FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS Classrooms Unleashed Program
LOGISTICAL QUESTIONS
Q: HOW MANY EDUCATORS WILL SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS SEND TO TEACH A LESSON IN THE CLASSROOM?
We will send one primary educator per classroom. There’s no need to combine classes. You may notice, however, that more than one of Sierra Nevada Journeys' employees enter your classroom for your classroom session. We work with pre-service teachers and often have employees in training, so at times, more than a single educator could be present to observe or assist with classroom lessons led by the primary educator.
Q: HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO DO A PROGRAM WITH SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS?
Sierra Nevada Journeys is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supplements its costs through a Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Student Scholarship Fund, supported by grants and funders. As a result, we offer program fees on a sliding scale based on the needs of the schools we work with. For more information on current pricing, please get in touch with Carly Lubansky, our Sales and Community Liaison Manager (partnership@sierranevadajourneys.org, 952-688-1030).
Q: WHEN SHOULD I EXPECT AN INVOICE AND WHERE DO I SEND THE PAYMENT?
Unless requested sooner, the final invoice will be sent to your school after the program is complete. Please either pay online by bank transfer or make checks payable to Sierra Nevada Journeys and send payments to:
PO Box 1631
Reno, NV 89505
To expedite payment processing, please include the invoice number(s) in the memo of your payment if paying by check.
Q: HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD I BOOK A SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS PROGRAM?
You can schedule your program year-round. For booking inquiries, please get in touch with our Sales and Community Liaison Manager, Carly Lubansky (partnership@sierranevadajourneys.org, 952-688-1030).
Q: HOW MANY LESSONS ARE THERE IN EACH PROGRAM?
Starting Fall 2024, each program will consist of one classroom lesson and one field trip lesson.
Q: WHO PAYS FOR TRANSPORTATION?
Sierra Nevada Journeys does not cover transportation fees. It is the school employees' responsibility to reserve and pay for transportation or coordinate parent/chaperone drivers.
FIELD TRIP QUESTIONS
Q: IS THERE A MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CHAPERONES THAT CAN ACCOMPANY THE FIELD TRIP?
The school is required to provide at least one chaperone in addition to the classroom teacher per participating class. You are welcome to bring as many chaperones as you’d like, though we discourage having too many adults as that can distract from students’ field trip experience.
Q: HOW DOES SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS DECIDE WHERE TO TAKE THE KIDS ON A FIELD TRIP?
Sierra Nevada Journeys actively partners with land agencies, parks, and conservation organizations to identify field sites that are local to our schools and communities, which provide ideal landscapes for the science topics that we focus on in our programs.
Q: HOW LONG ARE THE FIELD TRIPS?
Field lessons are each 2-3 hours.
Q: WHAT SHOULD STUDENTS WEAR ON THEIR FIELD TRIP?
We ask that students wear closed-toed walking shoes (no Crocs) and long pants, and recommend they dress in layers. Additional sun protection including hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen is highly encouraged.
Q: WHAT SHOULD STUDENTS BRING ON THEIR FIELD TRIP?
Students should bring a backpack, water bottle, snack, lunch, pencil, and field notebook (provided by Sierra Nevada Journeys during their classroom lesson).
Q: WHERE WILL THE KIDS EAT LUNCH ON THE FIELD TRIP?
It depends on the field trip site. Some of our sites have access to numerous picnic tables where students can gather in large groups, but at most of our sites, students should plan to have lunch with their smaller field trip groups on the trail. Please reach out to Sierra Nevada Journeys’ program team coordinating your trip for more information.
Q: HOW FAR WILL WE BE HIKING ON THE FIELD TRIP?
The field trip is meant to engage students with the world around them. While we may walk up to two miles for the older grades and one mile for the younger grades, the focus will be on close observation and ensuring all students are comfortable with the physical activity level. The field trip is not meant to be a “hike” so much as a “scientific exploration.” If accommodations need to be made, please contact Sierra Nevada Journeys’ program team coordinating your trip for more information.
