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Stories of Hands-On Learning & Real-World Impact

Forest Health Field Day: 2020

As you can imagine, our Forest Health Field Day looked a little different this year, but for more reasons than just a global pandemic....

Jenna Granger

Jan 28, 2021

FOREST⇌FIRE an Introduction

SWEP's 3 year educational, advocacy and art program about healthy forests and the relationship to wildfire.

Jenna Granger

Jan 28, 2021

Botany Scavenger Hunt

Do you know all the plants in your backyard? Explore native plants in the Tahoe region with this outdoor SWEP Snippet!

sierrawatershed

Jun 15, 2020

Backyard Biodiversity

Do you know what is living in your backyard? How many types of trees? This snippet explores the variety of plants in your backyard!

Jenna Granger

May 27, 2020

What Trees Are These?

What kind of trees are in your backyard? Learn how to identify common Tahoe evergreen tree species through this fun activity.

sierrawatershed

May 18, 2020

Talking Trees & Plant Your Own Sugar Pine

An exploration of the communication between trees and plants & an opportunity to add to the conversation by planting your own sugar pine.

Jenna Granger

Apr 15, 2020

@🌿 Reducing Single-Use Plastics, One Cup at a Time!

Our Envirolution Club students at North Tahoe and Truckee high schools recently welcomed guest speaker Sierra Jickling from Okapi Reusables, who shared how small actions can make a big impact in reducing waste. 💚

Thanks to Town of Truckee: Keep Truckee Green, Truckee residents can join Okapi for just $1 (non-residents $10) and enjoy their favorite coffee in a reusable cup—no waste, no guilt! ☕♻️

You can use your Okapi cup at local favorites like Coffee Bar, Wild Cherries Coffee House, Café Lupine, and Mountain Lotus Café—all part of the growing reusable network.

To learn more about this fantastic program, visit 👉
🌐 www.okapi-reusables.com or
🌐 Keep Truckee Green – Okapi Reusables

Together, we’re brewing up a cleaner, greener Truckee! 🌎✨

@truckeehighschool @northtahoehs @wildcherries_coffeehouse @cafelupine @mountainlotuscafe @coffeebar

#KeepTruckeeGreen #OkapiReusables #EnvirolutionClub #Sustainability #Truckee #WasteReduction #ChooseReuse

🌟 A Fond Farewell to Andi Batie

After eight incredible years on the SWEP Board, we say goodbye to Andi Batie. As an elementary school science teacher, Andi brought a deep understanding of hands-on learning and a true passion for inspiring young minds.

Her guidance, dedication, and love for environmental education have left a lasting impact on our oragization and community. As she embarks on her next chapter of retirement and adventures in travel, we wish Andi all the very best! ✨🌿

#SWEP #EnvironmentalEducation #ThankYouAndi #ThankYouThursday #YouthInNature #BoardAppreciation

🌊 Truckee River Day was a success!

Huge thanks to our amazing partners and volunteers — including current and former board members and Envirolution Club students — who make this day possible every year. 💙

Shout-out to: Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Placer County, CA State Parks, Children of the Pioneers, Placer Mosquito and Vector Control, Sierra State Parks Foundation, Town of Truckee, Truckee Sanitary District, Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, Clean Up The Lake, One Truckee River, Truckee Fire, and Washoe Environmental Protection Department. 🌎

And a special thank you to the Glenshire Elementary School Eagle Chorus — your performances always make the day extra special! 🎶

And an extra scoop of gratitude to Little Truckee Ice Creamery for treating attendees to delicious ice cream. 🍦

This event was made possible thanks to generous support from our funding partners: Truckee River Watershed Council, Town of Truckee, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, and the Truckee Chamber of Commerce. 🙌

@ucdavistahoe @townoftruckee @keeptruckeegreen @glenshirepto @cleanupthelake @trwcnews @truckeefire @littletruckeeicecreamery @onetruckeeriver @castateparks @castateparkstahoe @placercounty @sierrastateparksfoundation @tahoenaturalists @washoenative

#TruckeeRiverDay #CommunityAction #WatershedStewardship #VolunteerPower #Truckee #Tahoe #TogetherForTheRiver #KeepTruckeeGreen #WahsoeLand

🌟 Welcome, Colleen Kurdy!

We’re thrilled to welcome Colleen Kurdy to the SWEP Board! With experience at Google, Adobe, and TechSoup, Colleen has built programs and partnerships that expand resources for nonprofits worldwide.

A lifelong outdoor enthusiast from Montana’s Flathead Valley, Colleen enjoys hiking, swimming, and skiing—and shares our passion for connecting youth to nature. Her commitment to inspiring curiosity, stewardship, and resilience perfectly aligns with SWEP’s mission. Welcome to the team, Colleen! 🌿💧

Head to our website to read more about Colleen and our full board of amazing members!

