Help support a one-of-a-kind camp for environmental science and workforce development

RENO, Nev. — Oct. 1, 2019 — We are delivering an innovative environmental science and workforce development camp for Grant Union High School’s GEO Academy’s students to explore career opportunities. This one-of-a-kind camp will directly connect eleventh graders with water and forestry industry representatives at a three-day camp in November. It will expose students to future careers where they’ll learn about internships and career pathways. Our partners are eager to hire for a variety of roles that support earning certificates to four-year degrees.

Please help us raise $10,000 to reach our goal to send 50 students to the science and workforce development camp at Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Grizzly Creek Ranch.

For many of these students, the chance to aspire to a science-based or successful career can be difficult because 100 percent of the students taking part in the GEO Academy are considered low-income students — based on their eligibility for the Free or Reduced school lunch program. They need help and support if they are to be productive citizens of their community and go beyond the limitations of their environment.

To learn more or donate to the GEO Academy workforce development camp visit sierranevadajourneys.org/geo-academy.

2nd Annual Girls In STEM Camp was a success

A powerful lineup of women from the STEM industry spoke at this year’s camp to encourage young women to pursue STEM careers.

RENO, Nev. — Aug. 25, 2019 — With support from Tesla, Sierra Nevada Journeys, hosted more than 100 young women for an action-packed weekend of hands-on, experiential STEM programming. The second annual Girls in STEM camp was held on August 23-25, 2019 at Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola, California. Additionally, Sierra Nevada Journeys partnered with Envirolution on this educational experience, and their experts will be led Friday evening’s engineering challenge for the campers.

Each year, this weekend camp event is designed for girls ages 10 to 14 from low-income* communities in northern Nevada. In 2019, it focused on energy, sustainability, science and technology, engineering and math, as well as leadership development, communication, collaboration and problem-solving.

“This camp wouldn’t be possible without the 25 volunteers and amazing speakers from STEM fields, and of course, Tesla’s education investment with Sierra Nevada Journeys. We aim to provide opportunities for our local kids, and develop and inspire Nevada’s future STEM workforce with this exciting program,” said Sean Hill, Education Director with Sierra Nevada Journeys. On Saturday evening, local guest speakers included women from: Blockchains, LLC; Wood Rodgers, Inc. a western regional engineering firm; Tesla; and Society of Women Engineers, University of Nevada.

Meg VanDeventer, Partner Engagement Lead at Blockchains shared why she is volunteered her time as a guest speaker at the Girls in STEM camp. “Fewer than 10 percent of people in the blockchain industry are women; I hope to change that statistic by sharing my experiences with young women and inspire them on how women are going to rule the future of cryptocurrency.”

VanDeventer, a former Peace Corps volunteer, has consulted on a presidential campaign on cyber security and taught students to code through AmeriCorps. “I wanted to find a way to make a difference by using technology to empower others,” said VanDeventer. “Girls in STEM camp is a perfect forum to make a positive impact on northern Nevada female students.”

The weekend was packed with lots of hands-on activities, outdoor exploration, and experience on Sierra Nevada Journeys’ famous high ropes challenge course.

Funding for this camp comes from Tesla as part of their $37.5 million investment in Nevada’s K-12 STEM and Sustainability Education initiative through the Nevada Department of Education Gift Fund.

To view photos and video from 2019 Girls in STEM, please visit Sierra Nevada Journeys’ photo site.

100 Young Women to Attend Girls in STEM Camp at Grizzly Creek Ranch

RENO, Nev. — November 6, 2018 — Over the weekend of Nov. 9, we’ll be hosting 100 girls, ages 10-to-14-years-old, to take their love of STEM to the next level. This innovative partnership brings industry and nonprofits together creating a jam-packed weekend at Grizzly Creek Ranch.

Using Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada and Sierra Nevada Journeys’ STEM programming, and Women in Tesla volunteers, this weekend camp is sure to inspire and ignite. More than 30 volunteers will support Sierra Nevada Journeys’ educators in STEM activities ranging from building geodomes to testing their skills on our challenge course.  

Additionally, thanks to the donation of a 100 robot kits by REC Foundation, Friday evening’s activities will kick off with each camper building a working robot. As part of REC’s VEX IQ Curriculum, the young women will follow assembly instructions, build, document their process, and then test the finished robots.

Moreover, the Girls in STEM Camp is paid for by a grant awarded by Tesla to Sierra Nevada Journeys, as part of their initial Nevada K-12 Education Investment Fund and there was no cost for the 100 students to attend camp other than a $25 registration processing fee. The investment by Tesla focuses on Nevada K-12 STEM and sustainability education as part of the Nevada DoE Education Gift Fund.

“We were thrilled that Tesla selected Sierra Nevada Journeys to help deliver outdoor science education to children — especially for low-income and under-served students,” said Eaton Dunkelberger, Sierra Nevada Journeys CEO. “With this investment, we hope that experiences such as the Girls in STEM Camp, could change the life trajectories of these young women and inspire future careers in the STEM field.”

Links to photos from 2018 Girls in STEM camp:

Photos shared by Girl Scouts of Northern Nevada

Sierra Nevada Journeys photo site