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Springing into Spring
Snowshoeing and winter ecology have been so fun, and now we celebrate a new season. But first we share some student winter haikus:
Crystal snowflakes fall
I love watching snowflakes fall
They are beautiful.
Icicles hanging
They are beautiful hanging
I love them so much.
Calm reflective time in nature writing, drawing, or just being is restorative for children and adults alike.
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Spring Day Camp
begins March 23 with a week of "Up, Up, and Away! The Science of Flight" followed by a week of "Rock On! Groovy Geology".
Parents & Grandparents, make sure the kids have a chance to be active and make new friends and keep on learning during spring break. The River School Farm near Mayberry Park is the perfect setting for your six to twelve-year-olds to explore nature along the trails and be inspired about STEM topics by guest presenters and activities.
Is flight your passion? Come share with us! Email Kit.
| | Have you walked in the dunes at Washoe Lake? | | |
This is a springtime favorite for us that we love to share for our monthly family hike. It's an easy 10 am-noon walk led by Washoe Lake State Park Interpreter Kim Zuch who has learned some new fun dune facts to share. All ages are welcome, so bring the family and invite friends.
Complimentary admission to the state park is offered for our hike, but they do appreciate donations. You can also donate for Great Basin Outdoor School programs and get a handy colorful pocket field guide to over 100 local species for the family.
See details & register online here.
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Curiosity is Key
"At first kids love science--bugs, their bodies, the outdoors--but if you don't tap into that natural curiosity they lose it," says veteran high school biology teacher Samuel Washington, Jr. in a recent article in the NEA (National Education Association) magazine. He captures their interest with stunning science facts such as 'fewer than half the cells in our bodies are human cells' and 'hot water can freeze faster than cold water'. (Non-human microbial cells such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses make up the rest of our bodies.)
Our sharing science with students at a young age can help keep that curiosity ignited. Between the impressive science backgrounds of our educator staff and our invited guest presenters, our students gain exciting new perspectives. Let us know if you have some fascinating science to share with them.
| | March is a Month of New Beginnings | | |
March was the first month of the early Roman calendar. Cultures throughout history have celebrated the arrival of spring with the vernal equinox when the sun sits directly over our equator shining equally on the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. In England as many as 1000 still gather to celebrate the equinox at Stonehenge, and at El Castillo in Chichen Itza, even more watch the sunlight slithering down the Mayan pyramid like a snake.
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March is Women's History Month
We celebrate new beginnings achieved by women from gaining the right to vote to starting earth-changing environmental movements. This year's theme is "Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future" to recognize contributions of women who are leading sustainability efforts across environmental, economic, educational, and social justice movements. Our girls need these great women role models.
See more at National Women's History Alliance
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St. Patrick's Day STEM
From the magical pot of gold at the end of a rainbow to lucky charms, leprechauns, shamrocks and more, St. Patrick's Day is brimming with science and engineering activities.
Try one of these green picks for chemistry, engineering, and physics fun with students of all ages from Science Buddies.
| | The Olympics & Our Environment | | |
Weather.com reports Out of 93 mountain locations with the infrastructure for elite winter sports, only about 52 are expected to still have reliable snow and cold temperatures by the 2050s. By the 2080s, that could fall to as low as 30 or even only four within the next six decades for the Paralympic Winter Games, which usually start about two weeks after the Olympics end.
Winter sports aren’t going away, but where, when, and how they happen is changing fast. The 2026 Milan-Cortina Games may have been our first glimpse of that, as athletes and teams worked to adapt to a warming world.
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"Forever Chemicals"
MSN reported that three Olympians were disqualified from the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games for the use of environmentally un-friendly wax on their skis and snowboards. Those high-performance waxes contain PFAS (short for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances). It’s a huge family of about 15,000 human-made compounds used in everything from nonstick pans to waterproof jackets to food packaging. They’re called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down naturally. Once they’re in the environment, in soil, water and even our bodies, they stick around forever. PFAS aren’t just an Olympic problem. They’ve been found in rainwater, rivers, oceans and even in human blood samples across the globe.
The Olympic ban is part of a much larger shift that recognizes how everyday chemicals, once considered harmless or even essential for performance, can have lasting consequences.
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Spring & Fall School Trips
Spring Tahoe Science Camps are fully booked, but we welcome more classes to sign up for fall.
We have limited day field trip opportunities in the spring and plenty more in the fall, especially the week of September 21, to start your school year off with a meaningful science focus.
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Our new Program Director Lauren "Roots" Virzi will help you plan the perfect experience to meet your social and science standards goals for your class.
Emily aka "Waterdroplet" remains as busy as ever, now as our Executive Director, so you'll see her too!
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Love Kids & the Outdoors? Join Our Team!
See more on our website here, and
email Education@greatbasin-os.org
| Winter's waning, but the smiles & snow continue. | |
Thanks for Spreading Kindness
Make dreams come true for children and teachers. As one teacher wrote,
"The experience was a 'first-time' for every single student – and it was great to see them enjoying the beautiful Sierra. GBOS weaves lots of learning into spending time in nature and was able to bring home important elements of living in and caring for our environment and incorporate many science standards into a fun day. Thank you so much!
| | Help connect kids with nature, science, and one another. | | Great Basin Outdoor School, 1000 Bible Way #53, Reno, NV 89502. | | Each and every contribution is appreciated. An easy way to help ensure fulfilling outdoor education for children into the future is to name Great Basin Outdoor School as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, retirement plan, or other asset. | | |
Please share these opportunities.
Forward to colleagues who care about kids and our Earth.
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