#SWEP #EnvironmentalEducation #YouthInNature #BoardWelcome #StewardshipInAction

🌟 We are deeply grateful to the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF) and Martis Fund for their continued support of Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships!

Your partnership and trust help us keep our programs strong and impactful. Together, we’re advancing environmental science and watershed education, supporting students, and fostering a resilient, healthy environment for generations to come.

Martis Fund is a collaborative project of Martis Camp landowners, DMB/Highlands Group (the developers of Martis Camp), Mountain Area Preservation Foundation (MAP), and Sierra Watch. Thank you for helping make this important work possible!

@ttcfgives @martiscamp

#CommunityImpact #NonprofitSupport #SierraWatershed #Gratitude #MissionDriven

🌲 At Forest Health Field Day, 7th graders from North Tahoe explored how forest management, fire ecology, and community action keep our landscapes resilient. Through hands-on stations on defensible space, forest monitoring, and restoration, they connected science to stewardship.

Thank you to the Sugar Pine Foundation and Truckee Fire Protection District—we couldn’t do this important work without you!

@ntslakers @sugarpinefoundation @truckeefire

#ForestHealth #YouthInNature #EnvironmentalEducation #FireEcology #ForestStewardship #TruckeeCA #HandsOnLearning #CommunityAction #NatureExploration #SustainableForests

🌊 Join the Take Care Bear at Truckee River Day Fair – This Sunday! 🐟

Enjoy live music, hands-on art, kids’ activities, and environmental fun for the whole family!

📅 When: Sunday 10/19, 1–4 PM
📍 Where: Granite Flat Campground, 1 mile south of Truckee on Hwy 89
🤝 Brought to you in partnership with the Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC)

Bring your friends and curiosity—let’s celebrate and protect our beautiful Truckee River together! 🌿✨

@trwcnews Truckee River Watershed Council

#TruckeeRiverDay #TRWC #RiverStewardship #CommunityAction #OutdoorLearning #SWEP #LakeTahoe #VolunteerFun

🌲 Forest Fun with SWEP!

As part of TTUSD’s 6th grade overnight program at TAHOE Lab and Outdoor School, ACMS students explored forest history, monitoring, and management with SWEP. They participated in citizen science, collecting forest fuels data for California State Parks, and enjoyed forest bathing—slowing down to connect with nature. 🌿

Learning science, building stewardship, and finding calm in the forest! ✨

@acms_panthers Alder Creek Middle School

#SWEP #TTUSD #CitizenScience #ForestHealth #OutdoorLearning #LakeTahoe #STEAM #SEL #6thGradeScience

🌿 On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor and acknowledge that the land we gather on is the traditional and unceded territory of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.

Since time immemorial, the Washoe People have cared for and lived in harmony with the Tahoe Basin. We are grateful for their enduring stewardship of this sacred place.

As we look to the future, we commit to learning from their wisdom and practices to better protect and care for the land for generations to come.

#IndigenousPeoplesDay #WashoeTribe #Gratitude

🐟 Swim your way to Truckee River Day!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS — the Truckee River Day Fair is Sunday, October 19th, 1–4 pm at Granite Flat Campground (just 1 mile south of Truckee on Hwy 89).

🎉 All are welcome! Come celebrate the Truckee River with:
✨ Live entertainment
🌱 Environmental education activities
🎨 Art projects
👨‍👩‍👧 Fun for all ages

💧 This special day honors decades of restoration and community care for our watershed. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers, partners, and donors who make it possible!

Join us in celebrating the Truckee River — see you there! 🌊

#TruckeeRiverDay #HealTheWatershed #RiverFair

🍃 Sierra Expeditionary Learning School at Sagehen Creek

Students dove into hands-on fieldwork at Sagehen Creek! They conducted a bioassessment of Sagen Creek, monitored water quality, and experienced a sensory hike that brought the forest to life.

Each activity sparked curiosity, teamwork, and a deeper connection to the natural world. ✨

@sierra_expeditionary_learning @selstruckee Sierra Expeditionary Learning School

#SWEP #SagehenProgram #SELS #OutdoorEducation #EnvironmentalExplorers

🌿 Kickstart Your Conservation Career!

Want real-world experience making a difference in your community? The Truckee River Watershed Council 2026 internship gives you hands-on work in restoration, monitoring, outreach, fundraising, and special projects. Past interns have launched careers in forestry, land trusts, and land-use planning — this could be your stepping stone too!

📅 Apply by Oct 24 → truckeeriverwc.org/2026-intern

@trwcnews

#conservation #internship #applynow

🌊 Join the 30th Annual Truckee River Day on Sunday, October 19!

