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Stories of Hands-On Learning & Real-World Impact

Another Win for SWEP Sustainability Clubs - EcoChallenge Winners 2024!

SWEP’s sustainability clubs have done it again! Through hard work and dedication to the planet, SWEP’s Green Teams, EcoAction Clubs and...

Jenna Granger

Jun 5, 2024

Empowering Tahoe-Truckee Youth Through Snow Science Education: A Look at SWEP's Partnership with Tahoe XC

For the past 15 years SWEP has collaborated with Tahoe XC and supported the Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Association (TCCSEA) in reachi

Nick Mitchell

May 9, 2024

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

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🌟 Throwback Thursday!

It's hard to pick a favorite moment from this school year, but this one is definitely near the top. 💚

This spring, we celebrated our first-ever Defensible Space Stewardship Day at Tahoe Lake Elementary! After launching the program on the Truckee side in 2023, expanding to the lakeside was an exciting milestone.

Students worked alongside Tahoe Resource Conservation District: Fire Adapted Communities and the North Tahoe Fire Department to learn how creating defensible space helps protect homes, schools, and forests from wildfire. From clearing pine needles and ladder fuels to hearing directly from local firefighters, they gained hands-on skills while making a real difference in their community.

Watching these young stewards learn, collaborate, and take action reminded us exactly why we do this work. 🌲🔥 Here's to many more Defensible Space Stewardship Days in the years ahead!

@tahoelakeelementaryschool @northtahoefire

#ThrowbackThursday #SWEP #DefensibleSpace #Stewardship #OutdoorLearning #WildfirePreparedness #TahoeTruckee #EnvironmentalEducation

🎶 Music for a mission. Nature for the next generation. 🌿

Here's your chance to see Jack Johnson live while making a lasting impact for local students.

When you enter our Jack Johnson ticket drawing, you're helping fund hands-on environmental education that inspires curiosity, stewardship, and a lifelong connection to the outdoors.

💚 Even better? Thanks to the Johnson Ohana Foundation, every donation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $2,500—doubling your impact!

🎟️ Win two tickets to the concert.
🌲 Help create unforgettable outdoor learning experiences.
✨ Double your impact while the match lasts.

The winner will be contacted August 24.

Enter today through the link in our bio or visit our website. Every entry helps bring more students outside to learn, explore, and care for the places they call home.

And if you're attending the concert, be sure to stop by the SWEP booth at the Village Green to say hello—we'd love to meet you and share more about our work!

#JackJohnson #JohnsonOhanaFoundation #SWEP #DoubleYourImpact #OutdoorLearning #EnvironmentalEducation #TahoeTruckee

Did you know? 👀

Last school year, SWEP provided 24,603 student learning experiences across the Tahoe-Truckee region.

Every field trip, classroom lesson, stewardship project, and outdoor adventure helps build the next generation of environmental stewards.

Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible. 💚

🤝 Partnerships make outdoor learning possible.

Thank you to Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation for helping bring hands-on science experiences to local students. 🌲🔬

Together we're inspiring curiosity and stewardship in the next generation. 💚

@excellence_in_education

🎶 Love Jack Johnson?

Enter to win two tickets to see Jack Johnson while supporting hands-on environmental education for local students!

Thanks to the Johnson Ohana Foundation, every donation made through this fundraiser will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $2,500—doubling your impact for SWEP's programs.

🎟️ Winner will be contacted August 24
🌿 Every entry helps connect students with the outdoors through meaningful, place-based environmental education.

Visit our website or click the link in our bio to enter and help us make twice the impact! 💚

#JackJohnson #JohnsonOhanaFoundation #SWEP #EnvironmentalEducation #TahoeTruckee #SupportLocalStudents #DoubleYourImpact

Did you know? 👀

SWEP does more than provide outdoor and environmental science education—we also support Tahoe Truckee Unified School District's waste reduction efforts by helping divert hard-to-recycle materials from the landfill.

During the 2025–2026 school year, together we diverted:
♻️ 819 pounds of hard-to-recycle waste from local schools
That's 64,724 individual items, including:
🔋 Batteries
💻 E-waste
🖨️ Printer cartridges
🗑️ Materials collected through Smart Sorting Bins
…and more!

