When Minnesota native Richard Lewnau visited Red Rock Canyon for the first time 27 years ago, it was love at first hike. “I thought, `Wow, you don’t have places like this in Minnesota,’” he says. Lewnau, ’93 M.Ed, is a member of Friends of Red Rock Canyon and the Sierra Club. He also volunteers for events organized by UNLV’s Public Lands Institute to clean up litter, build trails, repair bridges, and remove graffiti.
Stewardship of public land is a key component to the PLI’s mission, and Lewnau clearly takes it seriously — he’s part of a group of volunteers that call themselves the “canyon keepers.”
But his activities aren’t limited to Red Rock. One of his favorite getaways is Cedar Breaks National Monument in Southern Utah. “I walk down one side of the road and pick up trash, come back the other side while listening to the sheep. It’s just magnificent.”
Lewnau teaches English at Desert Rose Adult High School, an alternative school in Las Vegas for adults who want to get their diplomas.
He previously taught at Johnson Middle School and enjoyed bringing students to Red Rock for the first time.
“It always amazes me that there are kids who have lived here all their lives but have never been out of the city,” he says. “They really got a kick out of it, scrambling on rocks, boulder hopping, becoming curious as to where the trails go — it’s like having a huge jungle gym or sandbox.”
In the spring and summer he escapes to Mount Charleston, but once it becomes cool, he heads back to his old familiar spot. His favorite trail is Oak Creek, the last one on the scenic loop, where he enjoys waterfalls and pine trees, depending on the rain conditions. “All things taken together, I’d much rather go to Red Rock (than anywhere else),” he says. “It’s difficult to think of a lot of cities where you only have to drive 20 minutes and hike a mile to be in a different world. I want to make sure we preserve the beauty and uniqueness so others can enjoy it too.”