🌱 Be part of what started it all. The very first Truckee River Day in 1996 sparked today’s Truckee River Watershed Council—and since then, thousands of volunteers have helped restore meadows, rivers, and wetlands.

💪 Roll up your sleeves with friends (and meet new ones!) at one of many restoration sites. Projects start at 9am & 11am and welcome all ages and abilities.

💧 Your work helps recharge groundwater, support wildlife habitat, and keep water flowing longer into the dry season.

🎉 Afterward, celebrate at the Truckee River Day Fair with SWEP (1–4pm, Granite Flat Campground). Expect live music, hands-on art, kids’ activities, and environmental fun for the whole family!

📍 Granite Flat Campground is just 1 mile south of Truckee on Hwy 89.

Presented in partnership with @trwcnews.
Questions about restoration projects? Contact Eben → eswain@truckeeriverwc.org | 530-550-8760 x7

#TruckeeRiverDay #HealTheWatershed #RiverFair

🌲 Glenshire Elementary at Sagehen Creek

Hands-on learning in action! Glenshire Elementary students traded their classroom desks for the wonders of the outdoors at Sagehen Creek Field Station!

From examining tiny macroinvertebrates to observing the delicate balance of the forest ecosystem, these young scientists asked thoughtful questions, made exciting discoveries, and experienced firsthand how the natural world thrives.

Every step in the field sparked curiosity, teamwork, and a love for learning that extends far beyond the classroom. 💚

#SWEP #SagehenProgram #GlenshireElementary #OutdoorLearning #NextGenerationStewards

Glenshire Elementary School PTO @glenshirepto

#SWEP #SagehenProgram #GlenshireElementary #OutdoorLearning

🌍 Join the Shane McConkey Foundation for a Community Sort Day!

Help us sort, prepare, and weigh all the caps collected this year before they’re transformed into recycled plastic lumber for benches and raised garden beds. 💚

🥪 Food, snacks, and drinks provided — just bring your helping hands and community spirit!

✨ Together, we can turn waste into something wonderful.

@dont_drop_the_top @shanemcconkeyecochallenge @keeptruckeegreen

#dontdropthetop #communitysort

🌲✨ Defensible Space Stewardship Day! ✨🌲

3rd graders from Glenshire Elementary School rolled up their sleeves to help a local homeowner in need, making their property safer and more fire-resilient. 💪🏡

The experience left students feeling empowered and proud, seeing firsthand how their efforts can make a real difference in their community.

A big thank you to Truckee Fire Protection District (TFPD) for partnering with us and sharing their expertise, and to the Excellence in Education Foundation and Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation for funding this hands-on learning experience.

Together, we’re teaching the next generation the power of community, stewardship, and caring for our neighborhoods! 💚

@glenshirepto @excellence_in_education @ttcfgives

#DefensibleSpace #CommunityStewards #YouthInAction #FireSafety #SWEP #GlenshireElementary #TFPD

🔥 Students at Glenshire Elementary learned all about Defensible Space today—what it is, why it matters, and how to create it. Our partners at TFPD joined the front-loading session in preparation for tomorrow's service learning project. We can’t wait to see the students put their new knowledge into action as they help create a safer, more fire-resilient community. 💪🌲

A huge thank-you to TFPD—we could not do this work without them!

@truckeefire Truckee Fire Protection District Glenshire Elementary School PTO
#SWEP #FireSafety #DefensibleSpace

👀 Little learners, big discoveries!

Kindergarteners at Kings Beach got their first look at a watershed model through Wonders of Watersheds—learning what a watershed is, how water flows, and what happens when pollution enters the system.

Even at this young age, students begin to connect the dots between their actions and the health of their environment. 🌎💧

@kbelions Kings Beach Elementary School

#SWEP #FutureStewards #WatershedEducation #WondersOfWatersheds

✨ SWEP programming is officially underway for the 2025-26 school year!✨

We’re so excited to kick off another year of hands-on learning and discovery with our Wonders of Watersheds program at Kings Beach Elementary. Students explored the many ways water connects us all through interactive games, experiments, and watershed activities.

Laughter, learning, and stewardship—what a way to start the year! 🌎💙

@kbelions Kings Beach Elementary School

#SWEP #WondersOfWatersheds #WatershedEducation #HandsOnLearning

🙌 Gratitude spotlight! Thank you to the Excellence in Education Foundation for fueling (pun intended!) our Defensible Space Stewardship Day! 🌲✨ Your support empowers students to roll up their sleeves, learn about wildfire preparedness, and make a real impact in our community. You’re helping grow the next generation of stewards! 💚

@excellence_in_education

#ThankYou #CommunityStrong #SWEP

🌍 We’re excited to share that SWEP student programs were highlighted in the Sierra Sun and Tahoe Daily Tribune for their inspiring work in the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge! 🙌

✨ SWEP's Eco-Action Club at North Tahoe Middle School won 1st place in the Green Circle division with The Trashcade—an art installation made from trash collected during underwater cleanups in Lake Tahoe. This piece has sparked important conversations and reached nearly 24,000 people across schools, events, museums, and social media.

