STEM education

Sierra Nevada Journeys Connects Sun Valley-area Students to Outdoor Science Education and Team Building Field Day

Hundreds of Sun Valley-area students will connect to hands-on field experiences through a program provided by outdoor education nonprofit Sierra Nevada Journeys. Thanks to a $10,000 donation from Washoe County special district funds directed by Washoe County Commissioner Mariluz Garica, students from several nearby schools will participate in science and team-building activities at Sun Valley Regional Park.

Third, fourth and fifth-grade students from Esther Bennett, Sun Valley and Virginia Palmer elementary schools will board a bus and travel to Sun Valley Regional Park for a field day with Sierra Nevada Journeys.

“Increasing access to our amazing parks and providing educational opportunities is very important to me. What a fantastic way to kick off the new school by getting kids outside and doing hands-on activities that build confidence in STEM and a stronger connection to nature and their peers. Sun Valley Regional park is an ideal location for outdoor learning as it has hundreds of acres of open space, abundant wildlife and unusual rock outcroppings,” says Mariluz Garcia, Washoe County Commission District 3. “I was first introduced to Sierra Nevada Journeys over a decade ago through my work with Dean's Future Scholars at the University of Nevada Reno, which serves low-income, first-generation college students throughout Washoe County and surrounding tribal communities. Year after year, I personally witnessed the transformational change in our students and parents after participating in the amazing programming of Sierra Nevada Journeys and I wanted to bring similar experiences to the students of Sun Valley available right in their backyard,” added Garcia.

“We’re thrilled that Commissioner Garcia had the vision to support students in the Sun Valley area with outdoor education experiences at their regional park.  Sierra Nevada Journeys is ready to serve, and we’re excited to get these kids outside and learning!” says Sean Hill, CEO with Sierra Nevada Journeys.

Students will start the day with an opening circle ceremony and then shift into some educational and team-building exercises. These activities bring together teamwork and trust-building with classmates, a great way to start the school year. 

Students will then embark on a nature hike journaling along the way. They’ll use their five senses to observe their surroundings. Students will also use the “I Notice, I Wonder, It Reminds Me Of” exploration technique which helps them develop a mindset of curiosity as they engage with the natural world.

Sierra Nevada Journeys, a 501(c)(3) organization that serves the Northern Nevada and Northern California regions, provides a range of science and leadership education opportunities for children and teens designed to meet state science standards and improve educational outcomes. Programs include classroom lessons that culminate into a field day at a nearby nature area; and a 515-acre outdoor education camp in Portola, California where youth explore ecosystems, chemistry, and biology while building critical thinking and collaboration skills.

Sierra Nevada Journeys Receives Sports Equipment Donation From The S.W.A.A.A.G. Foundation

We’re no longer feeling deflated. Thanks to The S.W.A.A.A.G. Foundation, Students With Achievable Academic or Athletic Goals, for the donation of new balls and soccer nets for camp. Kyle Burke is not only the Kitchen and Housekeeping Manager at Sierra Nevada Journeys, he also runs a nonprofit that supports student-athletes. The Foundation advocates for a more social society for better human experience by engaging students through education and athletics.

“By providing resources and support to student-athletes in Northern Nevada, we instill confidence and that little extra support that may be needed when resources may be limited,” says Burke. “We host field trips to universities and fundraising events such as backpack drives which are filled with school supplies. We recently helped 300 students start their school year off being prepared and confident.”

Bringing two mission-driven organizations together has proven to be a winning combination.

From the Kitchen at Sierra Nevada Journeys

Check out this video to learn about the latest upgrades that Sierra Nevada Journeys has made to the meals at camp under Burke’s supervision. We’re a completely nut-free camp and work with our visitors to ensure all dietary restrictions are not only met but that the meals are also delicious.

Students Learn About the Cool, Clear, Water of the Truckee River Thanks to a $30,000 Grant

A grant awarded by the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada to Sierra Nevada Journeys will allow hundreds of students in Northern Nevada to gain valuable watershed education.

RENO, Nev. (December 19, 2022) — Students throughout the Truckee Meadows will get to participate in Sierra Nevada Journeys’ water education program thanks to a $30,542 grant awarded by the Truckee River Fund at the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada.

Students will participate in “Hands in the River,” a watershed education program by Sierra Nevada Journeys. Imagine a bus packed with students, lots of chatter as they’re excited to be on a field trip. They exit the bus with their backpacks in hand and are welcomed by Sierra Nevada Journeys instructors at one of our field site areas – the Nature Conservancy’s McCarran Ranch Preserve.

