Twin Rivers Students: Leadership Camp Creates Lasting “Firsts”

For more than a decade, thousands of fifth- and sixth-grade students from Twin Rivers Unified School District have stepped onto a bus bound for Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Outdoor Education Camp; many not realizing they are about to experience a series of unforgettable firsts.

As students wrap up their elementary school years, they spend three days immersed in Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Overnight Outdoor Learning program, where the forest becomes their classroom. Through hands-on STEM lessons, outdoor exploration, and collaborative challenges, students discover science in ways that simply aren’t possible within four classroom walls.

For many, the experience is transformative. It’s their first time leaving the city, their first time hiking through a forest, their first time staying overnight away from home, and for many, their first time seeing snow. These moments spark curiosity, build confidence, and create memories that last a lifetime.

Today, 28 of Twin Rivers Unified School District’s 40 elementary and middle schools participate in Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Overnight Outdoor Learning program, providing approximately 2,000 students each year with the opportunity to learn, explore, and grow in the outdoors.

“Our sixth-grade Overnight Outdoor Learning Science Camp gives students the opportunity to learn from Sierra Nevada Journeys’ experiential educators while building critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills,” said Danise Egan, Director of Arts and Career Education for Twin Rivers Unified School District. “It is truly an unforgettable part of a student’s educational journey, and the impact extends far beyond the classroom.”

The program also nurtures students’ social and emotional growth alongside their scientific learning.

“Sierra Nevada Journeys combines social-emotional learning with hands-on science experiences,” said Patrick Durant, Principal of Kohler Elementary School. “Building trust starts with breaking down the walls students often bring with them. Outdoor learning helps them reconnect with the joy of being kids again. Those opportunities to experience nature are truly invaluable.”

For Twin Rivers students, Overnight Outdoor Learning is much more than a field trip. It’s a chance to discover new places, develop lifelong skills, and realize what’s possible when learning comes alive in the outdoors.