♻️ The Up-Cyclers, high school students in SWEP’s Envirolution Club, earned 3rd place in the Green Circle division by transforming 20 discarded clothing items into 8 stylish new outfits—showcasing sustainability, fashion, and creativity.

As Sherry McConkey said:
“When we are teaching these kids something so powerful at such a young age, they’re just going to continue it through the rest of their lives.”

👏 Huge congratulations to these students for carrying Shane’s legacy forward through innovative action! 💚

📖 Read more at our link in bio!

🌿✨ Women in Conservation: An Evening of Stories & Connection

On Tuesday, August 26th (6–8pm) at the Patagonia store in Reno, the Nevada Wildlife Federation is hosting a women-focused conservation event.

Local leaders in environmental and wildlife fields will share inspiring stories, offer mentorship insights, and celebrate community in outdoor recreation.

📍 Patagonia Reno
📅 Tuesday, August 26 | 6–8pm

Open to all — a great opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired! 🌎💚

🎒 As we gear up for the 2025–26 school year, we're taking a moment to celebrate the incredible impact we made together last year!

♻️ 13,000 pounds of food waste composted = major climate wins! That’s an estimated 572 metric tons of methane and 16,006 metric tons of CO₂e emissions avoided over the next 50 years.

🗑 1,015 pounds (that’s 92,487 items!) of e-waste, batteries, printer cartridges & more diverted from landfills through our TerraCycle program with TTUSD.

🌾 184 cubic yards of flammable material cleared from local schools and homes to support wildfire resilience.

🎓 23,979 student contacts across 20 programs bringing environmental education to life in and out of the classroom.

🌲 102 outdoor education days filled with hands-on experiences, fresh air, and real-world connections to the environment.

A huge thank you to all of our partners, schools, donors, volunteers and community members who make this work possible—we couldn’t do it without you!

Here’s to another amazing year of learning, growing, and protecting the environment—together! 💚🌎

#SWEPImpact #EnvironmentalEducation #ClimateAction #BackToSchool #OutdoorLearning #ZeroWasteSchools #ThankYouPartners

🌿 What an incredible experience our Junior Explorers had at SWEP Summer Camp! 🌞 From exploring trails and streams to hands-on adventures in the great outdoors, our campers discovered the joy of learning in nature and created memories to last a lifetime. 💚

As the new school year approaches, we hope everyone carries that same spirit of curiosity, adventure, and connection with the great outdoors into the classroom. 📚✨ Here’s to a year full of growth—in both indoor and outdoor classrooms! 🌲

🚐 Big news—we’ve got wheels! 🎉

SWEP is thrilled to announce the purchase of our first-ever (new-to-us!) cargo van! This addition is a major step forward, helping us move materials, support programs, and expand our impact like never before.

A huge shoutout to Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation for helping make this dream a reality, and to Tahoe Cross Country Ski Center for the awesome nonprofit partner deal on our (new-to-us) ride. 🙌

We can't wait to hit the road next school year and take our work even further—literally! Be sure to wave when you see us out and about. 💙✨

@tmrfoundation @tahoexc

#SWEPOnTheMove #Gratitude #CommunityPowered #NonprofitLife

📚🌲 One Good Thing, Times Two! 🌲📚

Did you know you can use your library card to visit over 200 California State Parks for free?

California State Parks and public libraries have teamed up to bring you double the good — access to books and the great outdoors!

✨ With the California State Library Parks Pass, you get free vehicle day-use entry to more than 200 participating state parks.

How it works:
Check out a Parks Pass at your local public library.
Display it on your rearview mirror.
Explore California’s incredible natural spaces — beaches, forests, deserts, and more!

So this summer, put down that book and get outside — or better yet, bring your book with you and read among the trees. 🌳📖

🔗 Learn more and find your nearest library: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30806

#OneGoodThing #CAStateParks #LibraryLove #DidYouKnow #GetOutside #ReadOutside #ParksPass #PublicLibraries

🌿 Summer Eco-Adventures: Nature Journaling in Your Watershed

✏️ Connect with Nature Through Journaling This Summer!
Summer is the perfect time to slow down, look closely, and document the beauty of your local watershed. Whether you're by a mountain stream, alpine lake, or forest trail, nature journaling helps you observe more deeply and connect with the world around you.

