2019 Q.A.R.E. Awards Recipients

Honoring Excellence at Sierra Nevada Journeys

On Nov. 10, we celebrated our fifth annual Q.A.R.E. (Quality. Accountability. Respect. Unique Experiences.) awards honoring team members that exemplify our four core values. With more than 80 employees at Sierra Nevada Journeys, it is a great honor to recognize the following four employees for their outstanding contributions.

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Pictured: Mickie Tang and Eaton Dunkelberger

Quality: Mickie Tang, Part-Time Educator, Sacramento Classrooms Unleashed
Mickie has been with us for three years as an educator in Sacramento where she advocates for high-quality teaching and learning. She continually seeks improvement in her own teaching abilities and proactively improves program content. As a leader on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Mickie brings a thoughtful, critical perspective on inclusion and equity that has positively impacted Sierra Nevada Journeys.

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Pictured: Hilda Valencia and Eaton Dunkelberger

Accountability: Hilda Valencia, Cook, Grizzly Creek Ranch
Hilda has been with our team for two years and started as a dishwasher; she quickly took on more responsibilities and became a cook preparing nutritional meals for hundreds of campers each week. Hilda always is the first to arrive and leads by example. She is hardworking, dedicated and committed to quality food service for our guests.

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Pictured: Lauren Rangel-Fridman and Eaton Dunkelberger

Respect: Lauren Rangel-Friedman, Residential Outdoor Science Instructor, Grizzly Creek Ranch
Lauren joined the team in February 2019, as one of 14 ROSIs at Grizzly Creek Ranch and quickly proved to be a valuable team member by fine-tuning class lessons to meet the unique needs of each incoming group of students. They made a bracelet for every participant as a take-home reminder of the community agreement that each student commits to at the beginning of camp. Additionally, Lauren created new activities for students to further grow Sierra Nevada Journeys’ programs.

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Pictured: Mackenzie Kohler and Eaton Dunkelberger

Experiences: Mackenzie Kohler, Part-Time Educator, Reno Classrooms Unleashed
Mackenzie started with Sierra Nevada Journeys as a summer camp counselor and worked her way up to part-time educator. She proactively assists her colleagues and volunteers to pitch in whenever needed. Mackenzie regularly observes other programs and instructors to continually grow her teaching skills. She takes initiative to plan training and educator meetings, which spark collaboration among her colleagues.

Here’s what we strive to achieve each and every day through our core values:

1. We are committed to outstanding quality (Q)

   1. We strive to improve through rigorous evaluations of our actions

   2. We flexibly embrace change that makes our programs and operations better

   3. We celebrate actions that demonstrate our commitment to excellence

2. We are accountable (A)

   1. We do what we say we'll do for each other and for our stakeholders

   2. At all levels of our team, we set, commit to, and reach specific goals

3. We respect each other and ourselves (R)

   1. We foster a respectful work environment by using supportive actions and words to positively impact our teammates and ensuring our co-workers do the same

   2. We work to understand the goals and challenges of our team, participants, and donors, and integrate these considerations into our actions

   3. We believe that a diverse set of backgrounds and skills adds value to our organization

4. We provide unforgettable experiences (E)

   1. We keep participants' safety, education and experience at the forefront of our actions

   2. We recognize the uniqueness of our experience for our participants, and show up each day ready to deliver

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.

Twin Rivers Recognizes Sierra Nevada Journeys for its outstanding partnership

Twin Rivers Recognized Sierra Nevada Journeys for its outstanding partnership that improves outdoor science education

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – September 25, 2019 — For the past three years, hundreds of fifth and sixth graders from Twin Rivers Unified School District board a bus and travel to Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Grizzly Creek Ranch camp for a life-changing adventure. Students are given the opportunity to attend Overnight Outdoor Learning with Sierra Nevada Journeys at the end of their elementary education career. The three-day science camp, located in Plumas National Forest, becomes an outdoor classroom to teach and immerse students in science and STEM principles.

