored four outstanding teachers at the 2024 Esperanza Latino Teacher Awards,” CPLC stated on its Facebook page.
Congratulations to our honorees from across Arizona: Erika Acosta, Margaret Gallego, Gabriel Robles, and Lilian Williams
You are not just teachers— you are mentors, role models, and an inspiration to all. Your passion and hard work shapes the future of our community
As we celebrate your well-deserved recognition today, we also celebrate the countless lives you have touched
Gracias to our sponsors: Salt River Project, Cox, Amazon Fire TV, Southwest Airlines, and HUB International”
FLAGSTAFF — Upon conclusion of a national search with 60 applicants, Coconino Community College today announced the selection of Dr. Sandra Hinski as the next Provost & Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Hinski will oversee the college’s academic programs, faculty and academic support staff. She will join the college on July 1, 2024.
Dr. Hinski has over 14 years of experience in higher education and over 25 years in various roles in the health professions. Dr. Hinski most recently served as the interim Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) at Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC), where she provided support and leadership to both instructional and occupational programs, as well as instructional support service areas.
ARTx: Art + Ideas Experience Arizona is a 10-day event, with art-centric activations across the city. May 23-26
Grand Canyon Unified School District high schoolers spent last week on a four-day whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River. Facilitated in partnership with Grand Canyon Youth (GCY), 20 students participated in the Diamond Down Expedition that covers the last 50 miles of the river through Grand Canyon National Park into Lake Mead Recreational Area. This is their third year the school has provided this experience for students. Grand Canyon National Park rangers Monique Navarro and Catrina Whitton were able to attend the trip which was coordinated by high school science teacher Forrest Radarian.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
As Summer rapidly approaches, it’s time for parents to start collecting resources for upcoming Summer Programs including food security, reading support and more throughout Coconino County.
Please check with individual organizations to confirm times, dates, other information.
The Coalition will continue to update this resource list. If you have a program you want us to include, please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org. Thank you. (Updated May 21, 2024).
SEE LIST OF PROGRAMS
NAU wins national hydropower competition
An interdisciplinary team of senior engineering students entered the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydropower Collegiate Competition to fulfill their capstone requirements—and won. The team, made up of three electrical engineering students and three mechanical engineering students, took first place in all three of the competition’s challenges—siting, design and community connections—earning first overall for the competition.
Summer Youth Clay Camp!
with Dennis Ott
Ages 8–12
June 24 – 28
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9am – 12pm / Friday 1 – 4pm
Come Play in the Clay!
Come spend the week playing in the “mud” with two ceramicists who love sharing their clay talents with young folks. Each student will have the opportunity to learn throwing skills on the potter’s wheel as well as create several hand-built projects. You will also learn how your clay projects will be fired and glazed.
No experience is necessary – just your willingness to come and have fun creating in clay.
LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP! STARTS TOMORROW!
Creating the Abstract Landscape
with Amanda Hawkins
May 22 – 24 : Wednesday – Friday, 9am – 3pm Daily
There is a sweet spot of overlap between the traditions of abstraction and contemporary landscape painting where mark-making and the implications of planar structure combine with color and light to create a magical realm of newly discovered space.
This workshop will help you transform Sedona’s beautiful scenery into loose and expressive abstract landscape paintings.
The focus of the ninth Regional Plan Committee meeting will be to discuss the draft Future Growth Illustration and initial Land Use Framework for the plan.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Growth Concept Survey! Your feedback is crucial. We are excited to share the preliminary results at the meeting and how they will be used to inform the Regional Plan’s Future Growth Illustration.
FLAGSTAFF — Nearly 80 students were recognized at the 2024 Hispanic Convocation held at Flagstaff High School on May 8, 2024.
The event included the introduction by Principal Libby Miller, the welcoming address by Ruby Sanchez Ramirez and the keynote address by Daniela Tirado Barva.
The Presentation of Students ceremony included Miller, Assistant Principal Frank Alvillar, Assistant Principal Matt Barquin and Athletic Director Jeannine Brandel.
A survey of parents indicated that children’s KinderCamp experience improved their knowledge of letters and sounds of the alphabet, made them better able to socialize with other children, and increased their ability to communicate with adults.
If you are interested in learning more about KinderCamp in Flagstaff or registering, please click here.
FLAGSTAFF — Three years ago, Joshua Singer bid farewell to his hometown of Flagstaff, Arizona, to embark on a solo journey to San Francisco. Armed with not one but two degrees – a fine arts degree and a general studies degree from Coconino Community College – Singer ventured into the vibrant arts scene of the Bay Area. Singer, now a seasoned resident of San Francisco and a student at the Academy of Art University, reflects on his experience since leaving Flagstaff.
Join us for short track racing on Wednesday May 15 from 5:00-6:30pm at the Puente de Hózhó Bike Park. This will be a fun short track race for bragging rights, swag, and to support a good cause.
$15 race entry donation gets you a race plate, entry into prize drawing, and the great vibes of supporting FLYRS getting more kids on bikes.
Bring cash for the 50/50 cash raffle where the winner takes home 50% of the cash and the other 50% goes to FLYRS
Carrying children on people’s backs is a common and practical method of transport and care in many cultures around the world. The aguayo (ah-gwah-yo) is the traditional and colorful carrying cloth used by parents in many regions of the world to carry babies on their backs. It’s a beautiful woven square piece of fabric that is wrapped around the caregiver’s back and secured in a way that allows the baby to be snugly held against the caregiver’s back. At the same time, it reflects the rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship of the region, a symbol of tradition and identity within indigenous communities.
The NAU VisualDESIGN Lab is a collaborative learning space where students in the NAU Visual Communication program work with community members as active partners on innovative design solutions that help bring brand awareness to local non-profits and university organizations. It has a proven history of creating recognized and lasting logos for many prevalent organizations in Flagstaff, including Coconino County, Flagstaff Festival of Science, and Flagstaff Shelter Services.