🧭 Try this:
📓 Bring a notebook or sketchpad on your next walk
👀 Record what you see, hear, smell, and feel
🎨 Sketch plants, animals, or landscapes you encounter
💧 Note how water moves through the area—what shapes the land?

Keeping a nature journal builds awareness, fosters curiosity, and helps us care more for the places we explore.

Stay curious, tread lightly, and protect your watershed!

#NatureJournaling #ExploreYourWatershed #EcoAdventures #OutdoorLearning #StudentStewards #PlaceBasedLearning #HandsOnScience #WatershedEducation

🎥 Relive the magic of the Dark Skies Exhibit opening reception! 🌌✨

Our 6th grade Eco Action students from SELS and ACMS wowed the crowd with artwork that sheds light on the importance of dark skies — from protecting wildlife to reducing light pollution.

This video captures the creativity, collaboration, and inspiration behind the exhibit. Huge thanks to Court Leve for beautifully filming and producing this piece — you truly brought the story to life! 🙌

🌙 Don’t miss the exhibit, now showing at Truckee Town Hall!

📍 In partnership with @townoftruckee @nevadacountyarts @tahoetruckeeusd @truckee_cultural_district @sierra_expeditionary_learning @acms_panthers

🎨 Watch the video + visit in person!

#DarkSkiesExhibit #EcoAction #SWEP #StudentArt #ArtForChange #TruckeeCulturalDistrict #EnvironmentalEducation #YouthVoices #LightPollutionAwareness #NevadaCountyArts #TTUSD #CourtLeve

🌿 Passionate About the Environment?
Looking for a fun, meaningful way to give back and use your skills?

We’re currently recruiting for our Board of Directors — and we’d love to meet community members who care deeply about environmental education, sustainability, and the future of the Tahoe-Truckee region. 💚

This is your chance to:
✔ Support impactful local programs
✔ Collaborate with a passionate team
✔ Help support students and protect the place we all love
✨ Your voice and experience can help shape real change.

Ready to make a difference? Reach out to learn more about joining our board! Email: info@4swep.org

#BoardRecruitment #EnvironmentalLeadership #GiveBack #TahoeTruckee #CommunityImpact #JoinUs #NonprofitBoard #ProtectWhatYouLove

🌍 One of the biggest takeaways from the Bioneers Conference: Leadership isn’t singular — it’s collective. 🤝 Real change happens when communities come together, share knowledge, and work toward a common goal.

As we begin planning for next school year, we’re more inspired than ever to strengthen the programs that connect students, schools, and our environment. 💚 At SWEP, we believe that when young people are empowered and communities unite, lasting impact follows.

Here’s to another year of learning, leading, and growing—together. 🌱

#Leadership #CommunityPower #SWEP #BioneersConference #CollectiveAction #StudentLeadership #NextGenChangeMakers #PlanningAhead #ActionFostersHope

🔥 Empowering Students. Supporting Residents. Building Resilience.

As we prepare for next school year’s Defensible Space programming, we’re proud to reflect on the impact this initiative has already made.

Through our partnership with Truckee Fire Protection District (TFDP) and Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD), students learn about wildfire prevention, defensible space, and community service—then put that knowledge into action by helping residents in need.

Since 2023, over 400 students have improved defensible space across our community while becoming stewards of the land. Many bring these lessons home, sparking change in their own neighborhoods. 🌱💪
We thank our funding partners, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation and Excellence in Education Foundation, for making this program possible.

👉 Know someone who could benefit from this program? Email: dspace@truckeefire.org

@truckeefire

#TruckeeFire #DefensibleSpace #WildfirePrevention #StudentStewards #CommunitySupport #DeadTreeFund #SWEP #TTUSD

🔥 Fire Ready Truckee Tahoe 🔥
🗓 Wednesday, July 9 | 🕓 4–7 PM
📍Community Recreation Center, 10981 Truckee Way, Truckee, CA

Ready for fire season? Come to Fire Ready Truckee Tahoe to learn more about wildfire resilience, home hardening, and community safety. Co-organized by Eastern Regional Firewise Coalition, Truckee Fire District, Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, Tahoe Resource Conservation District, Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe Community Project.

#FireReadyTruckeeTahoe #WildfireSafety #TruckeeEvents #CommunityStrong #DefensibleSpace #EmergencyPreparedness

Today we’re celebrating Terrie Hansen, a longtime SWEP volunteer, donor, and steadfast supporter of our mission. 💚

From leading student activities to supporting events and campaigns, Terrie brings heart, dedication, and a deep belief in the power of environmental education.

Her time, generosity, and encouragement have helped us reach more students, deepen our impact, and grow a stronger, greener community.

