One Foundation’s Vision Sparks Development of Two Teacher Training Programs – The Daugherty Science Internship and Nevada Teach Scholars Program

The unique internship brings together a partnership between philanthropy, nonprofit and public education institution. The result: improved teaching techniques for future elementary education teachers and students in Northern Nevada.

Reno, Nev., March 15, 2021 – The Daugherty Science Internship (DSI) and Nevada Teach Scholars Program (NTS) provide hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) teaching experience for teachers-in-training from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). These opportunities are supported by a partnership between Sierra Nevada Journeys, the University of Nevada, Reno Colleges of Education and Science, and the Sandra A. Daugherty Foundation. 

"The DSI and NTS programs are an outstanding way to improve your teaching skills in a variety of settings," says Alyssa Wagner, the Reno program director at Sierra Nevada Journeys. "Because interns are able to practice in several schools while with Sierra Nevada Journeys, the experience increases familiarity and comfort teaching and planning with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). It also provides networking opportunities within the informal education community, as well as with teachers and principals in Washoe County School District (among other local districts), and is an overall fun experience."

Bob Daugherty, MD, retired Dean at the University of Nevada School of Medicine plays a pivotal role in creating these invaluable opportunities for university students. As the husband of Sandra A. Daugherty, MD, PhD, the foundation in honor of his late wife, The Sandra A. Daugherty Foundation, is paving the way for increasing the skills and expertise of educators in Northern Nevada. “My family’s roots run deep in working hard and giving back to our community; it is a joy to mentor students and see the positive impacts they are making with the next generation of scientists, physicians and educators,” says Dr. Bob Daugherty.  

Mariah Gustin is one of those recipients. Gustin recently graduated with a Master in Education from UNR. Last year, Gustin earned the Daugherty Science Internship and practiced her teaching skills at Sierra Nevada Journeys.  

“As a lover and strong believer in the inquiry process, I was fascinated by the methods used by Sierra Nevada Journeys. One thing that was amazing was the Family STEM Nights. The community involvement and interest were inspiring. To see so many people in our community actively involved in science despite the political and social climate surrounding science made our mission seem that much more important,” says Gustin. 

Another aspect of the teaching process that Gustin learned during her internship at Sierra Nevada Journeys was the 5E Instructional Model, an inquiry-based model of instruction, that includes five phases: engagement, exploration, explanation, extension, and evaluation.

“I used universal teaching strategies so all of the students were engaged and excited to learn and that can be hard! Having designed science lessons during my course work at UNR and seeing Full Option Science System (a research-based science curriculum for grades K-8 developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley) implemented by Sierra Nevada Journeys’ educators, I had lessons that were so beautifully designed,” added Gustin. “To see the learning happen with Sierra Nevada Journeys’ students in such a small period of time was pretty incredible.” 

“I would absolutely recommend anyone lucky enough to be awarded the honor of participating in this program to take it. Science is fundamental to all learning. To be able to question, test, and be a critical consumer of information are important skills that are specifically taught throughout each lesson. And as climate change and other environmental issues increase, it is our job as educators to have the skills, confidence, and understanding needed to teach our students,” says Gustin. Her internship and hard work have paid off as Gustin is now teaching with the Washoe County School District.

If interested in applying for this internship, please email Alyssa Wagner at alyssaw@sierranevadajourneys.org.

LEARN MORE

View other internship opportunities.

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About the Daugherty Science Internship:

• Stipend interns will participate in a blended student teaching experience which includes seven weeks at a traditional school placement and seven weeks teaching science with Sierra Nevada Journeys, all to take place during students' teaching semester.

• Interns observe and teach 20+ NGSS-based elementary science lessons and outdoor field science programs to a wide range of students across 1st-6th grades under the direct supervision of Sierra Nevada Journeys director of education and College of Education mentors.

• The DSI includes two weeks of training on science instruction with Sierra Nevada Journeys.

About the Nevada Teach Scholars:

• Build your skills as an educator in this fun, paid role that includes 28 days (through 14 weeks) teaching hands-on and outdoor science with Sierra Nevada Journeys.

• Observe and teach 20+ Next Generation Science Standards-based elementary science lessons and outdoor field science programs to a wide range of students across 1st through 6th grades under the direct supervision of Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Program Director.

• Build highly sought-after science instruction skills and earn a $1,500 stipend.

• Have the unique opportunity to teach not only in the classroom, but in the outdoor setting as a part of Sierra Nevada Journeys’ field studies.

• Help classroom teachers in our region deliver outstanding science content to students in high-need schools.

Sierra Nevada Journeys Joins The Alternative Field Study Group to Support Students During Distance Learning

Sierra Nevada Journeys partnered with Great Basin Institute, Great Basin Outdoor School and Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation create free virtual STEM lessons that support students and teachers with distance learning.