As a warmup, the students participate in a few teambuilding games and activities. It gets the kids moving and their minds in the present moment. They start to relax, enjoy nature, and just be kids. Then they hike down to the Truckee River, learning about native and invasive species along the way.

At the river, students record their observations, collect data, and enter their findings into their science journals, reinforcing concepts previously taught in the classroom. They explore, assess, and collect data about the health of the Truckee River Watershed by observing the river, collecting macroinvertebrate species for study, and discussing how we can use the data to make a determination of river health.

Fields days like this help students understand important science concepts related to the Truckee River and articulate how their actions affect the Truckee River watershed and local ecosystems. With this new-found knowledge, students naturally adopt environmental stewardship practices that help reduce water pollution and other human impacts. The program also embeds opportunities to build critical thinking skills, productive discussion practices, and social emotional learning.

“At Sierra Nevada Journeys, we believe that science and nature are for everyone. We prioritize partnerships with schools that primarily serve youth who have historically been denied access to high-quality science education and outdoor learning experiences. With this funding Sierra Nevada Journeys will serve 24 classrooms, ensuring we address the science and outdoor equity gap,” said Sean Hill, CEO, Sierra Nevada Journeys.

The Truckee River Fund Advisory Committee and the boards from the Truckee Meadows Water Authority and the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada lead the grant funding. The purpose of the Truckee River Fund supports projects that protect and enhance the water quality of the Truckee River watershed – our primary drinking water source for the Truckee Meadows.

Shop and Support Sierra Nevada Journeys

Figure 1

Using AmazonSmile is a great way to support your favorite charity and is an easy way to give back while doing your everyday shopping with Amazon. You may already be familiar with AmazonSmile, but did you know in 2020, Amazon did an update to its app to add AmazonSmile to the mobile platform? If you’re a fan of online shopping through the Amazon app, then you’re going to find that linking your AmazonSmile to your mobile app will supersize your donations to Sierra Nevada Journeys.

With just a few easy steps, your holiday and year-round shopping will support our student scholarship fund. It reaches youth from schools with financial barriers and have the least access to high-quality STEM education and outdoor experiences like those offered by Sierra Nevada Journeys.

There are two steps to prior to setting up your preferred charity on your Amazon app – you’ll need an AmazonSmile desktop account and have the Amazon app.

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First, from your desktop computer sign into AmazonSmile, using your same account that you use for Amazon.com. Next, select your favorite charity, Sierra Nevada Journeys, to start generating donations at no cost to you. There is no cost to using AmazonSmile — either from your desktop computer or through the app — and you have the same products and prices as Amazon.com.

Second, make sure you have the Amazon app via your mobile phone. You can download the Amazon app from the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android.

You’re now ready to turn on AmazonSmile through your app in just a couple of steps:

  1. Open the app, and select the collapsed menu-burger icon of the three horizontal lines, Figure 1.

  2. Scroll past the boxes to the bottom of the page and tap “settings,” Figure 2.

  3. Under settings, select “AmazonSmile.” On the top of this page, you will see your selected charity. Turn on the mobile app from this page. Over time, you can also see your AmazonSmile impact from this section. Figure 3 and 4.

 

Once you are set up, the donations automatically come to Sierra Nevada Journeys and you’re helping students access quality STEM programs. AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of all eligible purchases and it adds up so it is worthwhile to take a moment and update your app and start shopping!

 

Figure 3

Figure 4

You can read more here from Amazon about linking your AmazonSmile account to mobile.

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Sierra Nevada Journeys Receives $177,655 ARPA Grant for STEM Explorers Program

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Students learn about atmospheric pressure with rocket launch experiment

Three new schools will get to enjoy the many academic and social benefits of the STEM Explorers program thanks to a generous $177,655 American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) grant: Desert Skies Middle School, O’Brien - STEM Academy and Sparks Middle School.

The program will help fill an educational equity gap at the three schools in underserved areas and provide continuity of programming as students transition from middle school to high school. The STEM Explorers program has proved to increase science literacy and test scores across all subjects as youth engage in hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program also includes a social-emotional learning (SEL) component with activities that increase resiliency and belonging among peers and aids in self-awareness, mutual respect, collaboration, and mental well-being.

