Take Learning Outside: Why Hands-On Science Makes an Impact
A new school year brings fresh notebooks, new routines and plenty of time in the classroom.
It also brings a new season of opportunities to explore.
At Sierra Nevada Journeys, we see what happens when students get the chance to see, touch, test and investigate the science they are learning. A rock becomes something to study. A pond becomes a site for data collection. A walk through a park can lead to questions about plants, wildlife, weather, water and the changing seasons.
Science starts to feel less like something students read about and more like something happening all around them.
That is the idea behind Sierra Nevada Journeys’ school-year science programs. And as students and teachers settle into a new year, it is a great time to start planning experiences that get kids learning, exploring and asking questions together.
Why Take Science From the Classroom Into the Field?
Classrooms Unleashed combines a hands-on classroom lesson with an outdoor field study, giving students the opportunity to build science concepts and then apply them in the real world.
Lessons are grade-level-specific, aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, and designed to actively engage students. They observe. They build. They test ideas. They work together. They use new vocabulary and begin connecting classroom concepts to the places around them.
That local connection matters.
In Sacramento, for example, Sierra Nevada Journeys partnered with the Language Academy to offer lessons centered on salmon and their role in local ecosystems. Students explored migration patterns, created a mural that stretched nearly the length of the classroom, built dioramas of salmon habitat and even wrote and performed stories using a larger-than-life puppet theater.
A lesson about ecology became something students could build, draw, discuss and connect to the watershed where they live.
That is the kind of learning Classrooms Unleashed is built to create.
Last year,9,367 students in 121 classrooms participated in Classrooms Unleashed.
Student assessments also showed measurable growth. Average scores measuring understanding of outdoor science concepts increased from 50% before the program to 75% afterward, a 25-point gain.
Sixty-nine percent of participating students said they are more comfortable being outside in natural spaces, and 65% said they want to learn more about science.
Teachers see the difference, too.
One told us:
“The kids said this was the best field trip ever!”
Another shared:
“I just enjoy watching my kids enjoy learning.”
That second comment may be one of our favorites because it captures something numbers cannot.
When kids enjoy learning, they lean in. They ask another question. They want to see what is under the next rock or figure out why something happened. They begin to see themselves as people who can do science.
Additionally, 98% of teachers said Classrooms Unleashed improved students’ understanding of science standards, while 100% said Sierra Nevada Journeys programs helped students build critical-thinking skills.
Classrooms Unleashed was also redesigned to better support teachers, including a simpler booking process and a single point of contact. We want the experience to work well for the adults coordinating it, too.
Why Bring the Whole School Community Into the Fun?
Back-to-school season is also about rebuilding connections.
Students reconnect with friends and teachers. Families learn new routines. Schools welcome parents and caregivers back for open houses, family events and the beginning of another year together.
That makes fall a great time for a Sierra Nevada Journeys Family STEM Night.
Family STEM Nights transform a school evening into a hands-on science experience for students and the people who care for them. Families move through interactive stations and tackle activities together, from engineering challenges to experiments that invite them to build, problem-solve and play.
Students may design lunar landers, build spaghetti towers or test wind-powered cars. Many activities are language-neutral, giving families another way to participate and learn together across language differences.
And the students often get a chance to become the experts.
Parents and caregivers get to watch their kids approach a problem, test an idea and try again. Students get to share what they know. Teachers and school leaders have a chance to engage families outside the regular classroom routine.
Last year, Sierra Nevada Journeys held 76 Family STEM Nights serving 6,911 children and parents.
Those numbers represent thousands of families spending an evening learning together.
For schools looking for a way to kick off the year, build family connection or add something memorable to an open house or school community event, a Family STEM Night can bring everyone together around something kids already do naturally: wonder, experiment and play.
Why is September a Great Time to Learn Outside?
Fall gives young scientists plenty to notice as nature itself changes.
Days get shorter. Temperatures begin to shift. Plants change. Seeds move. Wildlife activity changes. The same schoolyard, park or nature area students saw a few months ago may suddenly offer something new to investigate.
