Family-Friendly Music for your Backyard Camping

Two playlists have been created on Spotify to get your groove on no matter where your adventure takes you.

With so many unpredictable changes happening throughout the West — air quality, fires, park closures, camping and travel plans canceled — perhaps you could use our SNJ summer camp music playlist for your backyard camping staycation.

Patrick, an Instructor at Sierra Nevada Journeys has created a Spotify playlist of his favorite camp dance songs to get you moving.

Link to Camp Dance Playlist

Here is a link to the playlist on Spotify for you to enjoy with the people you love: Sierra Nevada Journeys Camp Dance Playlist. You’ll five more than 50 songs and 3.5 hours of music.

He has also created a playlist of favorite songs to listen to while you hang out and chill. Whether you are sitting by the pool, going on a walk, or just having a relaxing Sunday at home, this playlist is perfect to just sit back and enjoy. Here is the link to the playlist on Spotify: Sierra Nevada Journeys Hangout Playlist.

More than 30 songs and 2 hours of music have been hand-picked by Patrick for your listening.

Link to Summer Camp Vibe Playlist

A Visit to Galena Creek Recreation Area Can Improve Your Mood and You Might Even Learn a Little About Nature Along the Way

Galena Creek Recreation Area in Reno, Nevada, is one of Sierra Nevada Journeys’ field sites for Classrooms Unleashed and the Our Amazing Earth series, which is designed for fourth grade students. The rugged terrain of boulders, mountains and forest make it the ideal location for students to take the lessons they learned — the different types of weathering, the effects of erosion and how the two natural processes work together to shape the earth – for firsthand exploration.

“Galena Creek, was a bit more isolated compared to some of our other field sites and it sits at a higher elevation so be prepared for weather conditions; there could still be snow on the ground in early spring,” says Vardan Kirakosyan, outdoor instructor with Sierra Nevada Journeys. “It is enjoyable to have a quiet experience at Galena Creek as it lets me use more of my senses to connect with the forest around me. I recommend reading the signs at every trailhead; it often gives you such important information and is always worth the time even though we are all excited to get started with our hike,” added Vardan.

Vardan suggested starting with the Visitor Center Interpretive Trail; it is a small loop (0.4 miles) near the parking lot because it is one of the most accessible trails. “I wanted to share an experience that everyone can do! The trail starts with a short walk that then approaches a small bridge. This is a great place to take a moment and stop to make some observations. All animals need water to survive so take a moment to use all your senses to observe. After crossing the bridge, you are faced with a choice, left or right. I prefer going right and experiencing the loop in that direction, but you will see the same things either way,” says Vardan. 

He added, “You might notice that some of the birds are different from the ones you normally see in town. That’s because you are at a higher elevation and different species prefer different environments in which to live. I also saw that the squirrels were different, much smaller, and spent their time in the bushes instead of the trees. It is a good idea to compare the animals and plants you see here to the ones you normally see in the city to practice your observation skills.”

Angie Anavisca-Valles, Community Outreach Specialist, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, knows a thing or two about stress, but more importantly, about ways to reduce stress.  

“At Anthem, we work with a variety of populations in supporting their health and wellbeing. This past year has been particularly hard some families, both physically and mentally. When we learned about Sierra Nevada Journeys, we wanted to support their programs,” says Anavisca-Valles. “Stress affects everyone and some of the best ways to manage stress is observing your body’s response to stress such as difficulty sleeping, feeling agitated or lack of energy. Sometimes little steps like getting regular exercise, exploring outdoors and observing the wonders of nature can make a difference.”

At the end of your hike at Galena Creek, try to think about the different plants and animals you observed. Make it a goal to remember some of the characteristics of a new animals that you saw and then go and find the name of it by searching the internet or books at the library. Sierra Nevada Journeys’ educators encourage bringing along a journal on your hikes to write down the colors and shape of birds, plants and other wildlife that you saw on your hike. 

Nature journaling is one of the many tools used in Sierra Nevada Journeys’ style of teaching youth about environmental science. It starts with asking yourself a few basic thoughts when observing your surroundings: I notice, I wonder, and it reminds me of. From there, you can sketch pictures of what they see, write thoughts about your experiences and discoveries. Many find it as a meaningful way to learn and reduce stress.

We look forward to getting kids outside through student field trips. Contact Alyssa Wagner to book Classrooms Unleashed or a Family STEM Night program. 

---

Directions to Galena Creek Recreation Area:

Galena Creek Regional Area (south entrance) is located at 18250 Mt Rose Hwy, Reno, NV 89511. Learn more about Galena Creek. We encourage you to take a guided hike if you are not familiar with the area.   

Sierra Nevada Journeys' Classrooms Unleashed: Designed by credentialed teachers to be inquiry-driven, hands-on, student centered, and highly engaging. Our programs are aligned to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core. Program fees are based on a sliding scale to meet the needs of all schools. Classrooms Unleashed programs include in-class lessons taught by Sierra Nevada Journeys educators and classroom teachers, an outdoor science field study at a local nature site and extension lessons for teachers for before and after our program. We also administer pre- and post-assessments for your students. We work with teachers to meet their classroom’s individual needs.

Family STEM Nights: They are a fantastic way to bring families together for an evening of fun. Experience the wonder of science and solve a variety of STEM challenges. Family STEM Nights are a great way to build community and engage students and their families.

Sierra Nevada Journeys Establishes Scholarship Fund To Support Underrepresented Youth in Honor of Long-time Board Member

Carol Whiteside

Sacramento, Calif., May 11, 2021 – On February 12, 2021, Sierra Nevada Journeys lost a valued member of its family with the passing of Carol Whiteside — an iconic role model and former Mayor of Modesto, California. In her honor, Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Board established the Carol Whiteside Scholarship Fund to send youth to camp. The fund will remove a critical access barrier, namely the entire cost for attending camp programs at Grizzly Creek Ranch located in Portola, California, for youth and families in Northern California.

