News from the Galena Creek Visitor Center                           E-News April 2014 
A local student blows up a balloon by creating a gas in a bottle during a field studies program focusing on clean air.
 
Local students explore a fallen tree for insects and other signs of decomposition during a Field Studies program in the park.












 

 Galena Creek
Visitor Center
_______________________ 

  Friday - Sunday

  9:00 am - 4:00 pm

  (775) 849-4948
  
  PARK HOURS
  Day Use Only
  8:00 am - 7:00 pm Daily

  

 

Summer Exploration Camps: 
Registration is in Full Swing
  
Great Basin Naturalists at Galena
 is charging full-throttle into our upcoming Summer Exploration Camps for ages 8-12 with new weekly themes, new special guest presenters, and the return of our Teen Leadership Academy for ages 13-17.

 

This summer, treat your children to an unforgettable week in the Galena Creek Forest 

with the streams, ponds, and wildlife just off the trail. 

  

Below is a list of the weekly themes and pricing.  

Spaces are limited, secure your spot today.

 

June 16th - 20th: Nature Detectives

Residential  ($450) or Day  ($210)

 

June 23rd - 27th: Ancient Discoveries
Residential  ($450) or Day  ($210)

June 30th - July 3rd: This Land is Your Land
Day  ($160)

July 7th - 11th: Destination Wilderness I
Day  ($210)  Includes campout at Davis Creek Park
 
July 14th - 18th: Destination Wilderness II
Day  ($210)  Includes campout at Davis Creek Park

July 21st - 25th: Water Journeys
Residential  ($450) or Day  ($210)   
 
July 28th - August 1st: Imaginarium
Residential ($450) or Day ($210)

August 4th - 8th: Keepers of the Forest
Residential  ($450) or Day  ($210) 


Scholarships are available; generously funded 
by the Nell J. Redfield Foundation.
April Nature Note

Do you know what a snag is and why its beneficial to our forests? Find out now.

 

Click here

 
Volunteer With Us!

Do you enjoy staying active in the outdoors?
Do you enjoy interacting with the public?
Do you enjoy researching and preparing exhibits?

Galena Creek Visitor Center has multiple volunteer opportunities for the upcoming summer season. Learn more about how you can help by reading the short April Volunteer Newsletter. 

March in the Park

The Manzanita bushes are beginning to blossom, snow is melting from the Church's Pond trail, and ground squirrels are being seen with increasing frequency. The signs of Spring's onset are all around Galena Creek Park. 
In March, seasoned bird watchers spotted a Golden-crowned Kinglet, and were surprised to hear the reverberating call of Sooty Grouse in the meadow along Jones Creek, and then saw one walking near the trail. 
Field study elementary students, visiting the park with Great Basin Naturalists, were awed when given the chance to see the bright orange breast of an American Robin, and equally excited to see a male and female Mallard floating in a slow moving pool of Galena Creek.
Bird enthusiasm made its way into the Visitor Center as well, as we hosted a packed house for Dr. Alan Gubanich's Hawk Identification Workshop. Additionally, the Visitor Center will host multiple bird walks to give beginner and veteran bird watchers alike the chance to see the spring migrants and those birds that will be here throughout the summer.

Get The Latest Updates
 

 Check here for the latest information about park conditions and events.

 

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Monthly Home School Day
Great Basin Naturalists is now offering a monthly field studies program for local home school students. On the third Friday of each month, students will take part in an outdoor, educational program led by one of our naturalists. Topics include birds of the Sierras, insect hunts, plant ecology, and many more.

Click here to learn about the next program and to reserve your student's spot. 
 
Thank you 
to the Nell J. Redfield Foundation
 
The Nell J. Redfield Foundation supported scholarships for summer camp youth for the third year at the Great Basin Naturalists camp.  The Foundation is also supporting outdoor, residential programs for youth during the school year at Camp WeChMe in the pilot program for 2013-2014.

April Events

Suggested Donation $5.00

 

Every Saturday, 10:00am-12:00pm

Spring Guided Hikes 

Join us for a guided hike through Galena Creek Park with a local specialist. Please bring appropriate clothing and plenty of water.       

 

Saturday, April 5th at 7:00pm

Saving Lake Tahoe: Presentation & Book Signing 

Local author Michael Makley will deliver a presentation revolving around his new book "Saving Lake Tahoe: An Environmental History of a National Treasure." Learn about Lake Tahoe's fascinating history starting with the Washoe Tribe, followed by first contact with settlers and gold rushers, and continuing to the creation of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Makley's book portrays the changing interactions between man and the Lake Tahoe environment through the years, and documents past and present struggles to protect this treasured landscape. Copies of Makley's book will be available for purchase and signing. 