Students will also have the opportunity to attend the Overnight Outdoor Learning, science camp at the end of the school year where they experience nature first-hand while learning and growing emotionally and socially.

Sierra Nevada Journeys chose to bring the program to these three schools based on their demonstrated need, geographic location, engaged and interested leadership, and the schools’ capacity to expand resources. The Family Stability Collaborative conducted listening sessions held by Washoe County School District Parent University at each site. At all three schools, families, students, and teachers said they wanted after school opportunities – especially those that actively engage students in academic success and meaningful connections.

There is tremendous opportunity for the STEM Explorers program at the new sites to increase science literacy and bring quality educational and social learning experiences to neighborhoods experiencing barriers to access in terms of income, education, housing and medical insurance coverage.

We look forward to serving the youth at the schools and getting them excited about science, nature, and exploration!

Read more about the creation of STEM Explorers and its initial launch with Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows through BGCTM’s 21st Century Grant. Participating schools include Dilworth Middle School, Sparks High School and Hug High School.

Student study covalent bonds through tie dye

Sierra Nevada Journeys Connects Students to STEM Education: 2021 Community Report

Thousands of students connected to quality STEM education and hands-on field experiences through programs provided by outdoor education nonprofit Sierra Nevada Journeys in 2021, according to its recently released annual report.

Sierra Nevada Journeys, a 501(c)(3) organization that serves the Northern California and Northern Nevada regions, provides a range of science and leadership education opportunities for children and teens designed to meet state science standards and improve educational outcomes. Programs include classroom lessons that culminate into a field day at a nearby nature area; and an outdoor education camp at Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola where youth explore ecosystems, chemistry, and biology while building critical thinking and collaboration skills.

“Sierra Nevada Journeys is committed to providing effective and memorable educational experiences to youth from underserved communities to ensure students from all backgrounds can receive STEM education; on average students receive less than three hours per week of science at the elementary school level,” says Sean Hill, CEO with Sierra Nevada Journeys. “Our programs have proven to increase test scores and provide strong educational outcomes for the students and schools who participate.”

Since 2020, Sierra Nevada Journeys has updated its programs to account for health and safety protocols. These changes have not deterred the organization from continuing to provide quality in-person and hybrid learning opportunities.

Sierra Nevada Journeys provided a positive impact on students in the Sacramento region in 2021 in a multitude of ways.

  • Through a collaboration with Black Youth Leadership Project and Square Root Academy, Sierra Nevada Journeys hosted a one-of-a-kind camp that focused on STEM, environmental education, leadership, and social justice principles. Hack the Woods Camp brought children and teens from the Sacramento area to Grizzly Creek Ranch for an exceptional experience thanks to a grant from the City of Sacramento Youth Development Office.

  • Launched ​​The Native Voices Project, a collaboration between Sierra Nevada Journeys, the Plumas County Office of Education, and the Mountain Maidu community in Plumas County. The project has developed new outdoor science learning experiences that incorporate the Maidu language and traditional ecological knowledge.

  • The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San) Confluence Program partnered with Sierra Nevada Journeys to serve 2,200 fifth-grade students through the Hands in the River program. The nonprofit also created a series of Virtual Classroom lessons that demonstrate “what happens after you flush in the wastewater treatment process.

  • About 7,500 students participated in Classrooms Unleashed, a multi-day, hands-on STEM program backwards designed from the Next Generation Science Standards. Students learn topics including ecosystems and environmental change, geologic change to the Earth’s crust, matter and engineering, plant biology, biomimicry, human impact and watershed health.

  • Launched Leadership on the Lawn, a social-emotional learning program that encourages empathy, communication, problem-solving skills, and teamwork.

  • Schools participating in the program reported that a higher percentage of students – by 6 percent – met or exceeded the standardized science test scores compared to students at schools without Sierra Nevada Journey’s programming.

  • Partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows to provide after-school programming for Northern Nevada middle and high school students that focused on STEM exploration, social-emotional learning and outdoor experiences.

  • Through the support of donors, we were able to bring youth from Reno Housing Authority to Summer Camp and families came together and spent time outdoors at Family Camp.

  • Thanks to a grant awarded by Tesla, the third annual Girls in STEM Camp was held for young women from Nevada Title 1 schools. The STEM education camp included a star-studded lineup of industry guest speakers from across the region including experts from industries such as engineering, science research, hydrology, biomass, natural resource management, and conservation.

