As fall settles across the Bears Ears region, we’re taking a moment to look back at one of the highlights of our summer — the 4th Annual Bears Ears Conservation Corps (BECC).
This summer, the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition (BEITC) brought together Tribal youth and elders from across the five Coalition Tribes for a week of learning, connection, and stewardship on their ancestral homelands. The BECC fosters intergenerational knowledge-sharing and helps strengthen relationships between people and place, carrying forward values of care and respect that define the Bears Ears landscape.
We were honored to have 16 participants representing four of the five Coalition Tribes join us for a week-long expedition across Bears Ears National Monument. Together, they learned traditional survival skills, deepened their understanding of Indigenous stewardship, and built lasting bonds with one another and the land.
On the first day, BEITC staff and participants traveled from around the Southwest to gather at the recently reopened Canyon Country Discovery Center (CCDC) in Monticello, UT, where participants met one another for the first time and received camping supplies for their journey. The CCDC served as a basecamp where participants were onboarded to the program. Throughout the duration of the program, the Corps would utilize CCDC campus’ classrooms, campsites, showers, and kitchen facilities.
On the second day our group set out on our first adventure: an amazing two-day river rafting journey down the San Juan River, led by the Native-owned and operated organization, Ancient Wayves. The trip began at the Sand Island Campground nearby Bluff, UT. After a basic rafting orientation and safety demonstration, our group pushed off the shore and began paddling down the San Juan. The participants explored sacred places along the river, swam in the cool water, and learned about the ecological, geological and cultural significance of the river. Traveling in rafts, we carried our own gear, food, tents, water, and supplies, practicing Visit With Respect principles throughout the journey. Though strong winds made setting up camp a challenge, we ended the day with a delicious group meal cooked by our wonderful river guides and slept under a beautiful starlit sky.
Bears Ears Conservation Corps Participants
The following morning, we packed up our camp, making sure to “Leave No Trace”, and set back out on the water. Along the way we stopped for a hike up the towering canyons where the terrain was rough and steep. The views at the peak were worth our efforts as we were able to look out over the stunning Bears Ears landscape. Upon making one last stop for lunch, we were fortunate enough to see river otters swimming alongside the rafts. Eventually, we completed our journey, paddling a total of 27 miles to the town of Mexican Hat, UT.
BECC Participants Arriving at the Final Stop for Lunch, Mexican Hat in Background
After packing up, our group returned to the CCDC to take part in a butchering workshop led by Melanie and Micah Daniels of the Navajo Nation. The presenters shared the knowledge they inherited from their family on butchering to ensure that every part of the animal was utilized, with the participants helping butcher, clean, cut, and prepare various traditional Navajo dishes. After all the preparation was completed, our group was able to enjoy a traditional feast that everyone had contributed to. Following the butchering presentation, our team packed up and drove back to the Monument. We traveled to Kigalia Campground, just a few miles away from the Bears Ears Buttes, to set up camp.
BECC Participant Grilling During the Butchering Workshop
On the fifth day, the BECC set out to learn about invasive plant removal and to use their new knowledge in the removal of tamarisk found in the Speaking Springs Preserve which is owned and managed by the Wildlands Conservancy. While traveling to Speaking Springs, one of our vehicles got a flat tire. Although it was an unfortunate delay, it became a valuable learning experience for our participants as they had the opportunity to learn how to safely change a tire. It was an important reminder of the challenges that come with visiting remote landscapes and the need to be well-prepared when traveling through rugged terrain with little to no cell service.
Despite the detour, we eventually arrived at Speaking Springs to meet with Dave Herrero of the Wildlands Conservancy. There, the group discussed the ecological challenges posed by invasive species like tamarisk and Russian olive, which crowd out native plants, drain riparian zones of much needed water and impact wildlife habitat. With guidance from one of our BECC participants, Max Taylor, who is an ethnobotanist from the Hopi Tribe, the group conducted a brief tamarisk removal project. Participants cut and stacked dead branches from tamarisk trees along a drainage channel, a process which will help to mitigate future flooding and prepare the area for the introduction of Native plants. Participants also cleared illegally dumped tires from the landscape, a stark reminder that not everyone treats the land with the care it deserves. Although it was a small project, it was a chance to offer reciprocity to this sacred place which continues to provide us with so many experiences and memories.
After departing Speaking Springs and returning to camp for dinner, the participants were eager to keep exploring the Monument. Unfortunately, our previous technical difficulties had put us far behind schedule and the sun was setting quickly. However, participants were so passionate about seeing as much as they could, we ultimately decided to travel to the cultural site known as House on Fire. Our group’s determination allowed us to persevere as we navigated the path in the dark, guided by our headlamps and the natural formation of the canyon. It was another truly unique and remarkable experience.
Participants Stretching the Sheep Hide
On the final day of the program, participants took part in a hide tanning workshop presented by Jay Begay. Using the dried hide of the sheep we had butchered a few days earlier, the group learned how to soften and preserve the hide and successfully completed the tanning process together. As a gesture of gratitude, the participants gifted the Coalition with the finished hide, decorated with their painted handprints. Their gift was a reflection of their work, learning, and connection to one another. After packing up camp and cleaning the site to ensure we left no trace, we returned to Bluff, UT, for a well-earned shower and a closing group dinner filled with reflection.
All in all, the 2025 BECC was another incredibly successful program. Knowledge was shared, skills were acquired, and new cross-cultural bonds were formed among our participating member Tribes. The Coalition is grateful for the support we receive from our partner organizations, community members, and supporting staff who make the BECC possible!
For more information about the BECC visit our project page.
BECC Campsite
