>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE IMPACT OF A REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL TO REPLACE THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX WITH THE 30% NATIONAL SALES TAX AND SPIKES IN ABSENCE RATES.

A A VARIETY OF CLASSES AND TOURS FROM THE GRAND CANYON.

THAT'S NEXT ON THE "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> Announcer: THIS IS FROM THE PBS AND MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

A SIXTH MEMPHIS POLICE OFFICER REMOVED FROM DUTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF TYRE NICHOLS AND NOT CLEAR WHAT ROLE THE OFFICER PLAYED AND THE MEMPHIS POLICE OFFICER SAID HE WAS PLACED ON LEAVE THE SAME DAY FIVE OTHER OFFICERS WERE SUSPENDED AND THE OTHER OFFICERS ARE ALL FACING MURDER CHARGES.

>>> KIDS WORLD-WIDE LOST 35% OF LEARNING AND IT WAS PRONOUNCED FROM LOW, SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND STUDENTS HAVE NOT RECOVERED FROM THE SETBACKS AND LONGER SCHOOL YEARS IN AND EFFORT TO GET THEM BACK ON TRACK AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON EDUCATION IN JUST A MOMENT.

AND FINALLY, WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS LOOKS LIKE?

A BEAR, MAYBE A TEDDY BEAR?

IT'S THE SURFACE OF MARS IN A PHOTO TAKEN BY THE MAR'S RECONAISSANCE ORBITTER USING A CAMERA BY THE ARIZONA ASTRANDERS.

THE SNOUT IS A COLLAPSED MUD VENT AND THE CIRCLE IS A SURFACE FRACTURE THAT STRETCHES ONE AND A QUARTER MILES.

>>> A GROUP OF REPUBLICANS IN THE U.S. HOUSE PUSHING TO ELIMINATE THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND REPLACE IT WAY A 30% SALES TAX AND NOT WITHOUT CRITICS AND JOINING US WITH THE FAIR TAX ACT AND DENNIS HOFFMAN AND GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> TED, GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Ted: 30% SALE'S TAX OR MAYBE HAGGLING.

>> IT'S 30.

>> Ted: WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> LET'S BEGIN WITH THE ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THIS MOVEMENT AND THE PHILOSOPHY IS THAT INCOME TAX, STIFLE INCENTIVES AND THAT IMPEDE THE ABILITY FOR CAPITAL, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ENTREPRENEURIAL AND SO THAT WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM INCOME TAXES AND WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM ESTATE TAXES.

AND WE NEED TO MOVE MORE TOWARDS CONSUMPTION TAXES.

THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM, BUT THEN IT GETS INTO, WOW, THAT GETS INTO THE WEEDS.

THIS 30, YOU TAKE A DOLLAR OF TAXABLE ITEMS AND ADD 30%, 30 CENTS AND 30 DIVIDED BY $1.30 IS 23%.

IN ORDER TO GET TO THE 23% ONE HAVE TO PUT 30% TAX ON IT.

>> Ted: GOTCHA AND THIS INCLUDES A PRE-BATE TO PAY FOR THE ESSENTIALS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH RESPECT TO THE UNBELIEVABLE REGRESSIVITY AT THE LOWEST INCOME LEVEL AND YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, DREAM UP A REBATE PROGRAM OR AN EXEMPTION PROGRAM AND FOLKS AT LOW INCOME LEVELS TO CARRY AROUND CARDS AND SWIPE THEM AT THE TAIL.

OR YOU PAY EVERYBODY IN ADVANCE A SMALL AMOUNT.

>> Ted: FOR THE ESSENTIALS, ESPECIALLY FOR -- >> AN ATTEMPT TO MITIGATE THIS REALLY DIFFICULT REGRESSIVITY PROGRAM.

>> Ted: IS THIS IS A NEW IDEA IN.

>> NOT AMONG, YOU KNOW, SUPPLY SIDE, THIS VENOMOUS ATTACK ON THE INCOME TAX THAT HAS DOMINATED A LOT IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND WE'RE ON A RELENTLESS AGENDA AND WE'VE GONE A LONG WAY.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THIS IS CONCERNED.

,, CRITICS SAY IT SHIFTSTHE TAX BURDEN ON THE MIDDLE CLASS, DO THEY HAVE A POINT.

>> IF I'M A PROPONENT, I WOULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT TO THE TOP HALF OF THE -- OR CERTAINLY THE TOP 10% PAY A HUGE SHARE OF THE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX AND THE BOTTOM 50% PAY VERY, VERY LITTLE, WHICH IS WHY, THINK, THEY'VE ALSO ADDED TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL, TED, THE ELIMINATION OF THE PAYROLL TAX.