Thank you, Terrie, for being part of the SWEP family—you inspire us every day! 🌿👏

#SWEPCommunity #VolunteerAppreciation #DonorSpotlight #ThankYouTerrie #EnvironmentalEducation #GivingBack

🌞🌿 Looking for something fun (and meaningful) to do this summer?

SWEP’s Environmental Activity Booklet is packed with creative, hands-on ways for kids and families to stay engaged, explore the outdoors, and learn how to care for our Sierra ecosystems! 🏞️🖍️

📗 Perfect for summer break, the booklet includes activities to inspire young environmental stewards:
🎨 Nature journaling & eco-art
🌼 Botany Bingo
🔥 Learn about defensible space
🌱 Discover native species

📥 Download your free copy today and jump into a summer of discovery: www.4swep.org

#SWEPInspires #SummerNatureFun #EnvironmentalEducation #OutdoorLearning #NatureActivities #BotanyBingo #DefensibleSpace #NativePlants #EcoArt #SummerBreakIdeas #HandsOnLearning #YouthInNature

🐟🌲 SWEP’s Last Program of the Year: Fisheries Field Day at Pomin Park!

Third graders from Tahoe Lake and Kings Beach Elementary recently dove into the world of native fish and freshwater ecosystems during a hands-on learning day at Pomin Park.

Students explored the life cycle and conservation of the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout—Lake Tahoe's native trout species—visited the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery, and discovered how healthy habitats support native fish. 🐠💧

With interactive stations, expert guides, and an intro to fly fishing from Cast Hope, students got a firsthand experience connecting recreation and conservation. 🪱🎣

A huge thank you to TERC, Cast Hope, the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery, and our dedicated volunteers for making this incredible field program possible! 🙏

It was a day full of discovery, connection, and outdoor science in action—building knowledge and stewardship for our local watersheds. 🌿📚

@kbelions @tahoelakeelementaryschool @ucdavistahoe @casthope Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex

#FisheriesFieldDay #LahontanCutthroatTrout #OutdoorEducation #SWEP #LakeTahoe #WatershedEducation #3rdGradeScience #KingsBeachElementary #TahoeLakeElementary #HandsOnLearning #CastHope #FlyFishing #ScienceInTheField

🌲📚 Exploring Science at UC Berkeley’s Sagehen Creek Field Station!

This spring, 5th graders from Kings Beach, Truckee, Glenshire, SELS & Tahoe Lake Elementary joined SWEP’s year-round Sagehen Outdoor Education Program (SOEP)—diving into bird watching, insect observation, botany, soil science, wildlife tracking, and more at the stunning @sagehencreek Field Station. 🐾💧🌿

Students had the rare opportunity to learn from real scientists conducting groundbreaking research at Sagehen, including:
📸 Vishal Subramanyan – National Geographic Young Explorer, UC Berkeley undergrad, and wildlife photographer whose work with the California Wolf Project uses camera traps and storytelling to raise awareness about California’s recovering wolf populations.
🐺 Christina Winters – Wildlife biologist and Master’s student at UC Berkeley studying wolf ecology and conservation on working lands, with experience ranging from California Fish & Wildlife to jaguar research in Central America.
🐝 Nina Sokolov – Ph.D. student at UC Berkeley researching how viruses spill over between managed honeybees and native wild bees. Nina samples bees across diverse landscapes to better understand pollinator health.
💧 Jen Natali – Ph.D. student in Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning, specializing in geomorphology, hydrology, plant ecology, and remote sensing. Jen studies groundwater systems to understand how water shapes our ecosystems.

Huge thanks to our partners at TINS, UC Berkeley, TTUSD educators, and the amazing SOEP team for making this unforgettable experience possible! 💚

🔗 Learn more about the California Wolf Project ➡️ www.wildlife.berkeley.edu/cawolfproject

@ucberkeleyofficial @sierra_expeditionary_learning @tahoelakeelementaryschool Glenshire Elementary School PTO @truckeeelementary @kbelions @tahoenaturalists @tahoetruckeeusd

#SagehenCreek #UCBSagehen #SOEP #SWEP #OutdoorEducation #PlaceBasedLearning #EnvironmentalEducation #HandsOnScience #ScienceInNature #CaliforniaWolves #PollinatorHealth #WolfConservation #5thGradeScience #StudentStewards #YearRoundLearning

Claim your spot before it's too late — registration closes June 22nd!

