SRL On Assignment: Zion National Park

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Youth journalists report on STEM in one of the nation’s most beautiful national parks

A few months ago, the student reporting lab at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, Utah pitched a series of stories relating to STEM in Zion National Park. The pitches ranged from invasive species threatening the park’s native plants to how the National Park Service ensures millions of visitors each year are protected from flash floods and rock slides in the park. SRL Digital Producer Adelyn Baxter headed out to Utah in February to meet up with the class and accompany them on their reporting trip to Zion. 

(Photo by Adelyn Baxter)

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Day 1

After an early departure from SLC, Judge Memorial students arrived in stunning Zion in the afternoon and met up with a park ranger who led the team on a hike to Angel’s Landing, the 1,488-foot tall rock formation hosting some of the park’s most spectacular (and nerve-wracking) views. 

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Nora Bonk, a sophomore at Judge Memorial and an astrophotography enthusiast, took these photos on our first day in Zion. Check out her flickr account to see more of her work!

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Judge Memorial’s youth reporters made Instagram videos documenting each day of the trip.

“BDP - Zion National Park🐾. 

Day 1: Angel's Landing 👼⛺️ 

Song by Sunflower Bean”

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Day 2 

The groups split off early to pursue various shooting locations and subjects for their individual stories. 

Some students headed for the Narrows, a scenic slot canyon known for its dangerous conditions during flash floods. Others checked out Weeping Rock and interviewed park visitors and rangers at the Visitor Center or examined ancient petroglyphs along hiking trails for signs of vandalism. Teamwork was key as students took turns protecting cameras from the rain. 

NPS Geologist Michael gave students a walking tour of the canyon and explained some of the geological features that make Zion unique, such as the black sheen on canyon walls known as desert varnish, the way Zion’s unique “hanging gardens” form and the fact that much of the water cascading from dozens of waterfalls throughout the canyon has been filtering through rock for thousands of years!

(Photos by Adelyn Baxter)

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This trip was the first time I’d ever been to a national park. For me, the views were the best part, seeing all the cliffs and rivers and plants during wintertime. I loved going to the Temple of Sinawava to get footage for our story on flash floods and interviewing a park ranger who gave us a great interview about flash floods.

Sean Hemmersmeier, Judge Memorial Catholic High School

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“BDP in Zion🏜 

Day 2 ⛰⛰ 

Song by Sunflower Bean”

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Day 3

With a 5 hour bus ride back to SLC awaiting them and school the next day, the youth reporters from Judge Memorial packed up early for the trip home (after snapping a couple more photos). 

Special thanks go to Zion National Park and John Marciano for facilitating this trip, Coach James Cordova and Dave Allen for help with chaperoning and of course Chris Sloan for his continued dedication to teaching these youth journalists!

Check in with @reportinglabs and @thebulldogpress on Twitter for updates on the final stories!

(Photos by Adelyn Baxter)

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The trip down to Zion National Park was an amazing experience for many reasons. Not only was it a great group of students and mentors adventuring around one of Utah’s beautiful national parks, but each student group was able to have a real experience interviewing and filming for their own story. SRL was very helpful mentoring and teaching us how to make the best possible video for our story. Without overstepping, they allowed us to make all of the calls, using their knowledge to guide us in the right direction. My group’s story on transportation was filmed all throughout the park and our SRL mentor trekked everywhere with us, even in the rain and mud. The trip was so much fun with hiking (even in the rain), exploring and filming throughout the park.

Chloe Schafer, Judge Memorial Catholic High School

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“We miss and love you Mr. Sloan!!❣ @sloanpix . BDP in Zion -Day 3🌄 Thank you to @studentreportinglabs . Song by Sunflower Bean”