Sierra Nevada Journeys Raises $5.5 Million and Purchases Grizzly Creek Ranch

Sierra Nevada Journeys announces the purchase of the 515-acre camp, Grizzly Creek Ranch, securing a permanent home for inspiring and serving youth in this region. For the past 12 years, Sierra Nevada Journeys, an outdoor science education nonprofit, has been helping more than 190,000 youth explore nature through science and fuel their own special connections with the natural world. Most of the students that participate in Sierra Nevada Journeys’ programs come from high-need communities across Northern Nevada and Northern California.

“We are deeply grateful to our donors, program partners, volunteers and employees for investing in our mission and the youth we serve,” says Eaton Dunkelberger, CEO Sierra Nevada Journeys. “We raised $5.57 million with the generous support of our dedicated 56 donors.” 

“Through all the ups and downs of 2020, we have stayed focused on our mission by helping to meet the extraordinary needs of our community, teachers and students. This year, Sierra Nevada Journeys was able to pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic and still deliver support and respite to those who needed it most. For example, 50 percent of the participants at Family Camp this past fall were scholarship families who were at risk of experiencing more isolation than other families during COVID. We actively worked with community partners like the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows and Amplify Life to provide families with safe outdoor activities that build support, confidence and new skills to bounce back from life’s challenges,” added Dunkelberger.

Grizzly Creek Ranch has a unique ecosystem creating the ideal setting for using the outdoors as the classroom. Located on Big Grizzly Creek, the watershed, including a ¾-acre pond and its surrounding vegetation, is home to more than 100 bird species. “We chose to support Sierra Nevada Journeys’ endeavor to purchase the camp as they will preserve Grizzly Creek Ranch for its best and highest use. Using the exceptional land and water resources at Grizzly Creek Ranch as their outdoor classroom, they will be providing youth, especially those from disadvantaged communities, the opportunity to become the next generation of environmental scientists and land stewards,” says Lynn Campbell, North Central Area Representative, Sierra Nevada Conservancy (Ret.).

 To learn more about the purchase of Grizzly Creek Ranch go to sierranevadajourneys.org/aha.

Thank you to our donors who supported Sierra Nevada Journeys and the purchase of Grizzly Creek Ranch.

About Grizzly Creek Ranch

In addition to the 515 acres of land, there are 26 buildings at camp with a lodge, 16 cabins, four yurts, an administration building, two outdoor amphitheaters and an outdoor pool. Located 50 minutes north of Reno and 2 hours east of Sacramento, in Plumas National Forest, its facilities are modern and can accommodate 240 campers.

 Grizzly Creek Ranch was originally built in 2003 by Sierra Health Foundation — a private philanthropy investing in partnerships and programs that improve health and quality of life — as a camp for youth with disabilities. In 2010, Sierra Health Foundation partnered with Sierra Nevada Journeys to launch experiential education at Grizzly Creek Ranch. For the past 10 years, Sierra Nevada Journeys has been operating Grizzly Creek Ranch, bringing fifth and sixth graders to camp for outdoor school, and hosting a variety of community partners for leadership and youth development programs.

Ensuring Educational Equity, Access and Inclusion

Yesterday, those of us at Sierra Nevada Journeys paused our in outreach to make space to listen, learn, and stand alongside the black community in sadness, solidarity, and hope. 

Image from embracerace.org’s article “31 Children’s Books to Support Conversations on Race, Racism, and Resistance”

Sierra Nevada Journeys works to ensure educational equity, accessibility, and inclusion by focusing on reaching youth from historically marginalized communities. We know that the key to effective learning is feeling safe, and as such, Sierra Nevada Journeys condemns systematic racism that compromises the safety of so many people of color. The death of Mr. George Floyd is the latest example that highlights the disparity in the treatment of people of color in our society, played out for young people of color regularly in school and outdoor spaces. 

We are committed to implementing more culturally relevant programs, wider partnerships with historically marginalized communities, and broader diversity of staff reflective of the communities we serve. The tragic events of the last week have reminded us of the need to listen, gather advice, and work to apply our efforts where they will best serve the youth of the communities we serve. 

We are thankful to partners leading Equity and Inclusion work with youth and the outdoors, recognizing the challenges facing youth from historically marginalized communities at camps, in nature, in STEM classrooms and in STEM careers. We are learning from them and from the youth we serve, and we encourage all of our stakeholders to please get involved in your own way to work toward eliminating racism for the benefit of all youth in our community.