You do not need to travel deep into the wilderness to practice science.
Start with what is nearby.
What changed since yesterday?
What lives here?
What signs of wildlife can you find?
Why do these plants grow here?
Where does this water go?
What do you notice when you stop and look closely?
Those questions can turn an ordinary walk outside into a science lesson.
What Kind of Learning Can Students Carry With Them?
Sierra Nevada Journeys’ science programs are built to strengthen students' understanding of science while helping them practice critical thinking, teamwork and connection with the natural world.
That can happen while testing water during a field study.
It can happen while two students work together to solve an engineering problem.
It can happen when a child notices an insect they have never seen before and wants to know its name.
Or it can happen during a Family STEM Night when a student and caregiver stand over a project together and decide, “Let’s try it one more time.”
Those moments matter because science asks kids to stay curious.
To observe.
To make a prediction.
To test it.
To learn from what happened.
To try again.
Those are useful skills in science, in school and far beyond either one.
How to Start the School Year With Curiosity?
As classrooms settle into new routines this fall, make some room for discovery.
Classrooms Unleashed helps students take grade-level science from the classroom into nearby outdoor spaces, where they can observe, test and explore what they are learning.
Family STEM Nights bring students, families and school communities together for an evening built around hands-on science, teamwork and fun.
Both start with the same simple idea:
Kids learn by doing.
Teachers and school leaders, now is a great time to begin planning your fall and school-year programs with Sierra Nevada Journeys.
Bring science to life in the classroom.
Take learning outside.
Invite families into the experience.
And see where one good question can lead. If you’re an educator and would like to learn more about our programs, please feel free to contact us!
Sierra Nevada Journeys: Where the Classroom Has No Walls
Listen to a recent episode of the Nonprofit Podcast Network, in which CEO Sean Hill and Advancement Officer Corrie Calderon share the story behind Sierra Nevada Journeys and the powerful role that outdoor experiences can play in a child’s education.
What happens when a child who has spent most of their life surrounded by buildings and pavement suddenly finds themselves standing beside a river, watching wildlife, or exploring a forest?
For Sierra Nevada Journeys, that question is at the heart of nearly 20 years of outdoor science education.
The conversation begins with a seemingly simple question from a student at Lake Tahoe: “Are there sharks in that ocean?” For Sierra Nevada Journeys, the question became a powerful reminder that proximity to nature does not necessarily mean access to it. A child can live just hours from the Sierra Nevada and still have little opportunity to experience a river, forest or mountain firsthand.
That realization reflects the organization's larger mission: making outdoor science education accessible to young people who might otherwise never have the opportunity. Through programs such as Classrooms Unleashed and Overnight Outdoor Learning, students don't just read about science; they investigate it. They touch, observe, question, experiment, and discover the natural world for themselves.
The podcast also highlights why Sierra Nevada Journeys views outdoor education as an equity issue as much as an educational one. Transportation, program costs, and access to nature can all be barriers for families and schools. Removing those barriers allows more students, including those from underserved communities, to experience the confidence and curiosity that can come from learning outdoors.
And sometimes, the impact of a single experience is immediate.
Corrie shares the story of a student who arrived for a field experience disengaged and resistant to participating. But after encountering wildlife and experiencing the outdoors firsthand, the student's attitude changed. The experience opened the door to curiosity and joy, illustrating how a few hours outside can change the way a young person sees both the world and themselves.
Sean also reflects on the longer-term impact of these experiences, including the story of a former fifth-grade participant whose time with Sierra Nevada Journeys may have helped influence her future academic path. These stories demonstrate that the organization's impact isn't limited to what happens during a field trip or week at camp. The goal is to plant seeds of curiosity, confidence, and connection that can continue to grow long after students return home.
The conversation also looks toward the future. Sierra Nevada Journeys now stewards approximately 1,500 acres of Sierra Nevada land, creating an extraordinary living classroom for generations of students. The organization's recent partnership with Feather River Land Trust added 1,025 acres of permanently conserved land adjacent to its campus, expanding the possibilities for outdoor education while protecting the landscape itself.