SO THE 6% FICA TAX THAT'S MATCHED BY YOUR EMPLOYER.

AND THEY'LL ELIMINATE THAT, AS WELL.

WHAT'S NOT SO CLEAR IS THAT, HOW DO WE FUND SOCIAL SECURITY, THEN?

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU FUND A LOT OF THINGS.

>> RIGHT.

>> Ted: WOULD IT NOT HURT SENIORS MORE THAN, PERHAPS, THAN THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE HILL?

>> IT'S A REAL CHANGE.

WE'VE ALL PLANNED AND PAID OUR TAXES.

WE'VE BOUGHT A HOUSE, LET'S SAY, AND A BIG MORTGAGE DEDUCTION AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE CONVINCED OURSELVES THAT WAS RATIONAL, WE KNEW WE COULD GET AN INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION AND SAVE MONEY HOW AN INDIVIDUAL MONEY ON INCOME TAXES AND YOU CAN'T SAVE A NICKEL ANYMORE, BUT WHEN YOU BUY SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO ADD 30% TO IT.

>> Ted: SO TAKE THAT ASPECT AND EVERY TIME YOU BUY SOMETHING, THERE'S 30% ADDED AND WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE ECONOMY AND MARKETS AND BUYING AND SELLING?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS.

BUT THIS IS ANOTHER NUANCE WITH RESPECT TO THIS.

YOU KNOW, OUR BASIC ESTIMATES SAYING THE STATE OF ASS ARE ARIZONA SAY THE BYES PAY 40% AND HOW?

THE UTILITIES AND THE SUPPLIES AND USED TAXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEY PAY A LOT OF SUPPLIES LIKE THAT AND SO THEY PAY A LOT OF SALE'S TAXES UNLESS THEY'RE EXEMPT.

THE AVERAGE DAY AT THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE IS FAILED WITH PEOPLE MARCHING IN SAYING I'M A SMALL BUSINESS AND I NEED A TAX EXEMPTION.

MANY ARE SUCCESSFUL.

CAN YOU IMAGINE CONGRESS?

THERE'S AN ENTIRE CORE OF LOBBIESTS THAT WILL DESCEND ON CONGRESS SAYING IT'S UNFAIR TO PUT THIS 30% TAX ON SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE EXEMPTION AFTER EXEMPTION AND THE MORE EXEMPTIONS THAT YOU LAYER ON, THE MORE REVENUE YOU LOSE.

>> Ted: WHAT DOES IT DO TO CERTAIN INDUSTRIES?

THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY AND APPLIANCES AND HOME, REAL ESTATE?

>> 30% MORE FOR THE BIG TICKET THING, YEAH.

>> Ted: SO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT IS, YOU HAVE MORE MONEY TO BUY?

>> THINK ABOUT THIS,.

>> Ted: ,, TED,THEY'LL GET RID OF THE IRS AND NO FEDERAL AGENCY THAT COLLECTS IT AND YOU LEAVE IT TO THE STATES.

WELL, I MEAN, I KNOW A LOT OF HARD-WORKING FOLKS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND I DON'T KNOW THE AUDITORS VERY WELL, AND I SUSPECT THEY'RE HARD WORKING AND THEY'RE UNDERFUNDED AND BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THAT DOESN'T LIKE TAX COLLECTORS AND SO THEY'RE VERY UNDERFUNDED AND THOSE FOLKS NEED RESOURCES AND THEY NEED HELP AND THE FEDS WILL BE RELIANT ON OUR DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO COLLECT THE FEDERAL TAX HERE IN ARIZONA.

AND THE FEDS WILL SAY, OH, BUT WE GIVE YOU MONEY FOR THAT.

WELL, GUESS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FEDERAL MONEY COMES SPOT STATE OF ARIZONA?

YOU THINK IT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE DOR?

>> Ted: LET'S QUESTION HERE.

IS THIS REALISTIC?

THIS SOUNDS VERY -- OBVIOUSLY, IT'S REVOLUTIONARY IN A CERTAIN RESPECT AND WE'VE HEARD SOMETHING ALONG THESE LINES, BUT THIS IS KIND OF -- IS SPEAKER MCCARTHY GOING TO HEAR THIS AND WE KNOW BIDEN WILL VETO THIS?

>> IT WON'T GET OUT OF THE SENATE, FIRST OF ALL.

IT COULD GET GET THROUGH THE FILIBUSTER?

HE MIGHT GIVEN HIS FRAGILE MAJORITY AND NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO POLITICS AND YOU CAN GET SOMEBODY ELSE IN HERE.

