from the logistics coordinator

Sarana Schell, M.S.

Dear Partners, Participants and Families,

Thank you for another wonderful year!

The Second-Year Academy is our most complicated, with a host of national park permits and tours to arrange, as well as the standard bus charter, hotel reservations and meals for around 50 people, across four states. Thus, it wasn’t the most convenient year for some of our staff and a handful of students to test positive for COVID a few days after we arrived in the Lower 48, but that’s what happened. Happily, all students were asymptomatic.

With some students and staff in quarantine, logistics for the group that continued took a little longer to execute. Everyone had to call up a little extra patience, and I was impressed with, and grateful for, how well students adjusted and stepped up when we asked them to take on more responsibility for maintaining our schedule and a positive attitude.

It was heart-warming to see their comments in the thank-you notes they wrote to sponsors, including “I learned so much. I appreciate everything on this trip.” “Thank you for giving us kids an opportunity to learn and explore more into the Geology field.” “I’ve grown academically...” “I had fun traveling and making new memories.” “My favorite place was Lower Antelope Canyon… It felt like a dream.” More quotes are on pages 19 and 20.

It was truly an honor and a pleasure to share this geoscience learning adventure with our team of great students and staff.

— Sarana Schell