From spring science to summer fun

"Meet a Tree"

And meet new friends and new places and new experiences. As students hiked at Spooner Lake, their teacher remarked on how many had never hiked before or ever seen Lake Tahoe. We love opening kids' eyes to new possibilities.

Many of our students come from families living in poverty with limited opportunities and benefit from your community support that helps make their science camp trip possible.

Students at spring Tahoe science camps wrote:

The best thing about Great Basin Outdoor School is it's way better than school! . . .games in the forest . . . the super-fun activities . . . the camp staff . . . cabin time with friends.

The most important thing I learned is: it's important to protect the outdoors . . . trees give oxygen . . . new songs and all about the birds . . . to respect nature . . . the animals at Lake Tahoe.

The most interesting thing I learned about myself is: that I get calmer on solo nature walks . . . I bond well with people I wasn't friends with before . . . I'm kind . . . I really love nature.

Teachers, plan now for next school year.

Give your students the benefit of these experiences with a day trip to Galena Creek or Spooner Lake or a multi-day overnight science camp at Tahoe in the fall, winter, or spring.

Contact Program Director Lauren here.

Summer Fun at Adventure Day Camp!

Hurry for limited openings June 15-July 31 (skipping 4th of July week). We'll host 6-12-year-olds at the River School Farm in Reno near Mayberry Park doing STEAM/nature-based activities and crafts, hiking, and learning fascinating science topics from guest presenters.

See details and register here!

Fun weekly topics include: "Soaring the Skies: Fun with Flight", "Into the Wild: Outdoor Survival Skills", "Art & Nature: Explore & Create!", "Mad Scientist: Kid-Friendly Chemistry", & "Nevada Naturalist: Local Ecology".

Want to help out or present on a topic?

Here's a link to a volunteer interest form.

Want to join our educator team and teach?

Please share with great candidates.

Contact Day Camp Director Kit .

Family Hike at Davis Creek Saturday, June 13

Bring the family and friends for an easy walk around the nature trail from 10-noon. Glimpse the burn area, hike in the forest, and enjoy the pond and some nature art.

Please see details and register on our website.

After a couple of quick left turns toward the start of the nature trail, you'll park near the pond and find us at the eagle sculpture at the edge of the pond. Tim Torell has transformed some trees damaged in the fire into inspiring nature sculptures. Ranger Nick will give us a park update. See some park update on Facebook.

There is no charge for the hike, but we'd love to provide your family with a copy of our handy pocket field guide to over 100 local species for a donation supporting our youth and family programs.

"Journeys in Journaling!" at Bartley Ranch

Sunday, June 7, 2026

Washoe County Parks invites us for an introduction to the art of nature journaling! Whether your interests tend towards rocks or birds, plants or insects, nature journaling is nothing more than a conscience way to appreciate and remember what you see, smell and hear on your forays in the outdoor world. Some take photos, others make drawings, you might write poems, but we'll all learn some fun facts about the natural features of Bartley Ranch. We'll meet at the Historic Huffaker Schoolhouse at 9 am and walk about a mile on the Quail Run Nature Trail and parts of the Flume Trail and Ranch Loop. Please wear comfortable shoes, bring sun protection, a water bottle, and a camera, sketchbook, or anything else you choose to use in your journaling!

It's free, but please register here.

Journal with John Muir Laws

John Muir Laws describes himself as a scientist and an explorer. He is also an inspiring educator and talented nature journalist sharing his skills and insight in a free educational video series created in partnership with the Children’s Creativity Museum. Each video is between 10 and 15 minutes long and helps you build essential nature journaling skills step-by-step. Perfect for classroom and home learning.

Continue your nature journaling adventure here.

Many Ways to Help!

Family-friendly Teacher Workshop

Tuesday, June 30

Earn recertification hours learning standards-based activities linking all subjects to nature and our watershed. Your school-age children can join us for nature activities too.

9 AM until 4 PM at the lovely River School Farm in Reno.

S ave your spot now right here

S T E A M =

Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math

Can you suggest any wonderful guest presenters to support our Adventure Day Camp STEAM learning activities with 45-minute presentations for 6-12-year-olds? Maybe it's YOU!

Please let Kit know.

Day camp is filling and some sessions have waiting lists, but we have plenty of openings for adults who want to add to the fun.

Teach With Us This Summer & Fall

September and October could not be more beautiful on the shore of Lake Tahoe and at Galena Creek, Spooner Lake and the River School Farm, and we're hiring! If you're great with kids and love the outdoors, we provide paid training and good work experience. Please think, recommend, and share with colleagues who would be a good fit.

See and share more on our website now.

Snapshot Day is an annual citizen science event testing and documenting the health of our Truckee River watershed. Students learned to use water quality tests, did Project WET activities, and wrote water haikus last month. Here's a haiku by one of the groups:

Pools of cool water

Cool water comes down the streams

Down to the Truckee.

Dip netting for aquatic macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality is always a highlight at Snapshot Day and our life science outings. Thanks to the Truckee River Fund for support and to board member Jerry Wager and his wife Janet for sharing science expertise.

Students wrote: The most important thing I learned is: respect nature, I should not waste water, that what we do for water makes a difference, I am more interested in science now.

Special Thanks This Month to the Nevada Department of Outdoor Recreation

This past winter and spring about 360 local students facing barriers to the outdoors benefitted from partial scholarships and school bus transportation funded by NDOR. Their life-changing experiences included day and multi-day overnight programs with snowshoeing, hiking, and science activities at Lake Tahoe, Galena Creek, and Spooner Lake.