ARTx: Art + Ideas Experience Arizona is a 10-day event, with art-centric activations across the city. 12 a.m
Learn More
Embrace the wild and honor your untamed heart in Alaska while making memorable art.
July in Alaska is synonymous with gorgeous weather. So it comes as no surprise that flowers are at their prime, the wildlife is active and the days are warm in the land of the midnight sun.
We will mix colors in rich hues inspired by the lush landscape, and create mono prints on a Gelli plate. As we amass a stack of abstract printed paper we will choose our favorites to incorporate into our art journals for compositions featuring circles, symmetry and symbolism that are personalized and inspiring to each individual.
“With the generous support of the EAC Help America Vote College Program grant, the Coconino County Elections Department successfully organized a sticker design contest,” said Eslir Musta, Coconino County Elections Director. “This initiative not only deepened our partnership with Northern Arizona University but also motivated NAU students to join us at the polls, spreading these stickers far and wide. Furthermore, by integrating English, Navajo, Hopi, and Spanish languages into a single design, we celebrated and embraced the linguistic diversity of our community.”
Creating the Abstract Landscape
with Amanda Hawkins
May 22 – 24 : Wednesday – Friday, 9am – 3pm Daily
There is a sweet spot of overlap between the traditions of abstraction and contemporary landscape painting where mark-making and the implications of planar structure combine with color and light to create a magical realm of newly discovered space.
FLAGSTAFF — Community members spent a lively evening dancing, enjoying bowlfulls of posole, participating and having a good time during the annual Cinco de Mayo Dance, featuring Los Alambrados, held at the American Legion Mark A. Moore Post 3 on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
The event was presented by the American Legion Auxiliary and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
The following is a listing compiled by CCC&Y of upcoming summer camps in Coconino County. Contact individual programs for more information on their 2024 summer camps. (Updated May 6, 2024).
Please check with individual organizations to confirm times, dates, other information.
If your organization would like to be added to this listing, please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org
Dear Museum Friends,
Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy a vibrant array of activities we have lined up over the coming weeks. I’ll share some highlights but be sure to scroll down to see all the happenings at MNA.
International Museum Day is May 18 and we’re offering free admission all day long. It’s an ideal chance to enjoy the Museum exhibits and some special events alongside your friends and family – absolutely free of charge.
Get ready for the unveiling of a captivating new exhibit, The Grand Canyon Dragon Map. I had the opportunity to see this extraordinary geology map during a rafting trip on the Colorado River in 2022. It immediately drew me in with its intricate details, colors, and design. This exhibit delves into the creation of the map in the 1970s, its applications today, and the stunning geology it depicts. Whether you’re a geology buff, an admirer of the Grand Canyon, or someone who appreciates exquisite maps, this exhibit promises to be an engaging experience.
The where, why and how of water in space
Laura Lee, a Ph.D. student in astronomy and planetary science, is one of three graduate students to be selected for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program, a prestigious funding opportunity that supports students in STEM fields. Using a variety of techniques with instruments on Earth and in space, Lee is mapping water in the Solar System to better understand how and where this critical element is located on other celestial bodies. In addition to her groundbreaking research, Lee’s career goals include community education and promoting opportunities for women, people of color and first-generation students in planetary science.
View this email in your browser LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP! FIELD EXPEDITIONS Grand Canyon / Alaska Grand Canyon: Painting From the South Rim with Bill Cramer June 4 – 6 Tuesday – Thursday GRAND CANYON: PAINTING FROM THE SOUTH…
NACA accepts & provides services to all ethnic groups and all ages while focusing on whole-family health care. We pride ourselves in focusing on Native American health care, with the whole person in mind. Specialty care referrals are available for all patients. Referrals are also available to Native American patients through the Indian Health Services facilities in Flagstaff and in surrounding areas.
Vol 3 Issue 3
May – June 2024
Opening Reception of the Multicultural Park Sculpture Exhibition to be held at 9 a.m. Friday, May 17 at Elizabeth ‘Liz’ C. Archuleta County Park
United Way of Northern Arizona has launched a campaign to add 200 more children in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library by the end of this summer.
The free book program is available to all children from birth to five years old and does not have any income eligibility requirements. The country music icon started the program in 1995 to honor her father, a sharecropper in Tennessee.
“He was the smartest man I have ever known but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams,” she said.
The Imagination Library started in Parton’s home county with the goal of providing every preschool child there with a library of books to encourage a love of reading and learning.
The initiative was so successful that she began offering the program to any community that would support it financially. It now sends out more than 2 million free books each month to children around the world, mailing them directly to families.
Stroll throughout Downtown Flagstaff to see and purchase paintings, jewelry, woodwork, ceramics, and more! 5 p.m
Town of Tusayan Weekend of Festivities—May 3-5
The Town of Tusayan is sponsoring several astronomy events and a Cinco de Mayo festival May 3-5.
On Friday, May 3, there will be a free showing of ‘Deep Sky’ an IMAX film on the images from the Webb telescope, and the ‘Grand Canyon Rivers of Time’ at the IMAX theater at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, May 4, there will be a drone and light show after dusk at the Tusayan Sports Complex with telescope viewing available.
Tusayan’s second annual Cinco de Mayo celebration will take place on Sunday, May 5 at the Squire Resort. The fiesta takes place from 4 to 9:30 p.m., is family-friendly, free, and open to the community. There will also be lawn games, Mexican music and dancing, and a variety of authentic Mexican foods for guests to enjoy.
Make sure your family and friends can see you from the stands and decorate your grad cap! For inspiration, see how students from all majors have decorated their mortarboards in recent years.