Sierra Nevada Journeys has plans to launch new education opportunities and initiatives, including a leadership camp for youth from underserved communities. This summer, the nonprofit will partner with area youth organizations to provide field trips where children explore local river ecosystems.

For more information on Sierra Nevada Journeys, check out its recently published annual report.

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Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Afterschool Program Gets Kids Loving STEM

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Each week students come together after school to explore the outdoors, learn about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) while building resiliency in Sierra Nevada Journeys’ STEM Explorers program.

STEM Explorers is intentionally designed to help children build academic success, become comfortable in nature, and grow their social and emotional development through facilitated leadership and collaboration-based lessons.

“We expand on what students are learning in science class and supplement it with similar hands-on activities during our afterschool programming. We help students grow their confidence and get them excited about science; they can see themselves going into STEM careers in the future,” said Audrey Bergmann, Afterschool Program Coordinator with Sierra Nevada Journeys.

A recent study by RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, recognized how programs provided outside of school hours help students improve their competency of STEM concepts and social-emotional learning (SEL). Students learn to manage their emotions and build positive, trusting relationships with their teachers and fellow students – all attributed to the benefits of SEL.1

In fall 2021, Sierra Nevada Journeys launched STEM Explorers by partnering with the Washoe County School District and the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadow (BGCTM). The program is made possible by BGCTM’s 21st Century Grant, which supports academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children. Three school sites were selected as the program’s home base: Dilworth Middle School; Sparks High School; and Hug High School. Sierra Nevada Journeys uses nature and the environment as our classroom. In addition to on-campus activities, a variety of nature areas, regional parks, learning centers and museums across the region are used to take the learning outdoors and provide hands-on experiences.

“We’ve taken students to Rosewood Nature Study area to learn about native and invasive species; students also participated in removing invasive plants. Next week we’re going to the University of Nevada Mackay School of Science and Engineering for tours of their labs,” Bergmann said.

“Recently, I learned many of our middle school aged STEM Explorers have never had the opportunity to visit The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum. You tend to think of The Discovery for young children, but we applied the STEM theories as we interacted with the exhibits. They had a blast,” added Bergmann.

The curriculum flexes throughout the year based on student interests. For example, at STEM Explorers last year, students said they’d love to learn about photography. We now offer lessons examining light, cameras, and lenses – concluding with a cow eye dissection. By allowing students’ inquiry to guide lessons, Sierra Nevada Journeys’ instructors nurture passion, develop curiosity, and reinforce the importance of asking questions.

As recognized by the Afterschool Alliance in 2021 2, participants in sustained, afterschool STEM programs are more likely to become interested in STEM, grow understanding and proficiency, and see themselves involved in STEM enterprises.

Furthermore, STEM Explorers builds on these concepts through intentional SEL. Students participate in activities that increase resiliency and belonging among peers and aids in self-awareness, mutual respect, collaboration, and mental well-being.  According to an end-of-the year survey administered to students in STEM Explorers, the majority developed different ways to solve problems and “made friends who care about them.”

STEM Explorers serves a dual purpose of increasing proficiency in STEM subjects, driving an increased participation in the state’s booming STEM industries, while also supporting students’ emotional well-being and promoting connection to their peers. Sierra Nevada Journeys sees first-hand, and hears from teachers, that there is an acute need to incorporate activities that increase connectedness and belonging among students as they deal with the mental impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources:

1 Katie Tosh, Heather L. Schwartz and Catherine H. Augustine, “Strengthening Students’ Social and Emotional Skills Lessons from Six Case Studies of Schools and Out-of-School-Time Program Partners.” https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Documents/strengthening-students-social-and-emotional-skills-vol2-pt1.pdf

2 “The America After 3PM special report, STEM Learning in Afterschool on the Rise, But Barriers and Inequities Exist,” Afterschool Alliance, p.4; http://afterschoolalliance.org/documents/AA3PM/AA3PM-STEM-Report-2021.pdf

About Sierra Nevada Journeys

Sierra Nevada Journeys is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that delivers innovative outdoor, science-based education programs for youth to develop critical thinking skills and to inspire natural resource stewardship. Through multiple points of contact, our classroom and virtual-based programs, overnight science camps, professional development for teachers, and parent engagement opportunities surround students with resources they need to succeed. All programs are designed to foster higher cognition and build long-term student achievement. Of the 24,000 children that annually participate in our programs, 74 percent come from communities that face financial barriers and 70 percent are BIPOC, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Also, 13 percent of the individuals who attend our programs, are living with a disability.

