Blog: Uranium Mining Near the Grand Canyon Pollutes our Water and Impacts Nearby Communities

Like many Arizonans, I love to travel with my daughter to the Grand Canyon to take in its natural glory and reignite our connection to this special place. As a child, my family couldn’t afford to take expensive vacations, but visits to the Grand Canyon were accessible to us. Continuing this family tradition with my daughter, I experience great joy watching her eyes light up with the night sky full of bright stars. But as we adjust to the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, I worry about public health. As a parent and community member, now more than ever there is a responsibility to engage in issues that threaten the health of future generations.

#MyGrandCanyonStory | Viviana Reyes

HECHO spoke with Viviana Reyes of Flagstaff, Arizona to learn about her personal connection to the Grand Canyon, her favorite memories there, and why she believes the Grand Canyon should be protected from uranium mining.

HECHO: What is your personal connection the Grand Canyon

Viviana Reyes (VR): As far as my personal connection to the Grand Canyon, I was born and raised in Arizona. I grew up in Phoenix, and, as a child, the Grand Canyon was one of the only places that we were really able to visit. For one, it’s in our home state and it was really close. And, also, it’s kind of an affordable place to visit in the sense that we would just kind of get together as a family and drive. One of the first times I got to visit was with an uncle and it was super breathtaking and beautiful. I remember thinking that it wasn’t real, that it just looked like a picture, like a postcard almost.

Press Release: New Recommendations Risk Public Health and Safety, Invites Uranium Mining at the Grand Canyon

FLAGSTAFF (April 23, 2020)—Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) opposed new recommendations released today from the Nuclear Fuels Working Group citing the audacity of its claims that the U.S. Government ought to “revive and strengthen the uranium mining industry” by streamlining “land access for uranium extraction”—a move that could open up uranium mining outside the Grand Canyon.

Op-ed: The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Will Keep Us Connected to Nature

The desire to connect with the outdoor world runs deep in my family. My grandfather owned a farm in Mexico, where my father and his brothers worked the land daily. My mother grew up in Guatemala, surrounded by green trees, quetzal birds, and volcanoes. When my parents reminisce about their childhoods, their favorite stories all happened outside.

Op-ed: My daughter and I love to explore Arizona, but it may soon get harder (for all of us)

When my daughter, Vida, was 3, she wanted to go on an adventure.

We packed up our backpacks with snacks, notebooks, crayons and water, and set out to explore the outdoors. We headed to Phoenix’s Piestewa Peak to climb rocks and investigate various plants and animals, and had an inspiring day that sparked our curiosity for the natural world right in our own backyard.

Vida is 8 now and a proud member of the Girl Scouts, where I also work. I watch as she and her troop members learn new skills, push the boundaries of their imaginations and nurture their connections to the earth.

I am also struck when I see Latino families in Phoenix grow closer each year when we gather at South Mountain Park to go camping, practice archery and cook dinner on the open fire. All of the generations bond for this special experience in the outdoors that is becoming increasingly rare in our urban culture.

Blog: Enjoying the Outdoors, December 2018

In honor of the LWCF, we asked some of our HECHO Board Members to share their favorite places that have benefited from the LWCF in this edition of Enjoying the Outdoors. Read on for their great tips on where to visit this holiday season and throughout the year.

Blog: Enjoying the Outdoors, October 2018

We love this time of year-- the changing colors of the leaves and the cooler temperatures make being outdoors that much more exciting. It’s a wonderful time to hike, bike, hunt, and fish on our beautiful public lands, and we wanted to start sharing around some of our favorite places to visit. We're starting with some adventures we like for October in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah from Al, Rebecca, and Viviana, and we will be sending out new recommendations over the coming months.

We hope you like our "Enjoying the Outdoors" recommendations. If you are inspired, we invite you to share places you enjoy and would like to recommend to the HECHO community!

Blog: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Engaging people in our rich history not only protects Hispanic culture, it also reminds people of the important role the community has played in this country’s evolution and often inspires them to get more involved in activities that help strengthen our communities.

Camilla SimonSeptember 2, 2015Hispanic Heritage Month, Antiquities Act, National Monuments, Viviana Reyes, Advisory BoardComment

Guest Blog: How One Adventure Turned Into A Love For The Outdoors

Some of my favorite memories with my daughter, Vida, have been watching her as she explores her surroundings and challenges her own physical limits. At four years old, she has become acutely aware of her environment, even showing concern for the smallest creatures and things. It was Vida, in fact, that brought our love of hiking to our family.

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