About Us

Grand Circle Field School (GCFS) is a nonprofit charitable organization providing, in partnership with the National Park Service and BLM, outdoor education for Grand Canyon–Parashant and Vermilion Cliffs National Monuments and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in northern Arizona and Southern Utah.

Photo (left): Hikers at Vermilion Cliffs NM.
Photo © 2004 Jan Kaplan.

OUR MISSION...

Formed by scholars, educators and enthusiasts who recognized the need for coordinated field education on the Colorado Plateau, Grand Circle Field School’s mission is to foster stewardship of the environment through active education and research about the natural and cultural history of the Colorado Plateau. By providing visitors an unparalleled educational experience, we help increase public awareness, understanding and appreciation of this magnificent region — thus helping to protect our precious public wildlands.

OUR VISION...

Field school for active outdoor education including hiking and rafting trips guided by instructors of archeology, geology, biology, botany, history, art, writing and photography.
Field school offering college credit for students engaged in independent studies, linking agency needs with student interests. Our highly qualified staff, the government agency and the accredited college will jointly manage academic guidance and project oversight.
Work service programs provide assistance on needed projects such as archeological surveys, revegetation, trail construction and maintenance through volunteer classes, student internship and youth programs.
Eco camp to provide on-site education, an ongoing research project, a launching point for expedition classes, a comfortable base camp for those who prefer a less physically demanding wilderness experience and easements to assure wildlife habitat, migration corridors and scenic views.

OFFICERS

Acting Chair: Judy Durzo
Vice Chair: Gary Ladd
Treasurer: Ron Hubert
Secretary: John Holmes

DIRECTORS
Ann Zwinger — Colorado Springs, CO
Natural history author and illustrator of prize-winning books, including John Burroughs Nature Writing Medal for Run, River, Run, Western Arts Federation Award for Downcanyon; A Natural History of the Grand Canyon; DHL from Carleton College, Colorado College, and University of Colorado; Orion Society John Hay Award for achievement in writing, conservation and education; Adjunct Professor, Colorado College; Instructor, Grand Canyon Field Institute, Canyonlands Field Institute, Catamount Institute, North Cascades Institute, Four Corners School of Outdoor Education; Board member of Catamount Institute; Emerita board member, Orion Society, Nature Conservancy, American Electric Power Company, Inc., Channel 6 (Denver PBS station).

Holly W. Taylor — Flagstaff, AZ
Holly worked for many years in finance for the federal government and the City of Atlanta and as an administrator for her husband's architectural firm in Atlanta. She has served on the boards of Literacy Volunteers of Coconino County, Flagstaff Cultural Partners, Master Chorale of Flagstaff and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Flagstaff. Raised on the East coast, Holly has found her home in the Southwest. She loves reading mysteries and camping in northern Arizona and learning more about its natural and cultural history.

Maggie Sacher — Verrmilion Cliffs, AZ
Resident and business owner at Vermilion Cliffs for over 19 years; Chairman, Coconino County Planning & Zoning Commission; member, Arizona Game and Fish Advisory Council; board member, Second Chance Animal Rescue; concerned citizen and advocate for the rural integrity of the Arizona Strip.

Gary Ladd — Page, AZ
Southwest photographer and author of many books, including Canyon Light, Grand Canyon: Time Below the Rim, and Lake Powell: A Photographic Essay of Glen Canyon NRA; photography showcased in Arizona Highways, National Geographic, Sierra, Omni and Smithsonian magazines; past board member Glen Canyon Natural History Association, John Wesley Powell Memorial Museum; recipient of the Grand Canyon Historical Society 2004 Pioneer Award for significant contribution to the understanding and knowledge of the Colorado Plateau.

Ron Hubert — Flagstaff, AZ
Environmental strategies consultant and educator, Executive Director, Hozho International; retired partner Deloitte Consulting and professor at USC’s business school; board service at Laughlin Ranch Sustainable Development Council, Haley & Aldrich, Museum of Northern Arizona, Center for National Policy, Planned Parenthood, Almansor Center; MBA (USC), Conservation Ecology (NAU), currently MS program in Environmental Science and Policy (NAU); author and speaker on business and environmental issues; 3rd generation Arizona ranching family; long distance runner.

Martha A. Harmon — Hartford, CT
An educator for over 28 years, Marti has been recognized for her innovative teaching techniques and ability to excite in her students a love for science. Named Teacher of the Year in 1999 for Charles County, Maryland, Marti teaches science and is the middle school science chairperson at Watkinson School in Hartford, Connecticut. Her love for the Western United States has inspired her to take her students on annual field trips to help them develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the beauty and natural history of the West. Marti earned a degree in Science Education from N.C. State University with post-graduate studies at the University of Maryland and other universities. Marti is a scuba diver and private pilot, and along with her husband, hosts a weekly roots music radio program for the University of Connecticut.

Alex Giorgio— Santa Fe, NM
Practicing psychotherapist, author and business consultant to leading entrepreneurs, entertainers and CEOs from Fortune 100 companies to dot com start ups. Alex has associated with The University of Arizona College of Medicine, The Center for Attitudinal Healing in Sausalito, California, and Canyon Ranch Health and Fitness Resort. He has presented seminars at MIT, Harvard Business School, Ford Motor Company's Leadership Development Center, the Frontiers of Science Conference in Amsterdam and IBM's Lotus Corporation.

Judy Durzo — Albuquerque, NM
Attorney, mediator and arbitrator; dedicated hiker of the Colorado Plateau; Board member of Grand Canyon Association, Wildlife Rescue of New Mexico, past vice-president of the board of Grand Canyon Association, past president New Mexico Zoological Society and travel guide Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Alaska.

Jane Cauvel, Ph.D.— Colorado Springs, CO Professor of Philosophy Emerita, past Philosophy Department Chair and Assistant to President,The Colorado College; teaching Eastern philosophy, culture and comparative thought and interdisciplinary comparison of Western world views with those of Navajo, Pueblo, Hopi, and Hispanic traditions; Board member, North Central Association of Schools, Colorado Springs School, Women's Educational Society; devoted camper, hiker, angler and environmentalist.

ADVISORY BOARD
Paul Babbitt — Flagstaff, AZ

William R. Heinrich — Boise, ID
Bill is a raptor biologist who has worked with and studied birds of prey in the US and internationally in Bahrain, Mexico, Colombia, Greenland, Guatemala, Italy, Panama, United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe. He is the Species Restoration Manager for The Peregrine Fund and oversees the Fund's Peregrine Falcon, Aplomado Falcon, and California Condor release programs.