Grand Canyon National Park
Key Messages – Week of November 29, 2021
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Omicron and Boosters
Last week the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, as a “Variant of Concern.” This new variant appears to have originated in the southern part of Africa. However, there have been reported cases in Canada, Australia, Israel, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Hong Kong, and now the United States (California and Minnesota).
President Biden has added some precautionary measures until we know more about the new variant and has restricted air travel from South Africa and seven other nations in the southern region of Africa. The best protection against Omicron is getting fully vaccinated — and getting a booster shot as soon as you can. The CDC recommends people follow prevention strategies, such as wearing a mask in public indoor settings and congested outdoor settings, washing your hands frequently, and physically distancing from others.
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Upcoming Vaccine Events-December 9 & 11
Two vaccine events will occur in Grand Canyon and Tusayan on Thursday, December 9. The vaccine event at Grand Canyon will be in the Grand Canyon Rec Center large event room from 10 a.m.-12 p.m (see full flyer here for more details). Similar to the November events, all three types of the COVID vaccine will be available, including booster doses. Please make sure you bring your vaccine card. Flu vaccines will also be available at this event. Vaccines for children ages 5-11 will not be available at this event, however, we are currently in discussions with the County to be able to provide a separate, standalone event for children ages 5-11 in the future.
At the Grand Canyon Clinic, a COVID-19 vaccine booster event will be held on Saturday, December 11. To schedule an appointment, please call the clinic directly.
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Arizona and Grand Canyon Community Statistics
Case numbers in Arizona decreased this week to 3,097 new cases per day compared to last week’s average of 3,991 per day. As of Tuesday, there have been a total of 272 cases in the 86023 zip code since the beginning of the pandemic (off these, approximately 74 cases are in the park).
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Reporting COVID symptoms is critical to limiting exposure and keeping our staff and community safe.
If you think you may have been exposed to COVID, regardless of your vaccination status, immediately isolate and report your situation to your supervisor and Public Health Consultant, Ronan King, and await their instructions. Following this protocol and Ronan’s instructions is extremely important so that any community spread can be contained as quickly as possible.
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Public Health Contacts
Ronan King, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service
For all email correspondence, please also cc: Chris Glime, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service
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Messages and Grand Canyon News
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All Employee Meeting and Community and Stakeholder Meeting Postponed
NPS All Employees:
Next week, Superintendent Keable and Deputy Superintendent Rowe request NPS employees attend one of two all employee meetings that will take place at the Shrine of the Ages auditorium on the South Rim and at the Coconino Building in Flagstaff. The plan had been to hold them on Monday, December 6. However, we’ve had to postpone them until later in the week. Please stay tuned for a calendar invite from the Public Affairs Office next week. For those unable to join in person, an attendee link for Microsoft Teams Live will be provided.
Community Members/Stakeholders:
The community and stakeholder meeting that was initially planned for Monday, December 6 at the Shrine of the Ages also has to be postponed until a later date. We will let community members and stakeholders know the new date, time, and location of the meeting once it becomes available.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.
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Prescribed Fire Updates for the Tusayan Ranger District and North Zone
Beginning December 2, the Tusayan Ranger District on the Kaibab National Forest will begin conducting small acreage burns east of Tusayan and adjacent to the park boundary. Some smoke will be visible in Tusayan and along Highway 64 in the early morning hours and will generally clear as surface temperatures increase with sunrise. For more information, see the Kaibab National Forest’s press release here. Also beginning today, fire managers on the North Zone (representing both GRCA and the Kaibab National Forest) will begin conducting test burns on the Slopes Project on the North Rim of the park. There is a planned ignition of 400-600 acres ignition beginning Friday and smoke will be noticeable through the weekend. Smoke will most likely settle in the canyon each evening through the late morning as long as the prescribed fire is active. For more information, see this week’s joint news release with the Kaibab National Forest.
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Join Astronomer in Residence, Dean Regas, for Night Sky Programs this weekend
Saturday, December 4, Constellation Talk
- Join Dean to learn the science, mythology, and history of the stars under one of the darkest night skies in the world. Meet outside of Grand Canyon Visitor Center, by the flagpole, at 7 pm. This session is open to the general public.
Sunday, December 5, Telescope Session for Grand Canyon Residents
- Join Dean Regas and Rader Lane for a mini-Star Party for locals. Several telescopes will be set up for viewing the most interesting objects in the night sky. Meet outside of Grand Canyon Visitor Center, by the flagpole at 7 pm.
These are outdoor programs, so dress warm. During the new moon, the maximum number of stars should be visible. (Program lengths: 1 hour for the Constellation Talk, and up to 2 hours for the Telescope Viewing session).
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South Rim District Report Available
See what South Rim Patrol has been up to lately and a special ‘thank you’ to the Tusayan Fire Department and Guardian Ambulance who provided crucial assistance following a significant motor vehicle accident on Hwy. 64/South Entrance Road on November 20.
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Grand Canyon Community Corner
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GCC Invites Community Members to Holiday Sale
From December 6-10, Grand Canyon community members can enjoy 30% off their total purchase at open GCC retail locations (8 a.m.-6 p.m.), and at their online store. Use promo code COMMUNITY at checkout for online orders: https://shop.grandcanyon.org/
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Holiday Giving Tree through December 10
Every year around the holidays, Delaware North has a Holiday Giving Tree set up near the front of the General Store adorned with angel ornaments. Each angel represents a local child that may need some extra help this holiday season.
Delaware North is asking the community to “adopt” an angel off the tree and purchase a gift for them this holiday season. This year, Delaware North received more than 150 children signed up for the program. The tree is up at the Canyon Village Market now and those interested in participating are asked to have gifts returned by Friday, December 10. More information, including a flyer is available here.
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KLC Gift Wrapping Fundraiser through December 16
Support the Kaibab Learning Center (a nonprofit daycare located in Grand Canyon) this holiday season by having all of your holiday gifts wrapped with no hassle.
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Current Operational Hours
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Please note: new operational changes are posted below in red.
South Rim
Xanterra
- Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Bright Angel Fountain and Coffee House, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Fred Harvey Burger, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Xanterra Food Truck, 11:30 am-3:30 pm.
Delaware North
- Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-9 p.m.
- Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 7 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Other
- Bright Angel Bikes, Rentals: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Cafe: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Grand Canyon Visitor Center Information Table: 9 a.m.-4 p.m, Thursday-Monday
- Grand Canyon Conservancy stores (Kolb Studio, Verkamps Visitor Center, Visitor Center Plaza, and Yavapai Geology Museum), 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
Desert View
- Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
- Desert View Watchtower, staffed by GCC, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
North Rim
- General Store-closed for season as of November 30
The following park closures remain in place:
- South Rim Visitor Center (indoors)
- Headquarters Information Desk
- Yavapai Lodge Restaurant
- Maswik Pizza Pub and the Arizona Steakhouse
- North Rim services (tentative reopen-May 15, 2022)
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Photo Credits (in order of appearance)
- Sunset from Hopi Point on November 23, 2021 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
- East of Desert View Watchtower (NPS Photo/L. Hodgson)
- Telescope during the 2016 Star Party at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
- South Rim Patrol and Grand Canyon PTA attend the community bike ride on November 27, 2021 (NPS Photo)
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