We recommend these resources for parents to guide discussions with your children about racism and racialized violence:

• Children’s Books to Support Conversations on Race and Racism from EmbraceRace

• Resources for Talking About Racism and Racialized Violence With Kids from the Center for Racial Justice in Education

• Talking to Kids About Race by National Geographic

• Talking Racism With White Kids is Not Enough from TIME

• Black History Movies That Tackle Racism from Common Sense Media

COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights the Need for Science Literacy

While John Adams was defending the lives of British soldiers at the time, he could very well have said the same thing about science.

As COVID-19 continues to touch every part of life around the globe, it is vitally important that we understand the science of our new realities and have an informed citizenry. Never before in modern times have we seen such an overwhelming demonstration of the need for science literacy.

We are battling a deadly pandemic — and we will ultimately win this fight because of those working overtime in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) based careers. Innovation through STEM is informing our responses to COVID-19. Some examples include: 3-D printing of personal protection equipment, distilleries pivoting to produce hand sanitizer, and research and development of more than 100 vaccine candidates.

We’ve also seen our regional, state and local leaders unite behind science to help stop the spread of infection and flatten the curve. Physical distancing, protective face coverings and quarantine are all ways to fight a deadly virus without a cure or vaccine. And we know this because of the scientists who identified the virus, understood its transmission, calculated its contagiousness, are researching treatments, and potentially, a ground-breaking vaccine. The science of this pandemic has already saved an immeasurable number of lives and will continue to save many more.

And when the curve drops and restrictions are lifted, the need for cutting-edge research and science education will be crucial in how we respond to future threats. Science-literate next generations could literally save us. And our planet. Investing today will pave the way for tomorrow’s triumphs.

Long before we were staying home because of COVID-19, The Discovery, Immunize Nevada and Sierra Nevada Journeys were cultivating science literacy in our community, collectively through our in-person, online, school and outdoor-based programs.

These are scary times. And with everything changing so fast, it can be tough to make sense of it all. But one thing remains certain: the need for science education. Science is crucial in fighting and controlling the spread of disease. That’s why The Discovery exists; we’re here to inspire the next generation of scientists, researchers and innovators who will help us overcome the challenges like what we’re facing today.

Keeping our distance from misinformation is easier said than done, and Immunize Nevada continues to be a trusted resource, guiding Nevadans with credible, evidence-based facts and resources. As rapidly as this virus has spread, misinformation has spread faster, causing the WHO to coin it an “infodemic.” We can all stop the spread by fact-checking, listening to credible experts and dispelling and debunking alternative theories, dangerous cures and myths. Try out your fact-checking skills with the News Literacy Project at newslit.org/coronavirus and if you have distance learners, their Checkology curriculum is now available for free.

Sierra Nevada Journeys serves two-thirds of the elementary schools across northwest Nevada with STEM education annually. Our educators have worked to transition our in-person programs to support digital learning, and they are planning to serve 15,000 students this spring to support the region’s move to distance learning. In a time when our next generation will be relied upon to solve the next pandemic, taking a six-month leave of absence on science education is not an option.

Right now, we may not be able to serve our community the way you’re used to, but we’re still here and we are still serving you! Science matters and we can see it in the care that our loved ones receive, in the skill of our health care providers and in every aspect of our economic engines. Be a champion for science and in the meantime, stay safe and healthy, take care of each other, and never stop learning!

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This opinion column, originally published in the Reno Gazette Journal on May 9, 2020, was submitted by Mat Sinclair, President/CEO of The Discovery; Heidi Parker, Executive Director of Immunize Nevada; and Eaton Dunkelberger, CEO of Sierra Nevada Journeys.

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Overcoming Psychological Barriers of Athletes After Life-Altering Accidents

Andy Stephens, School and Community Group Manager with Sierra Nevada Journeys, was recently featured in Why People Return to the Sport That Nearly Killed Them by Outside magazine. His master’s thesis focused on athletes who return to their sports after traumatic injuries. Andy of course, when asked about it, he said, “I’m really not one to seek out any attention.” The article is an inspiring piece that shows people who have suffered unimaginably doing activities they love and their journey to returning to their sport with new vigor and respect.

Andy studied the psychological process of the athletes to understand it and help others who may be going through a similar process.

“I was lucky enough to join with an adaptive winter sports nonprofit during my graduate work. It became quickly apparent to me that while we were working with athletes to physically recover, there as a missing piece to their recovery — the mental and identity components. I had my own traumatic medical emergency which really helped inform my understanding of the struggles adaptive athletes have in redefining their identity. It impossible to explain how exciting it is to see athletes lean into their new strengths and develop this whole new way of viewing their new reality,” said Andy.  