 For many of the students, the trip is their first time out of the city, the first time to camp in a forested environment and the first time to see snow. It can be a defining experience for the students with the chance to experience many ‘firsts’ on the trip. Of 34 elementary and middle schools in the Twin Rivers school district, 21 of them attend Overnight Outdoor Learning program with Sierra Nevada Journeys which equates to about 1,400 students each year.

At the September 24, 2019 Twin Rivers Unified School District Board Meeting, the Trustees and Jackie White, Twin Rivers Executive Director of Student Engagement, presented Sierra Nevada Journeys with a Certificate of Recognition for “unwavering commitment to building partnerships that increase Twin Rivers students’ experiences and opportunities that lead to increased engagement, learning and academic success.”

“Students are experiencing the outdoors with classmates, building new skills, learning teamwork and doing things that take them out of their comfort zone, like traversing on the high ropes course. Our program is set up to be a combination of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) mixed in with our science curriculum, which is Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). It includes a lot of problem-solving and presenting your case based on evidence that the students find on the trail hike," said Eaton Dunkelberger, CEO with Sierra Nevada Journeys.

 In a recent trip to camp, teachers and students shared their experiences of attending science camp with Sierra Nevada Journeys (see videos “Giving Aha a Home” and “TRUSD: 6th Grade Science Camp”):

"It is multifaceted learning at Grizzly Creek Ranch. There are physical and mental challenges for the kids, there's science and there is personal growth. The learning is extreme. It's just a phenomenal program," said Steve Breiter, a sixth-grade teacher at Hillsdale Elementary, which is part of Twin Rivers Unified School District.

Ava Jones, a sixth-grader with Twin Rivers, shared her experience on the challenge course and climbing the alpine tower. “It was scary at first. But when you're up there, it is amazingly beautiful and you just feel good inside that you did it," she said.

Sierra Nevada Journeys receives $4,500 from the Community Foundation of Western Nevada

RENO, Nev. — July 8, 2019 — Sierra Nevada Journeys received a $4,500 Community Fund grant from the Community Foundation. Partnering together, Sierra Nevada Journeys and Desert Research Institute will provide 10 Family STEM Nights reaching 1,500 children and families from local elementary schools. Family STEM Nights are a fun evening with interactive science-themed stations that reinforce STEM concepts learned in the classroom.

The partnership between Sierra Nevada Journeys and Desert Research Institute (DRI) will step up the level of Family STEM Nights by providing access to DRI faculty in addition to Sierra Nevada Journeys educators and expose children at an early age to STEM education and possible future STEM careers.

Based at school sites, each Family STEM Night is a hands-on, two-hour event that includes mini- challenges, family-based competitive projects and dinner, appealing to the whole family to build comfort in STEM subjects. Each event ranges in attendance from 100-200+ students, parents and siblings. This exciting, family-friendly approach can be especially effective for students who have difficulties in a classroom setting.

In addition to our staff teachers, we have a model in place to seamlessly integrate volunteers into our Family STEM Nights. This is a rich experience for volunteers and provides interaction between the community and the school.

Nevada has a science education deficit in elementary schools. Nevada ranks 44 out of 50 states in educating students in early-age science. Elementary teachers self-report spending less than two hours a week on science in the classroom. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our nation’s students know and can do.

“Family STEM Nights provide a great opportunity for families to engage in STEM activities together and help bridge the science gap. Also, parents getting involved with their child’s school has been effective in improving a child’s learning and fosters positive environments both at school at home,” Eaton Dunkelberger, CEO, Sierra Nevada Journeys said.

“Sierra Nevada Journeys and DRI have great synergies in supporting K-6 education by providing tools, resources and inquiry-based STEM curriculum in our community; we look forward to partnering with Sierra Nevada Journeys on Family STEM Nights so all students can learn more about science and the environment,” said Amelia Gulling, Science Alive STEM Education Director at DRI.

To learn more about Family STEM Nights or to schedule one for your school, please visit sierranevadajourneys.org/fsn.

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-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. For additional information about Sierra Nevada Journeys, visit sierranevadajourneys.org.