Sierra Nevada Journeys to host Sacramento area students at Hack the Woods Camp

Sacramento-area teens, 13-17 years old, will learn STEM, leadership and life skills at Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Hack the Woods Camp in early November. 

The program combines STEM education, social justice sessions, and personal development to provide youth from underrepresented communities the opportunity to gain important skills for future success. 

Eligible participants are part of the Black Youth Leadership Project (BYLP) and Square Root Academy (SRA), co-sponsors of the camp. A generous grant from the City of Sacramento Youth Development is covering the cost for the 600 participants over the project period. 

This past spring the three nonprofits collaboratively designed and delivered the first STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and Social Justice Camp experience; participants came from high priority communities in the City of Sacramento. The partnership is intended to meet the goals of each organization’s existing and ongoing programs while providing opportunities for safe outdoor recreation, teambuilding, and leadership for teens. Camps are led by mentors and educators trained jointly by the three organizations.

The overarching goals of the project are: 1) Strengthen youth development programming in Sacramento; 2) Foster academic success by providing impactful STEM and outdoor learning opportunities to low-income students; and 3) Promote youth empowerment by providing social justice and leadership training to youth from Sacramento’s high priority neighborhoods.

“We are excited to provide this program for these teens,” says Krissy McGill, Residential Director of Education, Sierra Nevada Journeys. “The combination of outdoor education, STEM lessons, and leadership insights gives the campers such a boost of confidence. It’s just amazing to see their sense of wonder as they explore ecosystems while learning teamwork and collaboration. They can sometimes come in guarded, but they leave with amazing confidence and enthusiasm.”

“Ten of us from BYLP attended last spring as mentors and it was a transformative experience not only for our students but for all of us. The shared experiences we had at camp continued long after leaving Sierra Nevada Journeys. At Hack the Woods, I facilitate the social justice workshops on advocacy and provide a safe space where the campers are seen and valued. It has been tremendously impactful and everything we do is done with intention. We lead with heart not head,” says Lorreen R. Pryor, President and CEO, BYLP.

“At Square Root Academy, we’re a nonprofit that brings STEM education to under resourced communities. Hack the Woods has been a particularly special opportunity for Sacramento students. Taking STEM concepts and learning to the great outdoors is an extraordinary experience for students. They’ve enjoyed new adventures and have challenged themselves to go beyond their comfort zone,” says Nicholas Haystings, Executive Director, Square Root Academy.

The camp takes place November 4-6, 2022, and April 14-16, 2023 at Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Grizzly Creek Ranch outdoor environmental education camp in Portola, California. Learn more about the curriculum planned for November.

For more information about this and other programs provided by Sierra Nevada Journeys, please contact Andy Stephens, Program Director, 530-832-1085. If you know of a teen that may be interested in attending this one-of-a-kind camp, please visit: bylp.org/hackthewoods or squarerootacademy.com/camphackthewoods for more information.

About Sierra Nevada Journeys

Sierra Nevada Journeys is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that delivers innovative outdoor, science-based education programs for youth to develop critical thinking skills and to inspire natural resource stewardship. Through multiple points of contact, our classroom and virtual-based programs, overnight science camps, professional development for teachers, and parent engagement opportunities surround students with resources they need to succeed. All programs are designed to foster higher cognition and build long-term student achievement. Of the 24,000 children that annually participate in our programs, 74 percent come from communities that face financial barriers and 70 percent are BIPOC, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Also, 13 percent of the individuals who attend our programs, are living with a disability.

About Black Youth Leadership Project

BYLP was established in 1999 as a non-profit and nonpartisan educational organization dedicated to developing California's next generation of public policy leaders. Since its inception, BYLP has served more than 4,500 students and has helped make the Capitol and its Black staff more accessible to our youth and community. Through its programs, BYLP seeks to introduce more youth to the legislative process in an effort to connect the need for and an understanding of democracy and public service at an early age. Through accumulation of concepts, ideas and a greater understanding of the role of citizen and government, BYLP lifts youth closer toward platforms of academic achievement, career growth and leadership opportunities.

BYLP is committed to ensuring the youth have a voice at the table during all discussions had by officials — whether elected or sworn to protect and serve. We believe the youth are the leaders they have been waiting for and are committed to empowering the youth as they assume position and lead this moment to a movement.