🌿 Junior Explorers Summer Camp
Spots available for July 14–17 | Ages 9–12

Join us for SWEP’s Junior Explorers Summer Camp — where kids connect with nature through science, games, art, and outdoor adventure! 🌲🌞

📍 Learn more + register: https://www.4swep.org/summer-camps-main

#JuniorExplorers #SWEP #SummerCamp #EnvironmentalEducation #TahoeKids #OutdoorLearning #NatureCamp #ConnectToNature #TruckeeTahoe

🌱💚 As the school year ends, we're celebrating our amazing SWEP sustainability clubs—from Green Teams in elementary to EcoAction in middle school and Envirolution in high school.

These students tackled real issues like waste, light pollution, and climate anxiety through art, advocacy, and action. From lake-trash sculptures to the iconic Trashion Show, they’ve inspired us all.

👏 Thank you for proving that action fosters hope. The future is in good hands. 🌍

👉 Read more on our blog... Link in Bio!

#SWEP #YouthForThePlanet #StudentLeaders #ClimateAction #TrashionShow #LakeTahoe #DarkSkiesMovement #ActionFostersHope

🌊💚 Turning Trash Into Triumph! 💚🌊
Students at North Tahoe Middle School teamed up with Clean Up The Lake to tackle the litter problem in Lake Tahoe—through art! 🎨♻️

As part of the Shane McConkey Eco Challenge, our EcoAction Club created a striking sculpture made entirely of trash recovered from the lake. The goal? Raise awareness about the impact of pollution in our beautiful Tahoe environment—and they nailed it!

🏆 Their creation took 1st place in the Green Circle Division, and you can catch it on display this summer at the Gatekeepers Museum in Tahoe City!

👏 Huge congrats to our students for using creativity to inspire change and for showing what environmental leadership looks like! Read our blog at our link in bio!

@ntslakers @shanemcconkeyecochallenge

#EcoActionClub #ShaneMcConkeyEcoChallenge #LakeTahoe #CleanUpTheLake #EnvironmentalArt #GreenLeaders #NorthTahoeMiddleSchool #TrashToTreasure #TahoeProud #YouthForThePlanet

Huge shoutout to Envirolution students Rory and Serafina for winning 3rd place in the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge – Green Circle Division with their incredible upcycled clothing project! 👗🌍

Their practical designs transformed discarded fabrics into a statement of environmental responsibility—and a winning one at that! 💚✨

Their work is a powerful example of how crafting for activism—craftivism—can spark conversation, inspire action, and make sustainability stylish. We’re so proud of their creativity, innovation, and leadership. Keep using your voice—and your vision—to drive change!

At SWEP, we believe art is not just expression—it’s advocacy. ♻️🌟 Creativity is a cornerstone of our programming because we know it can lead to real-world solutions, especially in the fight for a more sustainable future.

@shanemcconkeyecochallenge

#EcoChallenge #UpcycledFashion #Trashion #YouthLeaders #Envirolution #SustainabilityInStyle #ArtAsAdvocacy

We’re excited to announce that the 5th/6th grade class at Forest Charter School has won this year’s Snowpack Prediction Contest—congratulations!

This fun and educational contest is part of the Winter Discovery Center programming at our yurt at Tahoe XC, where each visiting class gets to make predictions about the season’s snowpack depth and its SWE (snow water equivalent). SWE is a crucial measurement that helps us estimate how much water will be available in the summer once the snow melts.

A big thank you to our partners at Winter Wildlands Alliance, a national non-profit working to inspire and empower people to protect America’s wild snowscapes, for helping make this program possible.

And a huge shoutout to Zano’s Pizzeria for generously donating pizzas to the winning class—what a great way to celebrate!

forestcharter @zanostruckee_ @tahoexc

#SnowpackPrediction #OutdoorEducation #ScienceInNature #EnvironmentalEducation #STEMlearning #PlaceBasedLearning #TahoeXC #ForestCharterSchool #SWEP #WinterWildlandsAlliance #ZanosPizzeria
#FutureScientists #SnowScience #HandsOnLearning #CelebrateLearning #PizzaPrize

🌿 We Have Openings!
July 14–17 | Ages 9–12

Join us for SWEP’s Junior Explorers Summer Camp — where kids connect with nature through science, games, art, and outdoor adventure! 🌲🌞

🏕️ Based out of our 30-ft yurt at Tahoe Cross Country, campers will explore forests, creeks, and streams — learning, discovering, and having tons of fun along the way.

🎨🌊 From environmental science to creative play, each day is a new adventure in stewardship and summer joy.

💚 Scholarships available!
📍 Learn more + register: https://www.4swep.org/summer-camps-main

#JuniorExplorers #SWEP #SummerCamp #EnvironmentalEducation #TahoeKids #OutdoorLearning #NatureCamp #ConnectToNature #TruckeeTahoe

🌊♻️ Green Team Tip of the Week from Kings Beach Elementary!

