Sierra Nevada Journeys 7/6/26 Sierra Nevada Journeys 7/6/26

It Takes a Village

The People Who Help Make Sierra Nevada Journeys Possible

When a child comes home from camp with muddy shoes, a new friend’s name, and a story they cannot wait to tell, that moment may look simple from the outside:

a camper tried something new
a student asked a better question
a class explored science outdoors
a girl saw herself as someone who belongs in STEM

Those moments do not happen because of one person, one program, or one day at Camp.

They happen because a whole community chooses to show up.

At Sierra Nevada Journeys, we believe outdoor science education changes the way students see themselves and the world around them. It helps young people build curiosity, confidence, and connections to nature through hands-on learning experiences that stay with them long after the program ends.

This work takes educators, families, schools, volunteers, donors, sponsors, business partners, board members, and community champions. It takes people who give their time, resources, ideas, and belief in what is possible for kids.

It takes a village.

Leadership That Helps Guide the Way

Behind every Sierra Nevada Journeys program is a group of leaders who help strengthen the organization, guide big decisions, and keep the mission moving forward.

Our Board of Trustees and Advisory Board bring experience from education, business, health care, finance, conservation, public service, law, and community leadership. Their work may not always be visible during a day at camp or a classroom program, but it shapes the future of Sierra Nevada Journeys in meaningful ways.

Our Board of Trustees guides our organization with vision, dedication, and a deep commitment to ensuring more young people have access to outdoor science education. Their thoughtful leadership, strategic insight, and passion for our mission have helped strengthen Sierra Nevada Journeys and support the communities we serve.

We are also grateful for the many board and advisory leaders who give their time and expertise to Sierra Nevada Journeys. Their service helps us plan responsibly, build trust, reach new communities, and think about what outdoor learning can look like for future generations.

That leadership allows us to:

expand programs
welcome new students
plan for Camp’s future
ask how more children can experience science outdoors in ways that feel joyful, welcoming, and real

Donors Turn Belief Into Action

Donors and sponsors help bring the mission to life. Their gifts support programs like:

Classrooms Unleashed
Family STEM Nights
Girls in STEM Camp
Overnight Outdoor Learning
Day Camp
Overnight Summer Camp
Grown-Up Getaway Camp

Donor gifts also:

help students access programs regardless of financial barriers
bring hands-on science directly into classrooms
support family learning nights where parents, caregivers, and children explore STEM together
create camp experiences where kids can climb, hike, build, test, observe, wonder, and grow

Every gift has a ripple effect.

Support from organizations like the Ozmen Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada helps make Girls in STEM Camp possible for students who benefit from hands-on science, mentorship, and outdoor learning.

Partnerships with organizations such as Renown Health, DOWL, NV Energy, Sacramento Area Sewer District, Microsoft Reno, SCHEELS, KSI Foundation, Aristocrat Gaming, Sierra Pacific Federal Credit Union and others help students access learning experiences that build confidence and curiosity.

These partners help students learn by doing.

They help students see that science is not limited to a textbook: it can be found in a pond sample, on a forest trail, during a family STEM activity, in a day camp experiment, or in a question asked under the trees.

A Community That Makes Camp More Joyful

Grown-Up Getaway Camp is another beautiful example of community in action.

This adults-only camp weekend began as a fun way to reconnect grown-ups with the joy of camp. It has grown into a meaningful fundraiser for Sierra Nevada Journeys, creating another way for adults, local businesses, and community partners to support outdoor science education for students.

The weekend is filled with the good kind of camp energy: meals shared in community, Paint n’ Sip, karaoke, live music, poolside fun, outdoor activities, and time to slow down under the pines.

That experience is made possible by generous sponsors, vendors, raffle donors, and local businesses who contribute in creative ways:

providing meals
supporting activities like Paint n’ Sip, karaoke, or the poolside DJ
donating raffle items, gift cards, beverages, food, and packages that make the weekend even more fun for campers

Thank you to the businesses and individuals who are helping make Grown-Up Getaway Camp a joyful fundraiser and a meaningful way to support students. Your generosity adds to the fun of the weekend while helping Sierra Nevada Journeys continue delivering outdoor science education to kids across our region.

The Village Shows Up in Many Ways

Support does not always look the same. Sometimes it is:

a board member lending strategic guidance
a business sponsoring an activity
a donor helping a student attend camp
a teacher choosing outdoor learning for their class
a volunteer who gives their time to help students feel welcomea parent trusting us with their child’s summer experience

All of it matters.

When students step into Sierra Nevada Journeys programs, they are entering something built by many hands.

They are met by educators who care deeply about learning.
They are supported by donors who believe access matters.
They are guided by board members who help protect and grow the mission.
They are surrounded by a community that believes kids deserve time in nature, meaningful science education, and experiences that help them discover what they are capable of.

Thank You for Being Part of the Village

To our Board of Trustees and Advisory Board, thank you for guiding this work with care.

To our donors and sponsors, thank you for making these programs possible.

To our raffle donors, vendors, business partners, volunteers, teachers, families, and community champions, thank you for showing up in ways big and small.

Your support helps create the moments students remember their first:

time they climbed higher than they thought they could
testing water from a pond
question they asked that leads to another question
realization that science is something they can see, touch, explore, and understand

That is the power of this village.

Thank you for being part of Sierra Nevada Journeys.

Sierra Nevada Journeys 5/7/25 Sierra Nevada Journeys 5/7/25

NV Energy Lights the Way for STEM Education With $10,000 Award

NV Energy continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to education and community development through its support of Sierra Nevada Journeys' Classrooms Unleashed program. NV Energy Foundation prioritizes programs that serve Nevada communities most in need in the areas of safety and wellness, education and youth development, and the environment. These core values directly align with our Classrooms Unleashed program. With a $10,000 grant from the NV Energy Foundation, the program was able to provide high-quality, hands-on science education to an additional 332 students in Northern Nevada, including 190 students from Title 1 schools. Last year, more than 7,000 students across Northern Nevada and Northern California participated in Classrooms Unleashed. This initiative is specifically designed to bridge educational gaps by offering STEM and outdoor learning opportunities to underrepresented and financially disadvantaged youth.

Classrooms Unleashed is a thoughtfully crafted curriculum that combines classroom instruction with immersive field experiences. Students receive one in-class lesson aligned with state and national science standards, followed by a day-long nature field trip. These field experiences, held in locations like Oxbow Nature Study Area and Galena Creek Regional Park, reinforce classroom concepts by giving students real-world context to explore topics such as ecosystems, environmental changes, and conservation. The program also integrates social-emotional learning and culturally responsive teaching practices, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all participants.

Last fall, Sierra Nevada Journeys launched Classrooms Unleashed 3.0 — a new and improved version of the curriculum. The updated format is streamlined across regions and designed to build knowledge progressively across grade levels. Educators were trained in curriculum delivery, trauma-informed practices, and student-centered learning techniques. As a result, the program has seen enthusiastic feedback from both students and teachers, with students especially enjoying the outdoor learning component.

While the partnership has already made a measurable impact, the potential for deeper collaboration remains. Sierra Nevada Journeys is planning its annual Girls in STEM weekend on June 7 - 8, 2025, and is excited to have NV Energy’s support for this impactful program as well. NV Energy serves not only as a title highlights its ongoing role in shaping future STEM leaders through meaningful, community-centered engagement.