“Carol was passionate about the role our organization plays in helping to provide access to the outdoors and quality educational programs to underrepresented and historically marginalized communities,” says Eaton Dunkelberger, CEO, Sierra Nevada Journeys. “Together, we can make tremendous impacts on families in our community through a safe and fun camp experience. Carol helped make this possible for so many kids and families.”

In 2010, Carol was appointed to Sierra Nevada Journeys’ board by Sierra Health Foundation— a private philanthropy that forges new paths to promote health, racial equity and racial justice across Northern California.

Grizzly Creek Ranch was originally built in 2003 by Sierra Health Foundation 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. With Carol’s help, in 2020 Sierra Nevada Journeys purchased the camp from the Sierra Health Foundation after a 3-year capital campaign, and continues to operate programming for the community.

Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Board of Trustees established this scholarship in Carol’s name with a $7,500 investment and with additional matching donations, 10 families attended Family Camp for some much-needed respite.

Carol served as a trustee for a remarkable 11 years with Sierra Nevada Journeys, an environmental education nonprofit that inspires youth to think critically and become stewards of our own natural resources. Sierra Nevada Journeys strives to provide educational equity and inclusion by focusing on underserved youth from Northern California and Northern Nevada. Its programs are delivered in communities that span the I-80 corridor, from Sacramento to Reno, including an outdoor school and other camp programs at its Grizzly Creek Ranch location.

“We all will miss her warmth, compassion, sharp wit and intellect as a leader in our community and in our organization. Carol had a clear vision for what Sierra Nevada Journeys could be and what it could mean to the youth and families of our community, and she worked tirelessly to bring that vision to life. Carol’s life accomplishments were many, including serving as mayor, founder, board member, visionary, and advocate for lifting up those in need,” says Dunkelberger.

Two Sacramento area nonprofits, PRO Youth and Families and Sol Collective, had the opportunity to send families to Family Camp through the Carol Whiteside Scholarship.

“With the pandemic, youth and their families are facing unprecedented levels of isolation. At PRO Youth and Families, we inspire, educate, and mobilize young people — especially those who have experienced trauma — to build a healthier future for themselves, their families, and their communities. When we learned about Sierra Nevada Journeys and their Family Camps, I knew it is was the right partnership for us. Our participants that attended Family Camp experienced social emotional learning, relationship building and communication techniques, all while having fun outdoors as a family,” says Staci Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer at PRO Youth.

Executive Director Estella Sanchez of Sol Collective, says that it started as community-based partnership to bring together a wide variety of community-led programming and activist projects. “With the pandemic, we’ve had to temporarily close our center. Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Family Camps provided an opportunity for some of our families to safely be at camp and enjoy time together surrounded by nature. We truly appreciate the funders that brought this scholarship opportunity to our families,” says Sanchez.

Learn more about Family Camp respite weekends. You can help support Sierra Nevada Journeys by booking a cabin for your family. Or, if you’re unable to attend Family Camp, you can help send other families this much-need respite by donating to Sierra Nevada Journeys. In fact, $25 supports a day of activities; $75 provides three days of meals for a camper; and $125 sends a child to camp.

---

Family Camp’s Positive Impact for Multi-Generational Families

“We had a total of five families from our Sol Collective community be able to participate in Family Camp. We had multi- generations including babies, toddlers, youth, teenagers, adults and grandparents. Personally, I just wanted to share that my mom came and she has mobility issues walking. The camp staff was very supportive in modifying activities in order to support her being able to participate and move around camp slowly, and comfortably. We were very thankful. It was a blessing to be able to participate and know my mom felt secure walking and getting around. We can’t thank you enough. We hope we can support more opportunities like this in the future. ”

— Nicole M., Sol Collective Member

---

About Sol Collective
Established in 2005, Sol Collective is a community-based partnership whose mission is to provide artistic, cultural, and educational programming, promote social justice, and empower youth through art, activism, music, and media experience. Based in Sacramento, California, Sol Collective collaborates with global and local artists activists to host art exhibitions, community workshops, youth programming, and platforms for public organizing from coast to coast.

---

About PRO Youth and Families
PRO Youth and Families confronts the trauma youth, families, and communities face by inspiring, educating, and mobilizing young people. They make a difference by keeping young people off the streets, out of prison, and away from alcohol, drugs and gangs by giving them meaningful and life-changing opportunities. We are committed to strengthening youth – and their families and communities — by developing neighborhood networks, identifying and addressing needs, and by providing training and other resources that will make that happen.

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.

---

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).

---

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

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.

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

Summer Camp Music Playlists on Spotify

Patrick, an Instructor at Sierra Nevada Journeys has created a Spotify playlist of his favorite camp dance songs to get you moving this summer.

Link to Camp Dance Playlist

Summer Camp is one of his favorite times of the year; you’ll find Patrick playing Capture the Flag or hanging out at the pool during his free time. One thing he misses about Summer Camp is the legendary dance jams. This playlist is guaranteed to get you on your feet and moving and grooving with your family and friends.

Here is a link to the playlist on Spotify for you to enjoy with the people you love: Sierra Nevada Journeys Camp Dance Playlist. You’ll five more than 50 songs and 3.5 hours of music.

He has also created a playlist of favorite songs to listen to while you hang out and chill. Whether you are sitting by the pool, going on a walk, or just having a relaxing Sunday at home, this playlist is perfect to just sit back and enjoy. Here is the link to the playlist on Spotify: Sierra Nevada Journeys Hangout Playlist.

More than 30 songs and 2 hours of music have been hand-picked by Patrick for your listening.

Link to Summer Camp Vibe Playlist

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.