Every item diverted helps conserve resources, reduce landfill waste, and teaches students that even small actions can have a meaningful environmental impact.
Thank you to our students, school staff, and community partners for helping keep these materials out of our landfills—one item at a time. 💚

#SWEP #WasteReduction #RecycleRight #TerraCycle #TTUSD #EnvironmentalEducation #TahoeTruckee #Sustainability

Three days. Hundreds of student discoveries. Countless moments of curiosity.

This spring, North Tahoe School sixth graders explored forests, watersheds, wildlife, and teamwork through our TAHOE Lab & Outdoor School program. These hands-on experiences help students build confidence while developing a deeper connection to the place they call home.

Read about this year's adventures on our blog! 🌲💙
https://www.4swep.org/post/connecting-students-to-nature-inside-swep-s-6th-grade-outdoor-education-camp

🎶 SWEP x Jack Johnson Summer Fundraiser 🎶

We're excited to partner with the Johnson Ohana Foundation and the All At Once community to support environmental education for local students.

From now through August 21, every donation to SWEP will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $2,500.

Our goal is to raise $2,500 and unlock the full match—doubling the impact of every gift to support hands-on science, stewardship, and outdoor learning experiences throughout the Tahoe/Truckee region.

As a special thank-you, donors will also be entered into a drawing for TWO tickets to see Jack Johnson at Lake Tahoe Amphitheater on September 6!

💚 Donate today at our link in bio!

Winner will be announced on August 24.
Official drawing rules apply.

@jackjohnson Jack Johnson
#JackJohnson #SummerFundraiser #AllAtOnce #SURFILMUSIC2026

During the last week of school, third graders from Tahoe Lake Elementary and Kings Beach Elementary came together at Pomin Park for a Fisheries Field Day, exploring local aquatic ecosystems through hands-on learning stations and field observations.

Students learned about the native Lahontan cutthroat trout and its role in the Tahoe watershed, connecting classroom science to the ecosystems right in their own backyard.

A big thank you to Tahoe City Public Utility District for the opportunity to host this fun, hands-on program at Pomin Park, making this outdoor learning experience possible. We also extend our gratitude to Tahoe Environmental Research Center AmeriCorps, Lahontan National Fish Hatchery, and Cast Hope for sharing their expertise and helping students build meaningful connections to fisheries science, native species conservation, and watershed stewardship. 🐟💙🌲

Tahoe City Parks and Recreation - TCPUD @ucdavistahoe @kbelions @tahoelakeelementaryschool Cast Hope

Happy Birthday Month, Conor! 🎉

We’re celebrating Conor all month long and are so grateful for the energy, care, and steady presence he brings to field days and outdoor learning with students. Wishing you a year filled with epic mountain bike rides, strong endurance runs, plenty of time on the trails, and countless adventures ahead. Thanks for all you do for our students and our team! 🚵‍♂️🏃‍♂️🌲🎂

A huge success for the TAHOE Lab & Outdoor School Program with North Tahoe Middle School 6th graders!

Students completed a 2-night overnight experience filled with hands-on field science, forest health exploration, water quality monitoring, bird watching, art, reflection, and teamwork—deepening their connection to the Tahoe watershed while building confidence, curiosity, and community. From time in the field to shared camp experiences, students showed up with energy, care, and a willingness to learn in every part of the program.

A heartfelt thank you to Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, Tahoe Environmental Research Center, California State Parks, TTUSD Food Services, and the high school counselors who supported students throughout the experience and helped make everything run smoothly.

Special appreciation to Molly Moore and Troy Corliss for bringing creativity into the experience through art and nature journaling with students, and to ACHIEVE Tahoe for providing engaging adaptive archery enrichment that students truly enjoyed.

A true community effort—and a powerful reminder of what meaningful outdoor learning looks like when students are supported by so many dedicated partners.

@ttusdfood @tahoetruckeeusd @northtahoehs @castateparkstahoe @ucdavistahoe @achievetahoe

🌿💧 Water Conservation in Action with SELS Green Teams

As the weather warms up, our students are thinking about one of our most important local resources—water.