Did you know that trash on the ground can end up in our lakes and rivers? Every little piece matters—picking up litter helps protect our watershed and the wildlife that depends on it!

💡 Green Team Tip: Carry a small bag on walks to collect trash and recyclables—it's an easy way to be a watershed hero!

Great job, Kings Beach students, for leading the way in keeping our community clean and our waterways healthy! 🌿🐟

@kbelions

#GreenTeamTip #KingsBeachElementary #WatershedCleanup #YouthLeadership #KeepItClean #SWEP #LakeTahoeStewardship

🎓 Student Spotlight: Sarah Kenny 🌿

This World Environment Day, we’re thrilled to celebrate Sarah Kenny, a graduating senior from North Tahoe High School, whose passion for sustainability has been an inspiration since elementary school.

Sarah has been involved in SWEP Sustainability Clubs since elementary school, participating in Green Teams, Eco Action, and now Envirolution—always leading with creativity, commitment, and purpose.

As President of the NTHS Sustainability Club for the past three years, she’s helped drive environmental action and awareness throughout her school and community.

Last year, Sarah chose SWEP as her nonprofit beneficiary for Tahoe SnowFest, raising an incredible $1,500 to support our mission.

This year, SWEP proudly established the Envirolution Club Award to recognize students who have shown exceptional dedication to environmental advocacy through their involvement in the Envirolution Sustainability Club. Over the course of their high school careers, these students have completed more than 100 hours of community service, promoting environmental awareness and implementing eco-friendly practices to help create a more sustainable future.

As part of this celebration, Sarah crafted graduation cords from upcycled trash bags for club members to wear at their ceremonies—a powerful and visible symbol of their commitment to sustainability in action.
💙❤️ The cords were created in blue for North Tahoe High and red for Truckee High, adding a meaningful and sustainable touch to this year’s graduation celebrations.

Next up: Sarah will be studying Ecotourism at Cal State Monterey Bay, continuing her mission to connect people and the planet through sustainable and responsible travel. 🌊🌍

Sarah, your innovation, leadership, and heart for the planet make you a true changemaker. Congratulations—we can’t wait to see where your path leads next!

@northtahoehs @nths_envirolution @kenny5302007 @envirolutiontahoe

#SWEPYouthLeaders #SustainabilityInAction #StudentSpotlight #NorthTahoeHigh #Envirolution #Graduation2025 #EcoLeaders #CSUMB #Ecotourism #WomenInSustainability

🎉 It’s almost here — the 22nd Annual Truckee Day! 🧤🌎
Join your neighbors for a town-wide beautification day celebrating community pride and environmental stewardship.

🗓️ Saturday, June 8
🧹 Clean-up crews, music, BBQs, and that unbeatable Truckee spirit!

SWEP will be there too — come say hi! We’ll be sharing how students are making a difference through local environmental programs and stewardship projects. 🌱

Let’s come together to keep Truckee beautiful — for today, and for the next generation. 💚

📍More info: KeepTruckeeGreen.org/TruckeeDay

#TruckeeDay #SWEP #CommunityCleanup #EnvironmentalStewardship #KeepTruckeeBeautiful #22YearsStrong #GetInvolved

🌊🐟 Lake Creature Crunch with Clean Up The Lake! 🐟🌊

At our Science Festival, students dove into the world of aquatic ecology at the Lake Creature Crunch station, created and led by Clean Up The Lake!

Through a hands-on simulation, kids explored how **plastic pollution—especially microplastics—** can be mistaken for food and ingested by fish. 🧃🔍 It was an eye-opening experience that helped students understand the real impact of pollution on lake ecosystems and why clean water matters.

Huge thanks to Clean Up The Lake for leading this powerful and engaging station—and for inspiring the next generation of lake protectors! 💧💙

@cleanupthelake

#ScienceFestival #LakeCreatureCrunch #CleanUpTheLake #SWEP #PlasticPollution #Microplastics #STEMeducation #AquaticScience #HandsOnLearning #ProtectOurLakes #EnvironmentalAwareness

Find SWEP at the #MakerShow on June 8th and explore your creativity at @truckeeroundhouse's biggest outreach and fundraiser of the year! At the Maker Show, YOU get to be the artist; try screenprinting, sewing, wood turning, laser engraving, electronics, and so much more.

Now larger than ever before, you can spend the day viewing large-scale art, shopping the vendor market, watching live demos, eating at local food trucks, trying your luck in a raffle, or bidding in the robust hand-crafted silent auction.

We hope to see you there!

#BeTheArtist #GetCreative #TrySomethingNew #TruckeeRoundhouse #TruckeeMakers #MakerShow

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Our Recent Work in Action!

Forest Health Field Day: 2020

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