 

Saturday, April 12th at 10:00am

Plein Air Painting Demonstration  

Come out to the Visitor Center for a fine Spring morning and an outdoor painting demonstration. Carol Grigus, local artist and founding member of the Plein-Air Painters of Nevada will explain what Plein Air painting means to her, as well as what materials she uses and the challenges of choosing a painting site. She will then demonstrate her process of sketching and then painting the landscape in front of her.

 

Saturday, April 12th at 7:00pm

Living With Fire: Preparing for Wildfire Season   

The wildfire season is quickly approaching and it is important that homeowners throughout Nevada's fire prone neighborhoods learn how to live with the wildfire threat. A fire adapted community reduces the potential for loss of human life and injury, minimizes damage to homes and infrastructure, and reduces firefighting costs. Spend your evening at the Galena Creek Visitor Center with Ed Smith, specialist of the Living with Fire program under the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. He will teach you about fire adapted communities and what you can do to your property before a fire starts as well as what to do during, and after a fire.    

 

Thursday, April 17th at 10:00am

Galena Toddlers

Nature education for the knee-high including a story, activity, and craft, all led by one of our Visitor Center educators.  

 

Saturday, April 26th at 1:00pm

Build Your Own Hoop Tunnel to Grow Veggies 

Learn how to grow veggies year round! In this hands-on demonstration, local artist, photographer, and organic grower, Kevin Karl will demonstrate how to economically and efficiently build a durable hoop tunnel using off the shelf materials from the hardware store. Extend your growing season or start early with these easy to assemble structures. This is a hands-on demo and attendees will work with Kevin to build a hoop tunnel on site. Detailed plans and material list will be provided.     

 

Saturday, April 26th, 9:00am to 3:00pm 

KNPB Treasure Quest at Rancho San Rafael 

KNPB Public Broadcasting is holding its 3rd annual Spring Event, and the Great Basin Institute will be there to join in the festivities. The event includes a pancake breakfast, geocaching, gold panning, games, and more. Bring the whole family and stop by the Great Basin Institute booth for a special nature craft.   

 

Sunday, April 27th at 9:00am

Spring Bird Walk

The Spring migration is underway as birds start flying North from their wintering lands. What will we see in Galena Creek Park? Rob Lowry with the Lahontan Audubon Society will lead this bird walk through the park, while scouting for birds. The Visitor Center has binoculars to lend.  

 

Sunday, April 27th, 10:00am to 5:00pm 

Reno Earth Day at Idlewild Park 

Celebrate our planet at Reno's annual Earth Day Event with food, educational booths, live music and performers, green technologies, live animals, and more. While your enjoying the many sights, stop by the Great Basin Institute's booth for a fun Earth Day activity.  

 

Saturday, May 3rd at 2:00pm

Tackling Noxious Weeds

What are noxious weeds, how are they different from regular weeds? How can I keep from spreading noxious weeds? Join Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Friends of the Black Rock-High Rock and the Great Basin Institute in this hands-on class to learn the answers to these questions and more! They will look at key characteristics to help you identify some of the more common noxious weeds found in and around northwestern Nevada. You'll also learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities to help in the fight against noxious weeds.  

 

Check out our calender for additional event updates.

 
Kevin Karl will demonstrate how you can cheaply build a hoop tunnel to extend the growing season of your vegetable patch on April 26th at 1:00pm.

 

Did you snap a great photo during your last visit to Galena Creek Park? Whether it's a picture of a beautiful bird, your school group or a scenic vista, we would love to see it! Send in your picture and we may feature it in our next newsletter.
Great Basin Naturalists  
Residential Field Studies 
for the 2013-2014 school year.  

This year, Great Basin Naturalists is pleased to announce the start of our Residential Outdoor School. Using the facilities of Camp WeChMe as base-camp, students will conduct hands on experiments in the forest and draw conclusions based on their observations and data collection, incorporating math, Language Arts, and Next Generation Science Standards. Themes include Forest Ecology and Wildlife Ecology. Programs range from 2 days and 1 night up to 5 days and 4 nights. Price varies and includes meals, lessons, educational materials, and field tools.  

 

All programs are designed to meet state and common core standards, as well as Next Generation Science Standards, while providing unmatched hands-on experience in nature.

 

     

To discuss how residential outdoor school can work for your group, call  (775) 849-4948.    

 

Great Basin Naturalists has booked its first residential field trip for this coming May! Now's the time to reserve an overnight trip for your class or refer us to friends, families, and teachers.  

This Summer, campers can enjoy a week in the forest, winding-up to a day on the warm sands of Lake Tahoe.
The Galena Creek Visitor Center is a partnership between Washoe County, the US Forest Service, and the Great Basin Institute, an environmental non-profit.
For more information, please call 775-849-4948 
or visit the website at www.galenacreekvisitorcenter.org
 
 
Winter hours are Friday to Sunday from 9am - 4pm
       
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