Hi, my name is Marna Bastian. I’m a park Guide at Grand Canyon National Park. On Saturday, March 24, 2012 Grand Canyon will be hosting its fifth annual Archeology Day, in honor of Arizona’s Archeology and Heritage Awareness Month. Our archeology day is intended to help park visitors learn more about those who had lived here long ago. Some of the special things we’ll be doing will be lots of different kids activities: making a pinch pot out of clay, doing a sifting activity for artifacts; so kids can learn a little bit about what archaeologists do. We’ll also be doing a scratch art activity which will kind of mimic a rock art petroglyph. We’ll be planting corn beans and squash. So, lots of fun activities between 10 AM and 4 PM on Saturday, March 24 at the Shrine of the Ages.

Hi, this is Ranger Libby Schaaf. In addition to the kids activities will have some special guest programs. Our park archeologist, Jason Nez, will be doing a demonstration of how to make a prehistoric pot and he will later be doing a hike on the Bright Angel trail to a petroglyph site. In addition we will have anthropology professor Chris Downum, from Northern Arizona University, giving an illustrated program with slides from our museum collection artifacts entitled, “Across the Ages, Images and New Discoveries in Grand Canyon Archeology. Be sure to catch that program because it represents a lot of new research on our Grand Canyon artifacts.

In addition, throughout the month of March, which is Archeology Month in the state of Arizona, we’ll be having special guest speakers doing evening programs, so please check our website for times details and locations of the special programs. We’ll have a Park Archeologist giving a talk, we’ll have guest speakers coming in to talk about rock art; some of our other cultural resource management staff will be presenting programs about current research as well; so please join us at the special Archeology Month programs. The theme this year is connecting past with present.

Throughout the day on Saturday, March 24, several ranger programs will highlight archeology including our rim walk at 9:30 at Verkamp’s Visitor Center, our Mather Point talk at 11 a.m, our 2 p.m. porch talk at Verkamp’s Visitor Center and the regularly scheduled Tusayan Ruins Walk at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The evening concludes with a fantastic program given by Shonto Begay, a master Artist In Residence who is going to talk about his contemporary paintings and his heritage growing up on the Navajo reservation; how that’s influenced him and his culture reflected in the paintings. Please join us for Archeology Day, we have a full program of all kinds of exciting activities for young and old alike. Thank you.

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We just want to day a few day hikes. Is one day enough? Also if you have been there, what else do I need to know before I go to the Grand Canyon/ what trails are the best for inexperienced hikers. Thanks

I applied for a camping permit recently to be able to camp at the bottom of the Grand Canyon for my upcoming vacation in June. I’m not positive if I will be able to get a permit for it. I heard a lot of people end up camping at the bottom regardless of the permit. I am unable to figure out what the penalty or fine is though.

2012 Grand Canyon Star Party: June 16-23. (22st Annual)

For eight days in June, park visitors to Grand Canyon National Park can explore the wonders of the night sky on Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim with amateur astronomers from across the country who will volunteer their expertise an offer free nightly astronomy programs and free telescope viewing.

On the South Rim, events will include a slide show nightly at 8:00 p.m., followed by telescope viewing behind the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Parking is available in lots 1 through 4, and the Village Route shuttle bus runs every half-hour until 11:00 p.m. To make sure you get a seat at the slide show, arrive a few minutes early.

On the North Rim, telescopes will be set up on the porch of the lodge every evening, with some possibility of daytime scopes available as well. Bulletin boards at the Visitor Center will list additional events such as star talks and special slide show programs in the Grand Canyon Lodge auditorium.

The event is free other than paying the park entrance fee of $25.00 per vehicle, good for 7 days of coming and going to either rim. No reservations are needed except for astronomers wishing to share their telescopes, who register through the astronomy clubs sponsoring the event. Come for a night, or for the whole 8 night-event. Explore the Grand Canyon by day, and the universe by night! http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm

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hikers descending down the bright angel trail into the grand canyon

am planning a trip to the Grand Canyon. Where are the best lookout spots?. Which city should I depart from?
I like to know which sections or parts of the Grand Canyon offer the most spectacular views. Also, which departing city offers the most convenient and fastest commute to the Canyon.