About DRI

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is a recognized world leader in basic and applied interdisciplinary research. Committed to scientific excellence and integrity, DRI faculty, students, and staff have developed scientific knowledge and innovative technologies in research projects around the globe. Since 1959, DRI's research has advanced scientific knowledge, supported Nevada's diversifying economy, provided science-based educational opportunities, and informed policymakers, business leaders, and community members. With campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, DRI is one of eight institutions in the Nevada System of Higher Education. More about DRI can be found at dri.edu.
 

About Community Foundation

The Community Foundation of Western Nevada strengthens our region through philanthropy and leadership by connecting people who care with causes that matter. For more information on the Community Fund grants, visit nevadafund.org.

Sierra Nevada Journeys was selected by NatureBridge as a top 10 environmental education leader to create industry Social and Emotional Learning framework

RENO, Nev. — December 21, 2018 — Sierra Nevada Journeys was selected by NatureBridge as one of 10 organizations that will work collaboratively to develop systems that will effectively incorporate Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) frameworks, research, and preferred practices into residential environmental education programming.

More than 65 organizations expressed interest from across the U.S. and Canada but only 10 were chosen based on our geographic reach, organizational capacity, diversity of participants served and unique perspectives on SEL. 

The Residential Environmental Education Partnership (REEP) convened on October 1, 2018, in San Francisco, California and tackled four key areas:

1. Understanding of the participating organizations’ SEL competencies.

2. Seeking SEL commonalities in similar residential school programs shared by the REEP participants.

3. Mapping program outcomes and associated practices.

4. Establishing a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Partnership is scheduled to meet again in January 2019, to continue its work on building SEL frameworks.  “We’re thrilled to be involved at the ground level of this initiative.  Since the beginning, Social Emotional Learning principles have been integral to what we do at Sierra Nevada Journeys, but only recently have we been identifying and building SEL practices more intentionally in the work we do.  This partnership is a fantastic way for leaders in our industry to work collaboratively on creating common language, measurement tools and an overarching framework for what SEL does and should look like in outdoor education.  It’s exciting work, and we are so thankful to NatureBridge for recognizing our organization as a leader in the outdoor education industry, and including Sierra Nevada Journeys on this groundbreaking project.” Said Sean Hill, Education Director, Sierra Nevada Journeys.

NatureBridge is the largest residential education partner of the National Park Service offering programming in six national parks. Thank you to the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation for funding this collaborative effort among leading outdoor environmental education organizations.

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

Sierra Nevada Journeys Hosts Fourth Annual NGSS Bootcamp for Educators

RENO, Nev. – May 16, 2018 — Sierra Nevada Journeys hosted more than 100 teachers from northern Nevada and northeastern California for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) training. The three-day program held at our Grizzly Creek Ranch Campus in Portola, California, shared how to incorporate NGSS standards into their classrooms through outdoor-based education.

Sierra Nevada Journeys Education Director, Sean Hill, said, “It has been our best year ever with 110 attendees including teachers, specialists, administrators and pre-service teachers that represented 11 districts across two states.”

NGSS has three distinct dimensions to learning science — crosscutting concepts, science and engineering practices and disciplinary core ideas. “Many science educators are familiar with this framework but what is not commonly known are the shifts in teaching philosophy, instruction and assessment that teachers need to know in order to effectively teach students using the current research,” said Hill.

NGSS Bootcamp brings industry thought leaders together to share ideas and best practices for STEM-based programming that focuses on the outdoors. This year’s program wouldn’t be possible without supporters such as Project Learning Tree which presented all teachers with several free lessons through PLT’s new online curriculum, or “e-units”. Additional partners included: Catamount Fund, Ltd., Intel’s Folsom campus, Nevada Division of Forestry, Nevada’s Northwestern Professional Development Program for Education, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Washoe County School District, North American Association for Environmental Education EE360 program and Desert Research Institute’s Science Alive program. Collaborations between private, public and nonprofit companies like these fuel Sierra Nevada Journeys’ mission to deliver innovative outdoor, science-based education for youth as well as educators through continuing education.

For additional information on how to support Sierra Nevada Journeys, visit sierranevadajourneys.org.

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-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.