Needs
Embarking on a journey to inspire young minds through immersive science education, Sierra Nevada Journeys is dedicated to providing impactful programs that extend beyond traditional classrooms. As we strive to cultivate a passion for learning and exploration, we rely on crucial financial support to sustain and expand our initiatives. Your contribution ensures that our innovative programs, such as "Classrooms Unleashed," "Overnight Outdoor Learning," "Family STEM Nights," and "Specialty Camps," continue to thrive, reaching students from diverse backgrounds.
Together, we can empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of the modern world. Join us in fostering a love for science and the outdoors by investing in the educational experiences that shape our planet's future leaders and stewards. Your generous funding enables us to make a lasting impact on the lives of students, creating a ripple effect of curiosity, discovery, and lifelong learning.
Classrooms Unleashed:
Combining in-class, grade-specific science lessons with an immersive outdoor field-study experience led by our experienced educators. During these excursions to local nature sites such as the American River and Deer Creek Hills, students step into the roles of ecologists, geologists, and watershed scientists. The program features six distinct units tailored to each grade, utilizing a hands-on, experiential, and outdoor education framework to foster critical thinking and learning. Funding helps offset the costs of programming for schools and teachers.
Overnight Outdoor Learning:
An extended adventure for fifth or sixth-grade students, delving into outdoor science at our 515-acre Outdoor Education Camp in the Sierra Nevada mountains (40 miles north of Lake Tahoe). While aligning with state and national standards, we go beyond integrating Social-Emotional Learning opportunities through our challenge course and team problem-solving experiences. Funding enables us to provide schools with a sliding scale of fees, ensuring participation regardless of financial constraints.
Family STEM Nights:
This innovative after-school program invites kindergarten through sixth-grade students, along with their parents/guardians and siblings, to engage in a dynamic 1.5 hour Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) event hosted at school sites. Focused on fostering parent engagement, funding supports educator time and purchasing supplies for these interactive events.
Specialty Camps:
Hosted at our Camp during weekends and summers, these specially designed camp experiences offer unique opportunities. Fundraising efforts provide scholarships for our Summer and Family Camps, including initiatives like the Girls in STEM camp for middle-school-aged girls from title-one schools. Incorporating Sierra Nevada Journeys' STEM programming and Women in Technology volunteers, this camp offers a distinctive blend of team building and outdoor exploration over a weekend.