Two ways to share your care for our youth by December 3, and this one's free!

December 3 is your LAST DAY to vote for

Great Basin Outdoor School to win Scheel's $10,000 support!

Please vote here now!

December 3 is also


the start of our year-end giving season

and a global movement for giving back to our communities, donating to charitable causes, and unleashing the power of radical generosity, one individual contribution at a time.


Every donation of any size helps us include children with the most need and keeps costs down for whole classes joining us for fun, active outdoor adventures in STEM.

My Giving Tuesday Gift for Kids

It's Snowshoe & Snow Science Time!

Students learn winter ecology, winter safety, snow science, and about our Sierra snowpack as the source of our water while exploring on snowshoes.

Homeschoolers --We've saved February 12 as a special snowshoe day for you starting at the Galena Creek Visitor Center. Parents, contact Emily.

SnowSchool--Day Snowshoe Trips--Our only opening left for a day snowshoe trip is Wednesday, February 19.

Winter programs are filling up, so sign up soon.

For more info Email Emily or call 775-324-0936.

Save your spot now!

Quotes from our 2024 Snowshoers

The MOST IMPORTANT new thing I learned is: 

Stay on the trail, That I should never give up, Listening to nature, About wildlife in the area. Winter safety, To not litter, How snowpack is measured.

The MOST INTERESTING thing I learned about myself:

I like snowshoeing, I am capable of doing hard things, I like nature, Snowshoeing is fun, Outdoors is fun.

How Do Animals Stay Warm in Winter?

Most take on “winter coats” in the fall. Wondering what these coats look like, and how they help keep animals warm? Do this cool activity and you will feel it firsthand!

Mammals have natural barriers to trap body heat. It is like they take on several “winter coats,” each of which plays an important part. The first coat is often a layer of fat hidden under the skin called “blubber.” In addition to being a good thermal insulator—it does not allow heat to pass through it easily—fat has the added benefit of serving as a welcome food reserve. The next coat is often a dense layer of underfur or down feathers packed closely against the skin like a warm undershirt. This cozy, soft coat is filled with air pockets that provide insulation. A stationary layer of air is another good thermal insulator. Finally, to keep out moisture, there is often a layer of oily, water-repellent guard hairs or feathers. Sometimes these hairs appear white, but they are often transparent and hollow, which has a big advantage: they provide extra thermal insulation.

Try this experiment to actually feel the insulating properties of different materials:  


Click for Experiment

Remember our feathered and furry friends this winter.



Thanks for sharing the love on Giving Tuesday and all whose year-end gifts will allow us to include more children in the new year.


Make a difference for a child with your gift here.



Join Our Team!


We're thrilled with finding some great new teaching staff members but are always looking ahead to future seasons and looking for more folks who are great with kids and love sharing their passion for the outdoors. See our naturalist position description here and email Emily with your resume, cover letter, and references.


Please share with friends who are great with kids!

Need a Stocking Stuffer?

Our students love identifying and following animal tracks in the snow. We use our popular pocket field guide to "Tahoe Area Plants and Animals" with over 100 local species which shows tracks of some of our more common animals. It's also a great stocking stuffer and a handy last-minute gift with proceeds supporting our programs for kids. Get yours here!

Combat Holiday Stress with a Nature Fix

Spending time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood and boost feelings of happiness and well-being. Whatever you call it – forest bathing, ecotherapy, mindfulness in nature, green time or the wilderness cure ‒ humans evolved in the great outdoors, and your brain may benefit from a journey back to nature.

 

If you’re able to, get back to nature to energize your mind and body. Research has shown spending 120 minutes a week in nature improves health and well-being. 



One of the most basic human needs is to feel that you belong and you are part of a larger tribe. But studies show that this concept goes beyond human relationships alone. Time in nature results in a sense of belonging to the wider world that is vital for mental health. (From the American Heart Association--See full article here)

We are proud of our board & our staff

Once again we have a 100% Giving Board recognized by the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada with each board member having made a significant annual contribution.

And with our staff's efforts we have achieved the high Platinum Level Candid ranking for being an effective nonprofit.



Donate online securely here


or mail checks to:

Great Basin Outdoor School, 1000 Bible Way #53, Reno, NV 89502.

Help kids connect with nature, science, and one another.


Now is a good time to consider making your gift a monthly donation (an option on our giving page), supporting our endowment fund at the Community Foundation, or honoring your own values about children and the environment with a planned gift through your estate plan or investments.

Please share these opportunities.

Forward to colleagues who care about kids and our Earth.

See more on our website and our Facebook page.

GREAT BASIN OUTDOOR SCHOOL


1000 Bible Way #53 - Reno, NV 89502

775-324-0936


Emily Baldwin, Executive Director

Derik Knak, Development Coordinator

Sue Jacox, Board President


Visit our website