Q: WILL EVERY GROUP HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE ON THE FIELD TRIP?
While the educational objectives are the same, each field instructor is trained to meet the needs and follow the interests of the students in their specific group. Because we teach in a student-driven way, every field trip experience is unique for every group. Students may engage in different activities, see different parts of the field trip sites, or have different discussions. This allows maximum engagement from the group.
CLASSROOM QUESTIONS
Q: IF STUDENTS HAVE ALLERGIES, HOW SHOULD I NOTIFY SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS?
Teachers will be provided with a Student Grouping Form for the field program. This form provides a place to indicate allergies, injuries, or medical conditions for each student. Sierra Nevada Journeys instructors have first aid kits and are CPR/Basic First Aid trained.
Q: IF STUDENTS HAVE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS OR SHOULDN'T BE GROUPED WITH OTHER STUDENTS, HOW CAN I NOTIFY SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS?
Teachers are welcome to share any pertinent information regarding their students that may enhance our ability to lead an informed, successful lesson. In the classroom, teachers should inform us of any inappropriate groupings since group work is an integral part of our lessons. On the field trip, teachers will have the opportunity to design each field trip group, based on their knowledge of their students, using the Student Grouping Forms we provide.
Q: WILL WE BE USING ALL THE PAGES IN THE NOTEBOOK?
It is unlikely that students will fill out every page in the provided science notebook with the Sierra Nevada Journeys instructor. The notebook is a tool for students to gather their thoughts. Students are encouraged to fill out the notebook in whatever way works best for them (writing, drawing, ELL students using a first language, etc.). Additionally, there are pages in the notebook that may be used for students who finish an activity early. Finally, field trip pages may or may not be used depending on the instructor’s assessment of student needs. Although we discourage grading the notebook, please let us know in advance if you are planning to do so and we can adjust our teaching to emphasize notebook completion.
Q: WHAT IS MY ROLE AS A TEACHER DURING THE PROGRAM?
We prefer teachers to be active participants during the classroom and field lessons – helping to guide discussion, and as a source for behavior management when needed. In addition, we ask teachers to send home waivers, schedule buses, recruit chaperones, and administer the pre- and post-assessments.
Q: IS THE TEACHER REQUIRED TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM DURING THESE LESSONS?
Some of our educators are licensed or otherwise legally certified to work with students with or without their classroom teacher present. However, because we have some unlicensed educators in training, we strongly prefer the teacher to be in the classroom and engage in the lessons. This also allows teachers to maximize the program's benefits by connecting future classroom activities to Sierra Nevada Journeys lessons.
CURRICULUM QUESTIONS
Q: DO YOUR PROGRAMS MEET SCIENCE STANDARDS?
Each program was created to meet Next Generation Science Standards for the corresponding grade level. Each lesson was developed by a committee of educators including credentialed teachers, scientists, science educators, and experts in Instructional Design.
Q: HOW CAN I BUILD UPON THE SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS CURRICULUM?
Sierra Nevada Journey’s strives to promote outdoor science learning. In alignment with our values each teacher has received optional extension lessons included in the “Teacher Packet” emailed to you. Each extension lesson was designed by the same committee of educators who designed the core lessons. The extension lessons align with the content and science standards covered in each grade level program. These lessons are to provide teachers with additional science education materials at no extra cost.
Q: HOW DO YOU DETERMINE IF THE STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED OR BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM?
We have pre- and post-assessments designed for each grade level. We’re constantly analyzing these scores as they provide instant feedback on the relative effectiveness of our programming. Student scores directly influence our program design and teaching strategy.
Q: HOW DO WE USE THE ASSESSMENT DATA?
Assessment data is used to inform program quality and directly guides program improvements.
Q: ARE YOUR EDUCATORS CREDENTIALED TEACHERS?
Our educators have diverse educational and professional backgrounds with various applicable skills and credentials. Some have bachelor’s and master’s degrees from accredited universities; a Nevada or California substitute teaching license; are student teachers enrolled in a university-based teaching program; or are on their way to being a credentialed teacher.