PCMN Book Club Review – Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Woman Who Mapped the Botany of The Grand Canyon

Post by Izetta Feeny, Cohort 3 and Penny Miller, Cohort 2

Brave The Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Woman Who Mapped the Botany of The Grand Canyon
Written by Melissa L. Sevigny copyright 2023

Winner of the 2023 National Outdoor Book Award for History/Biography

Melissa Sevigny has written an account of the first two non-native women to travel the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. The trip was made in 1938 in three wooden boats. For the women who accomplished this the significance was not that they were women but that they were the first botanists to map the plants of the canyon. The author researched their diaries of the trip as well as those of the four men traveling with them. She also researched the newspaper accounts of the trip. They caused quite a media frenzy because they were women, but the fact that they were botanists and this was the first scientific expedition to collect and note plants in the canyon was rarely mentioned by journalists. Whether you read it for the incredible adventure that it was or for the insight into the canyon before the building of dams began, you will finish with a new understanding of both the ecology and the beauty of the canyon.

*** Book Preview 21 pages of 288 (click here) ***

The Pima Chapter formed its own Book Club back in 2020. The group is capped at 15 and there are currently 11 members but the group is looking to recruit 4 more members from the Pima Chapter. Members pitch books then everyone votes on which book to read. Book topics must tie into the PCMN program of nature, and cultures in the Sonoran desert, or broad environmental issues that impact that region, such as climate change, water use, etc. Members meet every other month and rotate through different member’s homes in various parts of the city. 

Pima Chapter Book Club FAQs
Why was the Book Club formed initially? 

• The club provided social opportunities for Master Naturalists to meet other MN’s particularly from other cohorts and cohorts that had never met in person during the years the training was delivered completely online, due to covid. 
• Reading books about the Sonoran Desert serves to enhance the skills and knowledge of master naturalists and builds on the content learned in the training curriculum.
• Hearing the take-aways of others about the book deepens and broadens the impact of the content and brings additional perspectives to the reader.
• Social activities within the MN program serve to create and strengthen friendships; that strong social fabric will serve to keep the chapter strong and sustainable long term.

Where and when do we meet?  Club member’s homes, rotated. If no one offers to host a meeting, the club meets at Penny’s house on the West side of town.  Every other month, except no summer meetings. THIRD THURSDAY of the month: Jan 18, March 21, May 23, Sept 19, November 21 in 2024. One hour social, one hour book discussion, more social time!   Typically, 5-6 pm social time, 6-7 pm book review and club business, 7-8 pm or so more social time! 

How many members? Capped at 15, as someone goes off, we accept a new person.

Do I have to agree to host a meeting?   NOPE! Not everyone is set up to park and house 15 people, although 8 -10 is the usual attendance.

If I host, do I have to provide a meal and drinks?  NOPE! You can if you want, sometimes we tie food to the book topic if possible, it can also just be snacks, or BYO food. Its totally up to the host.

What type of books do we read?  Nonfiction, desert and nature related topics. Members pitch books, then everyone votes. Book topic must tie into the PC MN program of nature, and cultures in the Sonoran desert, or broad environmental issues that impact that region, such as climate change, water use, etc. 

What if I join, then don’t like the book or don’t finish it? Come anyway!

What’s the attendance policy? If you miss more than 3 meetings in a row, (3 is okay, to accommodate snowbird members) you will be asked if you have extenuating circumstances, and wish to remain in the club or free your spot for someone else.

Do I get any Advanced Training hours credit? Yes! You can count 1 hour (only) for the discussion, as Advanced Training. NO hour credits for reading the book! ☺                                                                  

How is the Book Club managed? Penny Miller takes care of logistics, Penny and the meeting host provide meeting details. Club members vote on dates, times, books and book club policies/issues as they pop up. Inactive members may be asked to drop off, so others can join.

How do we choose a book? We ask that the person pitching the book has already read it!  We no longer pitch or vote on the book via email survey. You must to be present at a club meeting to pitch a book.

Do I have to buy the book? We meet every other month, we decide what books will be next for the upcoming 2-3 meetings, which is 4-6 months out because we meet every other month. This gives everyone the ability to request the book from the local library, purchase it at a used bookstore, or borrow from other club members. Of course we encourage everyone to support local new and used books stores.

How do I ask to join? Contact Penny at pmiller451@aol.com to join, if a space exists, or to be put on wait list…..

         Or write your name and email address on the back of this piece of paper!  😊