At Sierra Expeditionary Learning School (SELS), Green Teams created “cootie catcher” fortune tellers filled with simple, practical water-saving tips. From turning off taps while brushing teeth to smarter outdoor watering habits, these interactive tools help make conservation fun, memorable, and student-led.

This project is part of our ongoing water and energy education efforts in partnership with the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD), supporting hands-on learning that empowers students to take small actions with big impact in our watershed.

We’re grateful for the creativity and leadership of our student Green Teams as they help build a more sustainable Tahoe-Truckee community. 💙

@truckeedonnerpud Truckee Donner Public Utility District @sierra_expeditionary_learning

#WaterConservation #StudentLeadership #WatershedEducation #Sustainability #SWEP #TTUSD

Today is the day 🌿✨

We’re excited to welcome North Tahoe Middle School 6th graders into this incredible outdoor space for TAHOE Lab & Outdoor School. Stay tuned for days of hands-on learning, exploration, and connection in nature. 💚

#NatureImmersion

From site walks and planning meetings to activity prep and scheduling, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes to bring TAHOE Lab & Outdoor School to life. We’re excited to welcome students for three unforgettable days of outdoor learning and exploration in the Tahoe basin. 💚

Soon, the forest will be filled with curious 6th graders! 🌲🔬

#OutdoorEducation #Tahoe #NatureBasedLearning #SWEP #PlaceBasedEducation

Defensible Space Stewardship Day at Tahoe Lake Elementary was a huge success! 🌲🔥

After launching this program on the Truckee side in 2023, this school year marked our first expansion to the lakeside — and what an incredible day it was. Students rolled up their sleeves alongside Tahoe Resource Conservation District: Fire Adapted Communities and North Tahoe Fire Department to learn hands-on wildfire preparedness, forest stewardship, and the importance of creating defensible space around homes and schools.

From removing pine needles and ladder fuels to learning directly from local firefighters, students gained real-world skills while helping care for their community and environment. We are so proud of these young stewards for their hard work, teamwork, and enthusiasm throughout the day!

A huge thank you to Tahoe Resource Conservation District: Fire Adapted Communities and North Tahoe Fire Department for partnering with us to make this meaningful experience possible. We are excited to continue growing this program across the Tahoe-Truckee region. 💚

@tahoelakeelementaryschool @northtahoefire

#DefensibleSpace #StewardshipDay #TahoeLakeElementary #TahoeCityFire #WildfirePreparedness #EnvironmentalEducation #TahoeTruckee #SWEP

Connecting students to trees and much more… ✨
6th graders in an old growth forest coming soon 🌲
TAHOE Lab & Outdoor School | June 3–5

This spring, SWEP launched a pilot after-school program at Glenshire Elementary: Nature Explores 🌿🔍

Led by SWEP Field Instructor Conor, the club has given students the opportunity to slow down, explore, and connect with nature right in their own backyard. From plants and flowers to animal tracks and insects, each week students followed their curiosity and shared exciting discoveries with one another.

While each meeting began with a theme, the real magic came from unexpected moments of exploration and discovery. It’s been incredible to watch students’ individual interests emerge and their excitement about the natural world grow week after week. 🌲🪲🌼

Programs like Nature Explores help students build observation skills, confidence, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the outdoors — sometimes right in their own backyard.

Glenshire Elementary School PTO @glenshirepto

#NatureExplores #OutdoorLearning #SWEP #EnvironmentalEducation #GlenshireElementary #LearningOutside #TahoeTruckee #STEMEducation #NatureConnection

As we reflect on this winter’s Sevison Winter Survival, Stewardship & Science (SWSSS) program, we are incredibly grateful for another impactful season of outdoor learning with local students. ❄️⛷️🌲

This year, 281 students from Alder Creek Middle School and North Tahoe School participated in SWEP’s hands-on winter field program designed to help youth build confidence, stewardship, and winter safety skills in the Tahoe environment.

Created in memory of Lance Sevison, the SWSSS program teaches students how to safely navigate mountain winters through immersive learning experiences including:
🏔️ Avalanche awareness & forecasting
🐾 Avalanche dog demonstrations
💧 Snow-water equivalent science experiments
🌎 Leave No Trace stewardship principles
⛺ Winter survival skills, including building quinzees
🤝 Team-building activities like the Snowshoe Olympics

As winter storms become more intense and unpredictable, programs like SWSSS help equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to safely and responsibly enjoy the outdoors.