>> Ted: JUST THE FACT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AND PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT MEANS IT HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LIFE.

[ Laughter ] >> THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LIFE.

[ Laughter ] >> DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT SILLY.

>> Ted: THANK YOU.

A NEW REPORT LOOKS AT INCREASING ABSENTEEABSENT RATES AMONG ARIZONA SCHOOL CHILDREN.

>> Ted: CHRONIC ABSENTEE RATES AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN SPIKED IN 2021 PARAMEDIC TO PRE-PANDEMIC SCHOOL YEARS AND NEARLY ONE IN FIVE STUDENTS MISSED MORE THAN 10% OF THE 2021 ACADEMIC YEAR.

PAUL LUNA IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HELIOS FOUNDATION AND HE'S HERE WITH THE STUDY AND HOW TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.

PAUL, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THIS REPORT ON ABSENTEE RATES, IT'S NOT A ADVISE, IS IT, THAT 2021, THEY SPIKED AND SPIKED AS MUCH AS THEY DID?

>> STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, THIS WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS REPORT AND WHAT YOU IDENTIFIED, THE SPIKE THAT HAS INCREASED, IT'S NOT LOWERING AND SO, IT IS A TREND AND SO WHAT WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IS NOW, I THINK, EMERGING NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY AS A CRISIS.

IT'S STUDENTS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO.

TO YOURTO.

TO YOUR POINT, ONE IN FOUR STUDENTS IN OUR K-8 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MISSING SCHOOL, THAT'S BECOMING A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR THE POINT THAT YOU SAID EARLIER, AND WE'RE SEEING LEARNING LOSS AND CHALLENGES THAT RESULTED IN THE IMPACT ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT WE'RE SEEING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BECOME MORE CONCERNING TO MANY OF US.

THERE'S MORE THAT WE SHOULD DO.

>> Ted: IT HAS BECOME A TREND AND WHY?

IS IT JUST BECAUSE FAMILIES ARE USED TO NOT BEING IN SCHOOL?

HOW DOES THIS BECOME A TREND NOW THAT KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL IN.

>> ?

>> PART OF THIS AS A RESULT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE ALL FACED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

YOU SEE A WORKFORCE ENVIRONMENT THAT'S DIFFERENT NOW THAN IT USED TO BE, WHERE THERE WERE REMOTE WORK YEARS AND STUDENTS FOUND THEMSELVES OUTSIDE OF THE WORKFORCE.

MANY FACTORS THAT ARE STARTING TO CAUSE THIS CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.

I THINK THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS AND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE DIRECT ACCESS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THINK ABOUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS AND WE SEE THIS INCREASE IN CHILDREN ABSENT FROM SCHOOL AT AN EARLY AGE OF DEVELOPPAL LEARNING AND HOW IMPORTANT TO BE READING AT THIRD GRADE, AT GRADE LEVEL TO LEARN SUCCESSFULLY, ACADEMICALLY DOWN THE CONTINUUM AND IF A CHILD IS, FOR WHATEVER REASON, ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, MOBILITY, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND WHATEVER CHALLENGES MIGHT BE, IF NEAR NOT IN THE CLASSROOM, THEY'RE NOT LEARNING.

>> Ted: YOU MENTION TRANSPORTATION, MOBILITY, WHY -- I'M THINKING THIRD GRADERS AND WHY IS A THIRD GRADER ANYMORE LIKELY TO BE ABSENT FOR ANY REASON RIGHT NOW AS OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER -- WE'RE TALKING THIRD GRADERS AND NOT TEENAGERS OUT THERE IN THE PARKING LOT OR SOMETHING.

THIRD GRADERS AND WHY IS THE ABSENTEE RATE GOING SO HIGH?

>> YOU HIT AN IMPORTANT POINT.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN ABSENTEEISM, IT'S ACROSS THE CONTINUUM AND FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND WHEN YOU START TO THINK ABOUT THIRD GRADERS, AS YOU SAY, I THINK THAT'S THE DOWNTOWN CORE THAT DYNAMIC WE WANT TO DRAW AND WHY IS A THIRD GRADER NOT IN SCHOOL?

IS THERE BECAUSE THERE'S MOBILITY IN THE FAMILY?

DURING COVID, THERE WERE PROGRAMS IN PLACE WHERE FAMILIES COULD NOT BE EVICTED AND IF A FAMILY IS EVICTED AFTER COVID, THAT STUDENT IS SOMEWHERE ELSE.

ANOTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS DEFINED BY A STUDENT MISSING 18 DAYS OF SCHOOL IN ONE SCHOOL YEAR.