The Alternative Field Study Committee (AFSC) is a group of environmental organizations local to the Reno, Nevada metropolitan-area, who are committed to supporting environmental education opportunities for K-12th grade students. This committee has banded together to create programs that are catered to meet the unique new educational constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These resources are free, and designed with teachers in mind, to support both their distance and in-classroom learners with little-to-no amendments needed. Programs follow Next Generation Science and Common Core standards. Though these programs are designed for teachers and students in the public school system, they are also great resources for homeschool families, private school teachers, and youth-education programs. Each program comes with three resources: a pre-lesson component (educational video, PowerPoint, story, or activity that orients the learner to the concepts), the lesson itself, and a post-lesson component (which serves as a homework assignment or cool-down activity to wrap-up student learning and assist in measuring student comprehension).

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Elementary lessons include:
Animal Adaptations
Reptiles of Nevada
Out of this World – Lunar Phases
Snow Science
Metamorphosis
Hydrology
Birds and Their Adaptations
The Flow of Energy Through an Ecosystem
Leaves and Photosynthesis

Five Helpful Tips to Navigate Distance Learning

Whether your child is on distance learning or a hybrid model, we have some helpful tips to make the school days run smoother for you and your family. This 5:25-minute video uses some of the best practices found in Sierra Nevada Journeys’ programs such as Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and taking small nature breaks outdoors.

We’d like to hear from you. Share with us your tips for supporting your student during distance learning.

Sarah Brown Wessling is a National Board Certified Teacher, 2010 National Teacher of the Year, and mother of three who teaches high school English Language Arts in Johnston, Iowa.

Source: Prezi in the Classroom

Grow Outside is a Toolkit on Social Emotional Learning Best Practices for Outdoor Schools Across the U.S.

For nearly two years, Sierra Nevada Journeys’ education leaders, Jen Kopnicky and Sean Hill, have been collaborating with a dozen of the top outdoor education nonprofits from around the country. Together, they have developed a framework and tools for identifying, communicating, teaching and leading Social Emotional Learning (SEL) through outdoor education. 

The result of the collaboration is the launch of Grow Outside: A Social Emotional Learning Toolkit for Residential Environmental Learning Centers. This website is the result of a two-year-long partnership of residential environmental learning centers, convened by NatureBridge and Sierra Nevada Journeys, to develop common language and tools for the field of environmental education. The need for the skills strengthened by social and emotional learning — empathy, respect for differences, communication skills — has been even more pronounced. “We hope the Toolkit will help outdoor schools across the country identify, grow and communicate those core social emotional indicators that are embedded in our program design, delivery and outdoor context, so that we position ourselves as a support system for SEL to our schools and districts.  These days, growing kids takes many villages!” said Hill. You can access the toolkit here. 

The Impact of COVID-19 on Outdoor Schools

As the team entered their final stages of preparing Grow-Outside.org, COVID-19 has overtaken everyone’s lives. Many outdoor schools have been severely impacted, and unfortunately, programs cannot happen as they normally would with kids traveling by bus, staying in cabins and working on teambuilding. School district budget cuts, travel restrictions and social distancing have halted outdoor residential programs, like at Sierra Nevada Journeys, across the US.  

However, the SEL lessons are now more important than ever before. Students need to continue building connections with each other and with nature.

What This Means for Teachers and Students in Northern Nevada and California.

Each year 3,500 students from Northern Nevada and California typically attend Overnight Outdoor Learning. Additionally, more than 100 teachers attend an annual workshop at Grizzly Creek Ranch where we “teach the teacher” on SEL and outdoor science. Nationally, roughly two million youth spend multiple days sleeping away from home, sharing meals with classmates, and learning in outdoor settings like Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Grizzly Creek Ranch — the ideal outdoor setting for supporting student growth in SEL. However, with social distancing, school budget cuts and travel restrictions, outdoor schools are now at a standstill.

How to Support STEM Education and Sierra Nevada Journeys During COVID-19?

1. Hire our educators for day programs at your school. Classrooms Unleashed, grade-level STEM lessons, are available via a combination of live webinars, videos and online lessons.

2. Encourage your school, PFA or community organization to host a Virtual Family STEM Night. For schools, this virtual event is a great way to get families engaged. Also, it can replace in-person events that may have been impacted by gathering restrictions.

3. Consider donating to STEM education and Sierra Nevada Journeys to deliver these valuable programs through online, webinars and virtual events.

Social Emotional Learning. What Is It and Why Is It Important?

If you have a school-age child, you may have heard about Social Emotional Learning (SEL) through your school or their teachers as the term has gained popularity in formal education. Additionally, it has been an integral component of learning at residential environmental education centers (outdoor schools) like Sierra Nevada Journeys outdoor program at Grizzly Creek Ranch.

Our Overnight Outdoor Learning program has been an extension of regular classroom programs with schools. Held at the beautiful Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola, California, Overnight Outdoor Learning is designed for fifth- and sixth-grade students and includes STEM, teambuilding, and SEL components. When students attend the 3-to-5-day program, we use the outdoors as their classroom and they learn using experiential, hands-on approaches. They are encouraged to use critical thinking by asking questions, making observations and conducting investigations.

One of the key components of Overnight Outdoor Learning is SEL defined as,

“The process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.”

- Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

Why is SEL important?