Ultimately, the podcast tells a story about access to nature, to science, to meaningful learning experiences, and to the confidence that comes from trying something new.
Sierra Nevada Journeys' work is built on a simple but powerful idea: some of the most important learning happens when children step outside the four walls of the classroom. By giving young people the chance to explore, ask questions, and experience the natural world firsthand, Sierra Nevada Journeys is helping create a generation of more curious, confident, and connected learners.
Back to School, Back Outside
Why outdoor learning belongs in the school year
August always feels like a shift. Summer stories turn into first-day-of-school conversations.
Camp backpacks get replaced by school backpacks. Families start checking supply lists. Teachers return to classrooms, calendars and lesson plans.
But going back to school does not have to mean leaving outdoor learning behind.
At Sierra Nevada Journeys, we believe some of the most meaningful learning happens when students can move, explore, ask questions, and experience science in the world around them. A new school year offers a fresh opportunity to help students build curiosity, confidence, and connections to nature, both inside and outside the classroom.
That matters for students, teachers and families. It also matters for the communities helping make these experiences possible.
Outdoor learning helps students re-engage
The start of a school year can bring a lot of emotions.
Some students are excited. Some are nervous. Some need time to settle back into routines. Many are still carrying the energy of summer, and they learn best when they can use that energy in positive, hands-on ways.
Outdoor science education gives students a chance to do just that.
Instead of only reading about ecosystems, they can observe them. Instead of memorizing concepts, they can test ideas, ask better questions and work through problems with their peers. Science becomes something they can see, touch and understand.
Students tell us this kind of learning feels different. After one field trip, a student wrote:
“I love nature and want to explore more!”
Another student said a rock lesson helped them see themselves differently:
“I feel now like a real geologist.”
Those are small sentences with a big message. Outdoor learning helps students move from watching science happen to seeing themselves as part of it.
It also helps them connect with each other. When students build, hike, explore, measure, observe and reflect together, they practice teamwork, communication and problem-solving. These are skills they carry back into the classroom long after the outdoor lesson ends.
A great learning environment can change a child’s whole day
This summer, one Day Camp parent shared a review that reminded us why the right environment matters so much.
Their child had started the summer at another local camp and was struggling. The experience was not the right fit. After switching to Sierra Nevada Journeys Day Camp, the parent shared that their child spent the next three weeks excited to be dropped off and came home happier.
They described the camp as “wonderful and engaging” and shared that their child had not picked up an iPad once. Instead, their camper spent the summer participating in educational activities, hands-on fun and outdoor exploration.
That is what we hope every child feels when they join us.
Students have shared the same kind of reaction after Sierra Nevada Journeys field trips, classroom experiences and camps. One student wrote:
“I love science, learning, and seeing insects and animals. And I like learning with you guys!”
That is the kind of confidence Sierra Nevada Journeys works to build. Day Camp is not simply a place for kids to spend time while school is out. It is a place where they can feel welcomed, supported and encouraged to try something new. It is a place where learning feels active and joyful. It is a place where confidence can grow one day at a time.
As students return to school, those same principles still matter.
Kids thrive when they feel safe, seen and engaged. They learn more deeply when curiosity leads the way. They build confidence when adults create spaces where trying, wondering and making mistakes are all part of the process.
Teachers can bring outdoor science into the school year
Back-to-school season is also a good time for teachers and school leaders to think about how outdoor learning can support their goals for the year.
Sierra Nevada Journeys offers school-year programs that help bring science to life for students across Northern Nevada and Northern California.
Classrooms Unleashed brings hands-on science into classrooms and nearby nature areas, helping students connect classroom concepts to the world around them.
Family STEM Nights bring students, families and school communities together for fun, welcoming science activities after the school day.
Overnight Outdoor Learning gives students a deeper outdoor school experience at Camp, where they can explore science, build friendships and grow through time spent in nature.
These programs are built to support teachers, not add more to their plates. They help students experience science in ways that feel real, active and memorable.