“I was pulled toward working with an organization like Sierra Nevada Journeys because I wanted to be a part of helping drive growth in youth on a larger scale,” he added. Sierra Nevada Journeys’ curriculum focuses not only on STEM but also on Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Some of the work that happens during Overnight Outdoor Learning at Grizzly Creek Ranch for fifth and sixth graders is geared toward team building and SEL. These aspects create a learning environment that focuses on science, critical thinking, outdoor stewardship, and SEL, which is a natural fit for Andy’s journey as a mentor for youth.

Now is your moment to join me in supporting Sierra Nevada Journeys and the campaign to purchase Grizzly Creek Ranch

My name is Matson Sewell, and I’m a co-trustee and grants manager for the Arata Brothers Trust.

I’m so glad to have the chance to talk about why the Trust has made a commitment to the capital campaign to purchase the Grizzly Creek Ranch. We first learned of Sierra Nevada Journeys through our sister, Elfrena Foord, a much-appreciated philanthropist in Sacramento. Elfrena was moderating the Social Venture Partners Fast Pitch program. After we heard Eaton’s pitch, my brother, Mark Sewell, the senior trustee at Arata Brothers leaned over to me and said, “That’s the nonprofit I want us to check out this year.” I agreed and lined up a visit to the Grizzly Creek Ranch.

Mark had been speaking for many months about a strong desire for us to do some grant awarding that invested in a lasting legacy for the Arata Brothers Trust. We are proud of the programming that over $15 million has funded in Sacramento education programs, informed by the practical insights from my niece, our third trustee, Lisa Malvini, a Sacramento elementary school teacher. But I understood what Mark meant about a lasting legacy for future generations. When I returned from the camp visit I contacted Mark and said, “I think I’ve found our legacy.”

We grew up in Reno, visited Sacramento each summer to see our grandfather and his two brothers, whose grocery business formed the Arata Brothers Trust after they died. We also spent August of every summer at our grandfather’s cabin in the woods off of Highway 50. My brothers attended Mohawk Boys camp when they were a little older which used to be just a few miles from the Grizzly Creek Ranch. We thrived in the Sierra natural environment, treasured the memories of those experiences and wanted to preserve the Sierras as well as expose the next generations to a landscape they will love and want to cherish and preserve as well.

At this time of tremendous competition for funding dollars, especially in support of STEM and workforce readiness, Sierra Nevada Journeys stands out as an especially effective, scalable, and impact-driven organization. By their purchase of the Grizzly Creek Ranch, they can take their training of next-generation environmental scientists and land stewards to a new level.

Both the physical landscape as well as the mission and vision of Sierra Nevada Journeys checks off every box for us to provide substantial financial support to something that will serve future generations. The physical layout is extraordinary with its full accessibility and multiple natural habitats for hands-on natural science education. The processes and systems in place are exceptional — I came out of decades in patient safety in healthcare and wish the medical centers I’d worked in could claim this organization’s level of exquisite attention to regulatory compliance and safety detail as well as their open welcome to everyone.

There is one additional factor in our commitment, and that is to honor the memory of our brother, Andy, who we lost in the surprise snowstorm of October 2004. He went for an end-of-season mountain bike ride off of Highway 50 near our grandfather’s cabin. A dozen small groups were stranded for three days by this surprise blizzard, including the two visitors from Japan who froze on the face of El Capitan. All the others were rescued except our brother. Eighteen months after he went missing, a Sierra Search and Rescue training exercise repelled down a cliff face near where his bike and backpack were found. A recovered vertebrae confirmed the DNA match.  The next summer Mark, Elfrena and I hiked to the location at Scout peak and noticed the wild, electric blue and yellow threads of shiny cloth woven into the bird and squirrel nests in the trees. We smiled imagining these came from Andy’s first layer of the Lycra leggings and shirt he must have worn that day. It helped to recognize that he became woven into and a part of the landscape he loved more than any place on earth. It helps, even more, to honor his memory with supporting the purchase of this property for future generations to love this area as much as we have.

Sierra Nevada Journeys has exceptional programming but that can’t be secured if it could be disrupted by a change in landlords. They need to own the property to secure the future of their work. This property will be sold. I have a sense of urgency about the situation because imagining this remarkable landscape being purchased and re-purposed to any other use, such as… a golf club and resort would be an unbearable loss to the science and environmental education of young people in our region. And this gorgeous land will go that route if we don’t preserve it for its best and highest use. It’s up to us.

Come and visit the Grizzly Creek Ranch — I think you will never forget it.

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.