Our Recent Work in Action!

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Stories of Hands-On Learning & Real-World Impact

How Science Festivals Engage Students in Hands-On STEAM Learning

"Can we shape air?” SWEP instructor Jenna asks a group of 60 first graders. They make a claim of yes or no and share any ideas about how...

Brooke Landis

May 7, 2024

Turning Trash Into Fashion: The Ultimate Trashion Show on Earth Day

Trashion - the education we need on being inspired to take action to support a sustainable future through trash-fashion.

Jenna Granger

May 7, 2024

Bringing Winter Survival & Ecology to Schools: The SWEP SWSSS Program

How do you prepare for spending time outside in winter weather? What would you do if you became lost in a snow storm? How do you increase...

Simone Tenorio

Mar 21, 2024

Bundled Up and Ready to Trek: Winter Adventures with Sagehen Outdoor Education Program

"We are here because we love to get you outside and connect you to the environment. We believe that the experience of hugging a tree, or...

Brooke Landis

Feb 15, 2024

How Our Community is Taking Action to Reduce Waste

Change is happening in the Tahoe/Truckee area. Changes in habits that we have grown accustomed to in the name of convenience. Our busy...

Jenna Granger

Feb 6, 2024

Forest Health Field Days: Students Taking Action to Improve the Health of Our Forests

Why is a healthy forest important? Is our forest healthy? Groups of students rotated through stations to dive deeper into these questions.

Brooke Landis

Nov 14, 2023

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🎉 Campaign Success! 🎉
Thanks to our incredible community, our Nature Adapts, So Can WE campaign raised over $70,000 to support environmental stewardship in the Truckee–Tahoe region! 🌲💚
We’re also excited to share that all three raffle winners have been notified—congratulations to our lucky supporters, and thank you to everyone who donated and participated.
Your generosity helps empower students, protect our environment, and sustain this place we all love. We couldn’t do this work without you! ♻️✨

🌱 From the Bottom of Our Hearts, THANK YOU! 🌱

We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us in our Give Back Tahoe fundraing campaign, Nature Adapts, So Can WE. Your support truly means the world—because of you, we can continue inspiring and empowering the next generation of environmental stewards, protecting our community, and caring for our planet. 💚🌎

Stay tuned—raffle winners will be notified on January 5! ✨

#ThankYou #NatureAdaptsSoCanWe #SWEP #EnvironmentalEducation #CommunitySupport #Fundraiser #MakeADifference

Happy New Year from all of us to all of you!

Thank you for supporting our team and promoting stewardship. Here’s to another year of connection, curiosity, and climate action in 2026! 🌎✨

#ThankYou #SWEP #ClimateAction #Sustainability #EcoLeaders #GreenFuture #Stewardship #NatureLovers #YouthImpact #2026Goals

♻️ Tip of the Week from Tahoe Lake Elementary’s Green Team! ♻️

As we ring in the New Year 🎉, it’s a great time to think about sustainable vs. unsustainable practices 🌱

Watch our Green Team’s video to learn simple ways to start 2026 with eco-friendly habits—because small choices today make a big difference for tomorrow! 💚🌎

@tahoelakeelementaryschool

#TipOfTheWeek #GreenTeam #TahoeLakeElementary #SustainableLiving #NewYearsResolutions #EcoTips #YouthLeadership #ReduceWaste #PlanetFriendly

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

Want to make your holidays a little greener? 🌱🎁 Watch the video to see how our Green Team suggests reducing holiday waste—and get inspired to make simple, sustainable choices this season! 💚🌎

@kbelions Kings Beach Elementary School

#TipOfTheWeek #GreenTeam #TahoeLakeElementary #SustainableHolidays #ReduceWaste #YouthLeadership #EcoTips

SWEP is dancing with gratitude—for our work, our students, and most of all, YOU. 💚❄️
Consider this our official SWEP Snow Dance (x7!).

Want to help call in the snow?
✨ Post your snow dance to Facebook or Instagram and tag us!

Let’s get creative and celebrate the season together! 🎶☃️

#SWEPSnowDance #FestiveFun #HolidayCheer #DanceWithSWEP #CommunityJoy #CelebrateTheSeason #GratitudeInMotion #StudentEmpowerment #SustainabilityCelebration #SnowDanceChallenge #WinterVibes #EcoFun #GetCreative #ShareTheJoy

♻️✨ Trashion Takes the Stage! ✨♻️

Last week, High School Envirolution Club members from North Tahoe and Truckee High Schools wowed audiences at Tahoe Lake and Kings Beach Elementary Schools with their Trashion Shows! Green Team members from each elementary school joined in to help share sustainability messages.