Teachers and chaperones see that impact firsthand. One teacher shared:
“The science curriculum at Sierra Nevada Journeys was engaging and hands-on, giving students a meaningful and memorable learning experience.”
Another teacher described how the experience supports classroom learning beyond the trip:
“The curriculum blended learning with hands-on activities. I believe this experience established a strong foundation which I can build on in class.”
A teacher also noted that the program encouraged students to work as teams while practicing critical thinking and problem-solving.
A teacher once told us, “I just enjoy watching my kids enjoy learning.”
That sentence says so much.
When students enjoy learning, they participate differently. They ask different questions. They take more ownership of what they discover. Outdoor science education helps create those moments.
Connection is part of the learning
Outdoor learning also gives students a different way to build relationships.
During Overnight Outdoor Learning, students share cabins, meals, hikes, lessons, group challenges and quiet moments in nature. They practice listening, trying again, encouraging others and trusting themselves.
One chaperone said the games used to build trust and help students work together were “perfect.” Another shared that an instructor taught students, encouraged them and guided them “to be leaders and work together.”
Those are school-year skills. They support classroom culture and peer relationships, and they support students when they return to campus and face new challenges.
Outdoor learning gives students a place to practice those skills in a setting that feels fresh, active and real.
August is also about gratitude
August is a busy month for Sierra Nevada Journeys.
Summer programs are wrapping up. Schools are preparing for a new year. Grown-Up Getaway Camp brings adults to Camp for a weekend of play, rest, connection and purpose. New partners and board members are being spotlighted. Donors, sponsors, raffle partners and community champions continue showing up in meaningful ways.
It all connects back to one idea: it takes a village:
Teachers who choose hands-on learning for their students.
Families who trust us with their children’s camp experiences.
Board members who help guide the organization with care and vision.
Donors and sponsors who believe access to outdoor science education should not depend on financial barriers.
Business partners who give generously, whether they are supporting an activity, donating a raffle prize, funding a program or helping create a memorable experience for campers.
Long-term program partners like Summer Search, which has worked with Sierra Nevada Journeys for 14 years.
This year, Summer Search joined Sierra Nevada Journeys for a two-week backpacking trip with high school students in Plumas National Forest in the Lakes Basin Area. Experiences like that help young people build confidence, strengthen relationships and discover what they are capable of outdoors.
These partnerships matter because they turn belief into action.
They help students get outside. They help teachers bring science to life. They help families access meaningful programs. They help create experiences that students remember.
Grown-Up Getaway Camp helps support kids
Grown-Up Getaway Camp is one of the clearest examples of this community in action.
From Aug. 14 to 16, 2026, adults will come to Camp in Portola for a weekend of classic camp fun, creative workshops, music, meals, time outdoors and connection under the pines.
The weekend is joyful by design. Campers get to unplug, play, rest and reconnect with the simple fun of summer camp.
But the weekend also has a bigger purpose.
Grown-Up Getaway Camp is a fundraiser that supports Sierra Nevada Journeys’ outdoor science education programs for kids. Sponsors, vendors and raffle donors help make the weekend special while also supporting the mission behind it.
That means a Paint n’ Sip, a meal shared in community, a raffle prize, a poolside activity or a music-filled evening can all be part of something larger.
A weekend of fun for adults can help create meaningful outdoor learning opportunities for students.
Back to school is a beginning
The start of a school year is not just a return to routine. It is a beginning.
A chance to help students feel curious again.
A chance to make science feel real.
A chance to support teachers with experiences that help lessons stick.
A chance for families, donors, sponsors and partners to keep showing up for outdoor learning.
At Sierra Nevada Journeys, we are excited for what this school year can hold. We are ready to welcome students into hands-on science experiences that build confidence, spark questions and connect them to nature.
Students have already told us what happens when learning moves outside:
“This is the best field trip ever!”
Summer may be winding down, but outdoor learning is not.
Back to school can also mean back outside.
Learn more about Sierra Nevada Journeys’ school-year programs, camp experiences and ways to support outdoor science education by exploring our website.