About Square Root Academy

Square Root Academy is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating underrepresented youth on the fundamentals of STEAM while emphasizing collaborative learning, innovation, and academic excellence. This goal is executed under our three key pillars: community involvement, project based learning, and professional STEAM exposure. We expose Academy scholars to the growing field of STEAM at no cost, while promoting creativity, leadership, and academic excellence.

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The Positive Impacts of Bringing Engaging Science Lessons to Dual Language Learning Programs

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Victorina teaches Our Amazing Earth to dual language learner in fourth grade at Las Palmas Elementary School.

According to a story on NPR, nearly 5 million students are Multilingual Language Learners. The article about the benefits of bilingual education, states that studies have found that “compared with English-only classrooms, dual-language students have somewhat higher test scores, better attendance and fewer behavioral problems. There is evidence that it also helps kids gain comfort with diversity and different cultures.”

Recently, Sierra Nevada Journeys brought its Classrooms Unleashed program to a couple of dual-immersion classrooms in the Sacramento area. With it, also came some rave reviews of the experience from teachers.

“Science has been a challenging subject to sell to students this year. Thank you for your amazing lesson! I think students were very touched to see you show up authentically as Venezuelan, Latina, and a scientist. They really enjoyed the lesson but you presenting the lesson also led to so much engagement from the students. We are so honored to have had you join us,” said Lynn Elisea Ayala, teacher with the Two-Way Bilingual Emersion class at Marguerite Montgomery Elementary School in Davis, California. Marguerite Montgomery Elementary School is part of the Davis Joint Unified School District and students who are part of their Two-Way Bilingual Immersion program students are biliterate by the end of sixth grade – they speak, read and write in both English and Spanish.

Venezuelan, Latina and scientist perfectly describes Victorina Arvelo, a core educator with Sierra Nevada Journeys. This past spring, Victorina taught watershed lessons in Spanish at Marguerite and Las Palmas, as part of Our Amazing Earth program where students become geologists and learn about patterns of change found on the earth's surface.

Las Palmas Elementary is part of the Twin Rivers Unified School District (TRUSD) and is one of two TRUSD schools that has a Dual-Immersion Program that also participated in our Classrooms Unleashed program.

Sierra Nevada Journeys has been partnering with TRUSD since 2017, where all fifth-grade students would attend outdoor school at Grizzly Creek Ranch. With the transition from distance learning to in-person learning as we transition out of the pandemic, Sierra Nevada Journeys has brought a variety of environmental education programs directly to the schools. “We’ve been working hard to meet the needs of the students and teachers,” said Sarah Barnes, Education Director with Sierra Nevada Journeys. “This past school year, we’ve shifted some of our focus to address learning loss, social-emotional learning and getting back to the core sciences lessons to help students be successful with the state science standards for their grade level.” Our Amazing Earth for their dual-immersion students is just one example of how we became creative with our programs with TRUSD.

There are similar positive impacts of dual language programs and environmental education programs like ours. Some examples include: helping students learn in new and effective ways; increased problem-solving skills, improved communication, and enhanced cultural awareness and diversity. By engaging students in a hands-on science lesson using Spanish language, students become more invested and the information is even more relevant to the students.

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Community and Youth Outdoor Education at The Nature Conservancy’s River Fork Ranch Preserve

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We’re partnering with The Nature Conservancy and River Wranglers who are doing boots-on-the-ground conservation at River Fork Ranch. Sierra Nevada Journeys has built three Family STEM Night station that connect the conservation work being done at the Ranch. We’re hosting two, Family STEM Nights at River Fork Ranch on June 9, 2022, and September 15, 2022. Events are free and run from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at River Fork Ranch Preserve, 381 Genoa Lane, Minden, Nevada.

For Nevada Teachers: If you are looking for some environmental science lessons, there’s a series designed for fifth graders about the Carson River that we recommend. They’re part of our FREE Teacher Resources. Thanks to supporters like The Dream Tags Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation of Western Nevada, we are able to create content specifically tied to our region and ecosystem.

Visit Free Teacher Resources to find a series of lessoned designed using Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and focused on Northern Nevada and Northern California regions.

The lessons are one of the education components to a bigger initiative – a restoration project to improve the riparian vegetation habitat for Mule Deer and other wildlife at the 805-acres at The Nature Conservancy’s River Fork Ranch Preserve. It is located at the confluence of the East and West Forks of the Carson River. This location is one of our field locations for programs we host in Carson City for students and families through Classrooms Unleashed and Family STEM Nights.

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