pwn-08-25-14

46 August 25, 2014Pinewood NewsNature Valley and National Geographic Visitor Center Open NewArizona National Scenic Trail Exhibitby Steele WotkynsThe Arizona National Scenic Trail will now be celebrated worldwide. The 800-mile-long Arizona Trail is showcased in a brandnew, large-scale exhibit at the National Geographic Visitor Center in Tusayan, near the entrance to the Canyon’s South Rim. Theexhibit, sponsored by Nature Valley, was unveiled to the public during an inspiring grand opening ceremony late in the afternoonof August 14.The new Arizona National Scenic Trail Exhibit fills the National Geographic Visitor Center’s interior courtyard and features a largemap of Arizona depicting the entire trail along with wall graphics explaining the Arizona Trail’s diverse terrain, plants and animals.“It’s like a virtual tour of the Arizona National Scenic Trail,” said Janet Rosener, General Manager, National Geographic VisitorCenter. “The display really captures the natural beauty that exists throughout the state, as well as the diversity of trail users whofind adventure on the Arizona Trail. We are sure that our visitors from around the world will take a great interest in the ArizonaTrail because of this exhibit.”Arizona Trail Association board members and staff, electedand agency officials and Pink Jeep Tours staff with JanetRosener, General Manager, National Geographic VisitorThe Arizona National Scenic Trail Exhibit grand opening was a wonderful and fitting eventwith speakers, dignitaries, plus board and staff members of the Arizona Trail Association.Janet Rosener of the Visitor Center made the opening remarks and served as emcee.Other speakers included Matthew Nelson, Arizona Trail Association Executive Director; ArtBabbott, Coconino County Supervisor District One; Greg Bryan, Mayor of Tusayan; VIPsfrom Pink Jeep Tours and teachers from the nearby Grand Canyon School. In addition tocommemorating the new Trail exhibit, the grand opening also highlighted Nature Valley’ssupport and their teamwork with the NGVC to support the Grand Canyon School. RomyMurphy of Pink Jeep Tours was introduced as the new volunteer maintenance steward fortrail section 37C of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Dippin' Dots Ice Cream was also onsite for the grand opening and they donated proceeds during the event to benefitthe Arizona Trail Association.Center (in white shirt) at the August 14th grand opening "We are pleased to be able to provide support both for raising worldwidecelebration of the new Arizona Trail Exhibit at the National awareness of the incredible majesty and diversity of the Arizona National ScenicTrail as well as contributions to our local school and community,” saidGeographic Visitor Center Grand Canyon.photo: Steele Wotkyns, WotkynsPRplusRosener. “This May we co-sponsored a community event supporting ArizonaTrail awareness and stewardship and last year the Grand Canyon School was given $1,300 by collecting Nature Valley granolabar box tops.”This May the National Geographic Visitor Center was also a gateway community event sponsor with other Town of Tusayan businessesof The Arizona Trail Trek. Accomplished Arizona hiker, Sirena Dufault, walked the entire Arizona Trail – from Arizona’sborder with Mexico, through the Grand Canyon to the Utah border – during two and half months raising funds for the nonprofit ArizonaTrail Association from online crowd funding and from donations at gateway community events.At the end of the gala grand opening in August, Ms. Dufault read a poem about the Arizona Trail by the late Dale Shewalter, thefather of the Trail. Shewalter first had the dream and the vision and then provided many years’ worth of energy and organizing toget the Trail built.“Each year, the Visitor Center receives hundreds of thousands of visitors,” said Matthew Nelson. “And for many it is their introductionto the natural wonders and human history found within Grand Canyon. Now, visitors will be surrounded by inspiring imagesand get an informative initial tour of the Arizona Trail the moment they step into the courtyard.”The National Geographic Visitor Center, located one mile south of the entrance to Grand Canyon National Park South Rim, andNature Valley are proud sponsors of the Arizona Trail Association and the Arizona National Scenic Trail Exhibit. An Arizona Trailsegment is only a few steps away from the National Geographic Visitor Center. The Visitor Center also provides visitors withGrand Canyon information, maps, park passes, Pink Jeep Tours and has an IMAX® Theater, which shows hourly the popularGrand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets film. Visit explorethecanyon.com and the Arizona Trail Association’s website (aztrail.org) formore information.