SEL provides a foundation for safe and positive learning and enhances students' ability to succeed in school, careers, and life.

Research shows that SEL not only improves achievement by an average of 11 percentile points, but it also increases prosocial behaviors (such as kindness, sharing and empathy), improves student attitudes toward school, and reduces depression and stress among students (Durlak et al., 2011).

During the coronavirus pandemic, many youth may be experiencing stress and anxiety. They may feel disconnected from others due to quarantine and schools being closed. The need for SEL is rising due to these circumstances.

Ask your school about SEL programs that they may offer. Since 2012, Washoe County School District has been using SEL strategies as a way to increase graduation rates.

Through Washoe County School District’s Parent University, you’ll find regularly scheduled SEL courses to help parents engage in SEL practices, such as College and Career Success and Building Resiliency in Children.

Sacramento City Unified School District’s SEL at home is a great place for parents to learn SEL principles that they can do with their children. They include:

1.      Focus on strengths.
2.      Follow up with a consequence for misbehavior.
3.      Ask children how they feel.
4.      Find ways to stay calm when angry.
5.      Avoid humiliation or mocking your child.
6.      Be willing to apologize.
7.      Give children choices and respect their wishes.
8.      Ask questions that help children solve problems on their own.
9.      Encourage sharing and helping

Learn more about Sierra Nevada Journeys’ education model and STEM programs that incorporate SEL principles.

Nevada Rangeland Station at Family Science Nights educates youth and parents about current rangeland issues

RENO, Nev. — March 14, 2019 — The Nevada Rangeland demonstration at Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Family Science Nights is one of our most popular stations. Family Science Nights are an evening event held at local schools where students and parents come together to participate in interactive science activities. The rangeland station uses “touch boxes” where students reach inside and feel an item such as a feather. Using clues from the display, they discover the feather represents Nevada’s sage grouse. It’s a fun and hands-on approach to learning about Nevada Rangeland topics like the importance of Nevada’s ranching community, grazing, the small game bird sage grouse (also known as the sagehen), wild horses and the impacts of wildfires.  

With the support of Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission, Golden Productions created a video spotlighting us at the rangeland station so you can see interactions firsthand.

To learn more about Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission, check out their documentary series “Stewards of the Rangeland.” The series has been featured on KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting and focuses on topics including how to prevent the sage grouse becoming an endangered species; challenges that open ranges face due to wildfires; exploring the state’s most precious resource — water; and livestock management strategies of five northern Nevada ranching families.

View video of Nevada Rangeland demonstration directly on Sierra Nevada Journeys’ YouTube channel.

Build more science time in and out of the classroom

On our hikes together, my curious 5-year-old son collects rocks and brings them home to organize in various jars by color and shape. As educators and outdoor enthusiasts, my wife and I encourage his geologic exploration.

“Tapping into natural curiosity like my son’s is what makes science the perfect tool to engage children in critical thinking and a lifelong love of learning.”

Science has taken a back seat in recent years in the elementary classroom to the “core” subjects: math and English. An unintended consequence of the “No Child Left Behind” Act of 2001, which sought to build more accountability in public schools, was the increased focus on student testing in math and English, shifting classroom instructional time away from the sciences, social studies, and even the arts and physical education. A recent Vital Signs report shows less than 1.7 hours per week of science is taught in elementary classrooms in Nevada.

In Northern Nevada, with the recent arrival of the big tech companies like Switch and Tesla, it is critical to focus on preparing our youth now for the tremendous growth in knowledge-based careers. Clearly, there is need to increase access to high-quality, impactful educational opportunities for youth in our community.

Here’s the good news: Science and engineering are the perfect vehicles to teach interdisciplinary lessons, so we can have strong science education in the classroom without taking time away from the core subjects. Additionally, in 2014 the Nevada Department of Education adopted a new set of academic standards for science edducation. This adoption was based on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a set of K-12 benchmarks for science education in the classroom. The standards have been adopted in 18 states and the District of Columbia. Locally, Sierra Nevada Journeys has been taking a lead on designing and delivering student programming and teacher training grounded in the NGSS.

If you have children in your life or teachers in your family, you may have heard of Sierra Nevada Journeys, a local nonprofit founded in 2006 on a simple premise: to build the next generation of citizens, scientists and stewards through hands-on science education. We’ve created unique educational programming to help teachers build more science time in and out of the classroom. We have an excellent team of credentialed teachers that design and deliver fun, high-impact elementary programs that take place in the classroom, on overnight trips to our Grizzly Creek Ranch campus, and on one-day field trips to local natural areas. Armed with our mission to deliver innovative outdoor, science-based education programs for youth to develop critical thinking skills and to inspire natural resource stewardship, Sierra Nevada Journeys programming affects more than 15,000 Nevada students and 400 teachers annually.

Whether it’s rocks, or beavers, or bugs, or earthquakes, science offers so many ways to engage the curiosity of young people. Why not take advantage of that to increase the quality of all of our children’s educational experience?

Sean Hill is the director of education for Sierra Nevada Journeys.