Each outfit wasn’t just stylish—it was paired with environmentally-centered outreach, teaching students about sustainability, conservation, recycling, and reducing waste and consumption. 💚🌍

A huge thank-you to all the students, staff, and schools who made these events unforgettable—and to The Burrito Window in Kings Beach for generously donating burritos to fuel our Envirolution students! 🌯✨

@truckeehigh @northtahoehs @truckeeelementary @kbelions @burritowindowlaketahoe

#TrashionShow #TrashionTakesTheStage #SustainableFashion #StudentLeaders #EnvirolutionClub #ZeroWaste #SWEP #EcoCreativity #TrashToTreasure #TruckeeHighSchool #NorthTahoeHighSchool #TahoeLakeElementary #KingsBeachElementary #YouthImpact #GreenSchools #EnvironmentalEducation

SWEP isn’t in the trash business—we’re in the empowerment business. ✨

Together with TTUSD and our community partners, we’re helping students rethink waste and lead the way toward a more sustainable future. 🌍♻️

From reusable trays to composting and food recovery, small changes are creating big impact across our school communities.
Read more at the link in bio.

#SustainableSchools #WasteReduction #ZeroWaste #SWEP #TTUSD #TruckeeTahoeAirport #SustainabilityEducation #GreenSchools #CompostRecycling #FoodRecovery #EcoLeaders #EnvironmentalEducation #WasteWise #CommunityPartners #KeepTruckeeGreen #TruckeeTahoe #ClimateAction #LeadByExample #ThinkBeforeYouThrow #EcoMindset #SustainableFuture

🎉 Happy Birthday, Missy!

Wishing a wonderful birthday to our incredible Executive Director, whose leadership, vision, and passion for sustainability keep SWEP growing and thriving. Your guidance inspires all of us every day, and we hope your special day is filled with joy, laughter, and celebration! 🌱🎂

#HappyBirthdayMissy #LeadershipInAction #SWEPLeader #EcoChampion #InspiringChange #SustainableFuture #TeamSWEP #GreenVision #CelebrateLeadership

🎉 Happy Birthday, Nick!

Our incredible Field Instructor—and the man behind our SWEP parties—is out in the field every day inspiring students and making sustainability fun. Nick, we hope your day is as awesome and spirited as you are! 🌿🎂

#HappyBirthdayNick #FieldInstructorExtraordinaire #SWEPFun #PartyCaptainNick #EcoHero #StudentInspiration #SustainabilityRocks

🌎 Sustainability Clubs are off to a great start!

Students are already hard at work on their first bulletin board of the year. Take a peek at your school’s to see their ideas come to life. Their creativity and passion for a greener future are inspiring! 🌿📌

#SustainabilityClubs #GreenTeam #EcoAction #Envirolution #GreenSchools #StudentLeaders #BulletinBoardInspiration #GoGreen #ClimateAction #SchoolSpirit

📅 Mark Your Calendar: Giving Tuesday is December 2!

We’re launching our end-of-year fundraising campaign: 🌱 Nature adapts. So can WE. 🌱

🎯 Our goal: Raise $40,000 by December 31st

Here’s how your gift can make double the impact this season:
💸 Every donation doubled—up to $20K!
🎿 Enter to win amazing prizes with your donation
🌎 Support our work to adapt and thrive in changing times

Learn more at our link in bio. Let’s rise to the challenge—together!

#GivingTuesday #GiveBackTahoe #NatureAdapts #CommunityResilience #DoubleYourImpact

We are excited to team up with Jack Johnson as an All At Once Non-Profit Partner on his 2026 Summer Tour! Come see us at the Village Green in Stateline, NV at the Lake Tahoe Amphitheater at Caesars Republic on September 6, 2026 to connect, learn, and take action with us! 🎶💙

All At Once is Jack’s social action network connecting nonprofits with people who want to take action and give back to their community. All At Once promotes sustainable & equitable food systems, plastic free initiatives, healthy watersheds and more! 🌎

Get involved at allatonce.org and learn more about the tour at ➡️ jackjohnsonmusic.com

#AAOPlasticFree #AAOLocalFood #SURFILMUSIC #PartnersInSustainability #SWEP

📅 Countdown: Two Weeks to Go!

Giving Tuesday is just 14 days away — mark your calendars for December 2nd! 🌱

This year, your support will help bridge funding gaps created as partners have shifted their grantmaking. Stay tuned for details on doubling your gift and the prizes up for grabs! ✨

💡 Tip: Set a reminder, tell your friends, and get ready to make a difference!

#GivingTuesday #Countdown #TwoWeeksToGo #DoubleYourImpact #SupportLocal #NatureMatters

🌲 Did you know our community is leading the way in forest resilience?