WHAT WE ALSO HAVE THAT INFLATES THIS NUMBER HIGHER IS MANY STUDENTS MIGHT BE ABSENT FROM A SCHOOL THEY'RE CURRENTLY ATTENDED MAYBE TEN, 15 DAYS AND THEN THEY MOVE TO ANOTHER SCHOOL AND MISS ANOTHER 10 TO 15 DAYS AND THAT STUDENT HASN'T MISSED 18 DAYS FROM ONE SCHOOL AND LOOK HOW MANY SCHOOL DAYS THEY'RE MISSING.

>> Ted: MIGHT BE WORSE.

>> WE WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS AND SCHOOLS THAT ARE BRINGING ORIENTED TYPE OF WORK TO ADDRESS THIS AND WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE BEST PRACTICES, AS WELL.

>> Ted: FAMILY HEALTH ISSUES, A MATTER OF FAMILY FINANCES, A FACTOR THERE, TOO, AND THE NUMBERS ARE BAD FOR ENGLISH LEARNS AND DISADVANTAGED KIDS AND AMERICAN, BLACK LATINO KIDS AND SO WE'VE GOT THE INFORMATION AND WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON AND WHAT COULD YOU DO YOU WANT TO SEE DONE?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS IS TO RAISE AWARENESS SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND USE DATA TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOLS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND SEE THOSE AFFECTS.

WE DO SEE LOW NEXT STUDENTS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR AND THIS IS THE CASE ACROSS A MANY THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED.

WE WANT TO RAISE BEST PRACTICES THAT WE SEE THAT SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE MORE INNOVATIVE IN UNDERSTANDING HOW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

THEY USE DATA TO KNOW WHAT STUDENTS ARE MISSING SCHOOL.

THEY REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES AND THE FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CHALLENGES MIGHT BE AND WHAT THOSE BARRIERS MIGHT BE.

THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY ENGAGE EARLIER.

WHEN YOU START TO SEE A STUDENT MISS SCHOOL, THERE'S EARLY INTERVENTION.

FINALLY, IT'S HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY NETWORKS AND SUPPORT SO THAT IF THERE IS A TRANSPORTATION ISSUE, HOW DO WE GET STUDENTS TO SCHOOL?

IF IT'S A FOOD INSECURITY ISSUE, HOW DO WE BRING FOOD INTO THE HOME OR SCHOOL TO HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES?

SO WE SEE IT AS A ROOT CAUSE OF AN ISSUE WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND ADDRESS BECAUSE IT TIES TO SO MANY ADDITIONAL OUTCOMES.

>> Ted: PAUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

♪♪ >> Ted: THE GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY LISTS THE FIELD INSTITUTE TRIPS AND THESE ARE TRIPS AT THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK AND WE HAVE ROMMY MURPHY AND GIVE ME A DEFINITION OF THE FIELD INSTITUTE TRIPS AND WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE FIELD INSTITUTE TRIPS ARE THE EDUCATIONAL AND PROGRAMS.

THE GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY IS THE NONPROFIT PARK SERVICE, GRAND CANYON PARK SPECIFICALLY.

SO THE FIELD INSTITUTE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE FOLKS OUT IN THE BACK COUNTRY AND TEACH THEM ABOUT THE NATIONAL WONDER.

>> Ted: EVERYTHING FROM HIKES AND MINDFULNESS HIKES.

>> SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GET FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TOURS AND THINGS THAT ARE EASIER FOR ALL FAMILIES TO ENJOY.

MULTIPLE AGES AND MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.

SO THE MINDFULNESS HIKING IS A WONDERFUL TRIP THAT WE GET TO DO IN MAY ON THE NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON.

OUR LIVES ARE SO BUSY AND FAST THAT IN THIS TIME, IT'S NICE TO TAKE THE TIME, STOP, SMELL THE FLOWERS AND WE'LL HUG SOME TREES AND JUST TAKE OUR TIME AND REALLY ENJOY AND STOP AND SLOW THINGS DOWN.

>> Ted: AT THE SAME TIME, LEARN ABOUT THE CANYON AND THE RIM AND AROUND YOU FOUND.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO THE GRAND CANYON, IT'S EASY TO WALK BY IS MANY THINGS AND YOU'RE IN AWE AND WONDER AND WE LIKE TO POINT OUT THE LITTLE THINGS, THE LITTLE DETAILS AND ALSO, TOO, A LOT OF THE CULTURE AND THE HISTORY OF THE AREA.

>> Ted: THERE'S A WEEK-LONG EXPLORATION LEAD BY A NAVAJO GUIDE.

