In June, a group of students from ACCESS Schools got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hike the Grand Canyon, as well as visit several other attractions in the area. The group was led by Candace Chappell, an instructor at ACCESS who was selected by the Discovery Student Adventures program to lead trips such as this. Hosted by Discovery Education, the educational field trips promote unparalleled access to unique landscapes, people, food and wildlife.

“It was just educational from the moment we were picked up to the moment we left,” Chappell said. Her group consisted of 11 students, mostly students from her 6-8 grade class at ACCESS, along with a few siblings and friends. Some of the students had disabilities such as ADHD, Asperger’s Disorder and various learning disabilities. Joining them onthe trip were groups of students from Alaska and Indiana and one student from Pennsylvania, who won the trip through a Discovery Education photography competition.
Chappell said she was excited to provide this trip for her students because many of them aren’t able to participate in typical summertime activities. “A lot of my families can’t go drop their kids off at just any camp,” she said. The parents often worry that counselors won’t understand their children’s different abilities, she explained.

But while the trip would be one where her students were well-protected and understood, Chappell also made clear that it would not be for everyone. There would be many physically and mentally strenuous activities, so Chappell said she clearly explained what the requirements would be and let the parents choose whether their children should participate.

The trip consisted of six days in Arizona, where students got to explore a variety of cultures and environments. They hiked the Grand Canyon, led by personal guides from the Discovery program who told stories and gave insight about the geography along the way. “Some of [the students] were just amazed at the Grand Canyon. They just had no idea how vast it was,” Chappell said.

The group also visited the spectacular Biosphere 2 facility north of Tucson. This research center, operated by the University of Arizona, is a 40-acre campus with five thriving, diverse ecosystems completely concealed under glass. Students got to visit an ocean with a coral reef, Mangrove wetlands, a tropical rainforest, Savannah grassland and a fog desert. Scientists use this facility as a controlled environment for biologial research. It is also open to the public daily.

Next, the group spent three days on a dude ranch, where they took trail rides and assisted park rangers by taking a census of declining cacti. Students got to serve as real scientists, doing hands-on work and using measuring sticks to examine the cacti plants.

They also visited the Old Tucson Movie Studios, the setting for more than 300 movies and TV productions, including many John Wayne westerns and modern classics. Students watched actors perform reenactments and movie stunts, saw a variety of costumes and designs and rode a train through the old Boone town. The students also visited the Pima Air & Space Museum, the Kartchner Caverns and the Lowell Observatory.

Chappell is already busy planning next summer’s trip. She will be taking a group of students to Yellowstone National Park. The trip is open to any student entering grades 5-9. For information, contact Chappell at CChappell@AccessSchools.org.