With support from the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s Forest Futures grant and the Martis Fund—a collaborative project of Martis Camp landowners, DMB/Highlands Group (developers of Martis Camp), Mountain Area Preservation Foundation (MAP), and Sierra Watch—SWEP’s contribution to the inaugural Fire Ready Truckee Tahoe event in July 2025 sparked education, action, and connection. 🙌

➡ Read the full story in our blog!

@ttcfgives @martiscamp

#ForestResilience #FireReadyTruckeeTahoe #CommunityAction #ForestFutures #MartisFund #TahoeTruckee #WildfirePreparedness #STEAMEducation #EnvironmentalAction #CommunityConnection #SustainableForests #VolunteerImpact #ProtectOurForests

🌊 Truckee River Day Fair Highlights!
Hands-on learning, local partnerships, and community action—all in one inspiring day! 💙

💚 Safety never looked so good! 🩺✨

SWEP staff sharpened our CPR skills — making sure we’re ready to keep our students and community safe in every classroom and on every trail! 💪

Huge thanks to our amazing instructor for making life-saving training fun, engaging, and hands-on! 🙌💚

#SWEP #CPRTraining #FirstAid #AED #SafetyFirst #TeamSWEP #OutdoorEducation #AlwaysLearning

🐾 Defensible Space Stewardship Day with Heart! 🌲💚

Truckee Elementary 3rd grade students spent the day caring for both our forests and furry friends! One group cleared brush near the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, helping create safer, more fire-resilient spaces 🔥, while the other crafted homemade dog toys from old t-shirts and tennis balls 🎾 — spreading love (and wagging tails!) all around. Then they swapped so everyone could lend a hand to both causes.

From reducing flammable debris in shared spaces to brightening a shelter dog’s day, these students showed what it means to care for all members of our community. 💕🐶🌎

@truckeeelementary @humanesocietytt @truckeefire

#SWEP #DefensibleSpace #TruckeeElementary #HumaneSocietyTruckeeTahoe #YouthStewardship #CommunityCare #WildfirePreparedness #LoveOurPlanetLoveOurPets

🌲 Students in Action for a Healthier Watershed!

At this year’s Truckee River Day, Envirolution Club students from North Tahoe and Truckee high schools, along with proud alumni and a student from South Tahoe high school, teamed up to restore the Coldstream area of the Truckee River watershed. 💪🌎

Our crew focused on forest thinning, removing small conifers from aspen stands to help promote healthier, more resilient forest ecosystems and protect sensitive habitat areas.

It’s inspiring to see our youth—and future environmental leaders—coming together to protect the places we all love. 💚

@trwcnews @truckeehighschool @northtahoehs @southtahoehs

#TruckeeRiverDay #EnvirolutionClub #WatershedStewardship #StudentAction #SierraWatershedEducationPartnerships #ForestHealth #AspenRestoration #CommunityInAction

💧 It’s feedback like this that makes our hearts sing!

“Just wanted to let you know my first grader at Truckee El was singing a song (with hand movements!) about water, clouds, and precipitation! When I asked where he learned it, he said, ‘At school.’ I asked if someone came to talk to the class, and he said, ‘Yes, Sierra Watershed.’ I was so excited to hear that!!”

We love seeing our lessons come to life in the classroom—and in your homes! 🌊✨

@truckeeelementary

#SWEP #STEAMEducation #WaterIsLife #TruckeeTahoe #HandsOnLearning

🌟 Welcome, Sarah Caldwell!

We’re thrilled to welcome Sarah Caldwell to the SWEP Board! Growing up in Reno with Lake Tahoe as her playground shaped her lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.

From studying fisheries at UNR to managing marine resources along the Pacific Coast, and now working on wildfire resilience in the Sierra, Sarah brings a wealth of experience and passion to our Board. She’s excited to help advance SWEP’s mission to promote stewardship by connecting students to their local community and environment.

Head to our website to read more about Sarah and our full board of incredible members! 🌿💧

#SWEP #EnvironmentalEducation #YouthInNature #BoardWelcome #StewardshipInAction

@🌿 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

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Our Recent Work in Action!

How Science Festivals Engage Students in Hands-On STEAM Learning

Turning Trash Into Fashion: The Ultimate Trashion Show on Earth Day

Bringing Winter Survival & Ecology to Schools: The SWEP SWSSS Program

Bundled Up and Ready to Trek: Winter Adventures with Sagehen Outdoor Education Program

How Our Community is Taking Action to Reduce Waste

Forest Health Field Days: Students Taking Action to Improve the Health of Our Forests

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