>> ANCIENT WAVES AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY NOT ONLY THE GRAND CANYON AND ALL OF SOUTHERN UTAH.

LEWIS WILLIAMS IS A NATIVE AMERICAN GUIDE WHO GREW UP AND HE STARTED GUYED GUIDING IN THE BEAR'S EAR AREA AND HE STARTED A COMPANY AND TAKES PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN UTAH AND DOWN TO THE GRAND CANYON AND SHOWS THE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS TO THIS LAND.

>> Ted: IS IN A WAY TO TAKE CARE OF THE CANYON TO ENJOY IT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS PROUD OF IS RIM-TO-RIM PICK-UPS AND PICKING UP TRASH AND WE'LL HAVE THE KITTY LITTER BACKUP AND WE WOULD LOAD IT UP WITH STUFF AND HELP TO EDUCATE FOLKS, FOLKS HIKING RIM-TO-RIM HOW TO PROTECT THE WILDERNESS.

>> Ted: TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION WITH HOW RESPONDING TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO PROTECT THE FOREST?

>> THAT'S CORRECT BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE GRAND CANYON IS NOT AN EASY GENERATE AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS TO BRING IN THE NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL, NOELS, TO BRING IN WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER BECAUSE OUR ENVIRONMENT IS TO HARSH AND DIFFICULT AND SO DIFFERENT THAT IT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND IN ONE OF THE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS.

>> Ted: I WOULD IMAGINE ANYONE WHO SIGNS UP, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS TO BE AWARE OF BEFORE YOU GO, MAYBE A CHECKLIST OF CAUTIONS AND WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF BEFORE THEY SET OFF ON THREE THESE TRIPS?

>> KNOWING YOURSELF AND PHYSICAL EIGHTS.

ABILITIES.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH HIKING AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE HAVE RIM-BASE EXPERIENCE.

IF YOU KNOW YOUR LEVEL AND ABLE TO DO EXTREME PROGRAMS, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO TAKE YOU OUT THERE.

>> Ted: I WOULD IMAGINE FOR ALL HIKES, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THIS AND YOU HIKE DOWN AND YOU ARE HIKING DOWN AND YOU GO, WAIT, I HAVE TO GO BACK UP AND PEOPLE FORGET THAT, DON'T THEY?

>> THEY DO.

GOING DOWN IS FUN AND HIKING UP IS MANDATORY.

>> Ted: OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES AND ART CLASSES, THESE SORTS OF THINGS, DO YOU SET UP EASELS AT THE RIM?

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

>> IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO A CELEBRATION OF ART, IT'S A MUST-DO WHERE ARTISTS ARE SET UP AT THE EDGE AND PAINTING IN REAL-TIME IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.

>> Ted: LET'S SAY PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE THE SIX-DAY TOUR, IS THERE A LIMIT?

>> ALL DEPENDS ON THE PROGRAM AND CERTAIN PROGRAMS HAVE BASED ON SAFETY.

WE ARE NEVER GOING MORE THAN TEN PEOPLE IN A GROUP.

>> Ted: HOW LONG HAVE THESE TRIPS BEEN GOING ON?

>> WELL OVER 20 YEARS AND THE CONSERVANCY CELEBRATED THE 90th YEAR.

>> Ted: YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE, DON'T YOU?

DO YOU SEE PEOPLE COMING IN AND CHARGED UP AND BY THE TIME THEY'RE DONE, THEY'RE MORE RELAXED AND MINDFUL AND APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS?

>> THE CANYON HUMBLES ALL AND IT'S HARD TO SIT DOWN AND NOT FEEL IN AWE.

AFTER THAT TYPE OF EXPERIENCE, SLOWING YOURSELF DOWN AND THE CANYON HAS A WAY OF LETTING YOU KNOW YOUR LIMITS AND THEN LETTING YOU REACH THOSE AND EXCEED THOSE.

AND THAT'S A LOT OF FUN.

>> Ted: HOW MANY PEOPLE TO DO THIS JOIN THE CONSERVANCY?

>> A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE ADVERTISING, TOO, ARE MEMBERS AND INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP HOW AN ANNUAL BASIS WITH AS MANY AS A THOUSAND MEDICALS A MONTH.

>> Ted: WOW!

>> BUT WE NEED TO CREATE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE NATIONAL PARK AND NEED TO UNDERSTAND PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND THE UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT THE GRAND CANYON IS SO WE PRESERVE IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> Ted: WHAT IS THE CONSERVANCY?

>> NONPROFIT PARTNER OF THE GRANDGRAND CANYON PARK.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND THAT IS ALL OF THE TIME WE HAVE AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ YOU