HISTORY
Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships (SWEP) is a small, community-oriented non-profit organization based within the Tahoe Truckee Region. We started in 1994 as a small group of parents and teachers...
BOARD MEMBERS
Tamara Anderson
Board Member Since 2006
At a time when place-based and service learning were new ideas, a few like minded individuals including myself gathered together to form SWEP. As an educator, I was looking for ways to engage my students in their immediate environment to foster stewardship for our very unique watershed. Our original vision for SWEP has flourished becoming the incredible organization it is today.
Sally Lyon
Treasurer
Board Member Since 2015
I joined the SWEP board because I share a passion in educating and empowering children to make a positive difference in our environment. SWEP brings many benefits to our community including collaborating with our local schools and bringing attention to many pertinent environmental issues.
Andrea Batie
Board Member Since 2016
I love the outreach with our local community and their educational programming.
Kirsten Pekarek
Board Member Since 2017
I've been lucky to experience SWEP first-hand and through my children. SWEP's hands-on science, environmental, and sustainability programming empowers our students and community to make real-world changes for our environment. The more our students and community engage with nature and our special watershed, the more likely they will be to protect this beautiful place we call home.
Anne Silvern
Board Member Since 2019
I joined the SWEP Board because I was inspired by the incredible staff and by their passion in making this world a better place through our children. With all of the environmental challenges that exist in our world, SWEP’s programs give our students the tools and the belief that they can and will make a positive impact with their actions and voices.
Julie Brisbin
Board Member Since 2018
Bringing environmental awareness and advocacy into the classroom is a passion of mine. SWEP's integrated, creative, and thoughtful approach in delivering science programming to students is unparalleled in our area. Students grasp topics that matter within our local environment, and use their love of their own backyard to tackle larger, more global issues through the lens of SWEP's curriculum.
Sara Sperry
Board Member Since 2021
Getting to grow up in the mountains was a true gift and helped foster a deep love of the environment. We have a responsibility to care for our planet and involving the youth will ensure that. In 2015 Sara founded FARM-toKIDS, a non-profit, in hopes to connect students with farming. Excited and humbled to get an opportunity to serve our community through SWEP— and hoping to make a difference.
Rachel Pringle
Board Member Since 2021
With a background in environmental education and conservation biology, I know SWEP's programming is so critical to the future of our community and planet. And as a parent, I am inspired by the impact SWEP has had on our students throughout the Tahoe area.