San Juan River/Canyon Country Discovery Center

“Say that I starved, that I was lost and weary, that I was burned and blinded by the desert sun, footsore, thirsty, sick with strange diseases, lonely and wet and cold, but that I kept my dream!”  ― Everett Ruess, Artists, Writer, & Poet. 1914-1934

Sunset. Second night camp.  San Juan River.

2022-2023 School Year

Our sixth graders kick off the year by spending five days in southern Utah with the Canyon Country Discovery Center. This is a culminating experience students work towards from the time they enter kindergarten and builds upon their fifth grade experiences at Teton Science School.  Students spend their first night at the newly built Canyon Country Discovery Center (map) in Monticello, Utah learning about the Colorado Plateau and gazing through their massive telescope.  They then spend two nights three days camping and rafting the gentle currents of the San Juan River from Sand Island Campground (near Bluff) to Mexican Hat, Utah (map).  Along the way, students explore Ancestral Puebloan ruins and pictographs--immersed in the ancient civilizations aspect of the social studies curriculum and astronomical and ecosystem components of the science curriculum. There are also multiple math connections and a strong writing component.  

Professional river guides supervise our sixth graders along with four EBLS faculty members, bringing the student to adult ratio to about 3:1 while we are on the river.  All students will be required to wear Type V life jackets (which are provided) at all times on the water.  Students will be assigned to boys and girls tents with five to six students in each tent and chaperones in separate tents nearlby.  We chose September for this field experience for the lower, stable river flows, and cooler temperatures.

Fall 2022 San Juan Checklist

 1) Please fill out this RSVP form indicating if your student is participating or not. 
 2) Complete legal Waiver  
 3) Complete Medical Form 
 4) Make contribution (See parent letter below for costs and suggested donation amounts). If you need financial assistance, please contact Mr. Justis.

Important Information  Parent letter regarding overnighters and costs  Waiver (required)  Medical Form (required)  Packing List (Tents and Life Jackets are provided) Packing Video Contributions (use the fields in the right-hand column and select "San Juan Experience"--you can set up your contribution for multiple smaller payments or one lump sum of $435.)   Feedback Fall 2022 Dates & Photo Updates      Baggaley Sept 12-16?      Jenkins Sept 19-23?       Depart Monday at 8:30 AM (please arrive by 8:15 AM). Return to EBLS by 5 PM on Friday. Photo archives from past years are linked below	Curriculum Connections Ancestral Puebloans who lived along the San Juan River were closely linked to the elaborate Chaco Canyon culture.  Hole in the Rock Trail Historic Bluff Fort Weather outlook  Canyon Country Discovery Center Campus Map Sample Menu San Juan River Flows Canyon Country Discovery Center Nonprofit Rating Road Map
Tiger Wall. San Juan River.  Photo: Eric Newell	Eight Foot Rapid.  San Juan River.  Photo: Eric Newell
San Juan River, Utah  Photo: Eric Newell	River House.  San Juan River.  Photo: Eric Newell

2021 Fall Phto Archives: Baggaley Sept 2021     Jenkins Sept 2021
2021 (Spring) Archives:   April 2021           May 2021
2019 Photo Archives:      Jenkins 2019        Baggaley 2019
2018 Photo Archives:      Baggaley 2018     Jenkins 2018
2017 Photo Archives:      Baggaley 2017     Jenkins 2017