This program was made possible by Vail Resorts Epic Promise Foundation and Northstar. Thank you for helping us empower local youth through outdoor education, stewardship, and winter safety programming. 💙

@northstar_california @vail.resorts

#SWEP #SWSSS #WinterEducation #YouthInTheOutdoors #StewardshipInAction #PartnershipInAction #AvalancheAwareness

🏙️ This school year, students in the ACMS EcoAction Club partnered with Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships to design and build their own sustainable cities! 🌱

Over the course of this 6-week hands-on project, students explored real-world solutions for:
⚡ Energy production
🚲 Transportation
🌾 Food production
♻️ Waste management
🌲 Protecting natural areas

Through creativity, teamwork, and hands-on learning, students imagined communities designed with sustainability in mind while also learning about sustainable systems already in place here in Truckee.

We loved seeing their innovative ideas come to life and the thoughtful ways they envisioned a greener future! 💚

@aldercreekmiddleschool

#SustainableCity #Conservation #TheFutureIsGreen

Happy Birthday to one of the newest members of the SWEP team, Rachael! 🎉🥳

We’re so happy to have you on board and excited to continue getting to know you this year. Thank you for jumping into the adventure with us and being part of our field instructor team! Seen here teaching a group of second graders during our Sandcastle Science program, Rachael is already helping students connect with the natural world through hands-on learning experiences. 🌿🔎

Wishing you a wonderful birthday and a year ahead full of new experiences, laughter, and memorable moments. 🎂✨

#HappyBirthday #BirthdayGirl

🎥 Big ideas for a better future! 🌎

SELS EcoAction Club students spent the past 6 weeks exploring how communities can be designed to better support both people and the environment with Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships.
Through hands-on model building and collaborative planning, students imagined cities with cleaner transportation, renewable energy, greener public spaces, and more sustainable systems for everyday life.
This project encouraged students to think critically, problem-solve creatively, and connect environmental concepts to the world around them — all while having fun bringing their ideas to life.

We’re inspired by the creativity and thoughtful solutions these students envisioned for the future! 🌱

@sierra_expeditionary_learning

#SustainableCity #Conservation #CircularEconomy

Happy Birthday, Brooke! 🌱🔬🎉

From sharing your love of science to growing incredible gardens, you bring knowledge, curiosity, and care to the SWEP community. Whether you’re helping students connect with the natural world or tending to your plants at home, your passion shines through in everything you do.

We hope your day is filled with sunshine, fresh blooms, and plenty of time doing what you love. Happy Birthday! 🌼🪴✨

Today is Endangered Species Day, and it’s a great moment to highlight the work our Green Teams have been doing to connect with local wildlife and conservation through creativity.

Our students have been learning about endangered species in our region—exploring what threatens their habitats and why biodiversity matters right here in our own communities. To bring that learning to life, they created original artwork inspired by local endangered species, using art as a way to observe, reflect, and advocate.

From detailed illustrations to bold visual statements, each piece captures not just the beauty of these species, but also the urgency of protecting them. It’s been powerful to see students turn science into storytelling and awareness into action.

Take a moment today to appreciate the species we’re working to protect—and the young environmental stewards helping lead the way. 🌿

#EndangeredSpecies #ConservationMatters #

❄️ SNOWFEST Spotlight: Serafina Varisco! ❄️

We’re proud to celebrate Serafina Varisco for representing SWEP in this year’s SNOWFEST Scholarship Contest! 🎉 Her creativity and commitment to environmental education truly stood out.

Pictured here, Serafina is wearing her “Wipe Out” Trashion outfit—crafted from single-use wipes—at our recent Earth Day Trashion Show. ♻️ A powerful example of turning waste into awareness and art!

From the runway to SNOWFEST, Serafina brings energy, creativity, and heart to everything she does. 💙

Thank you to everyone who supported her along the way!

#SWEP #Snowfest #Trashion #EarthDay #StudentLeadership #TruckeeTahoe

Huge thank you to Tacos Jalisco for generously donating delicious burritos to fuel our students at the Truckee Elementary School Trashion Show assembly! 🌯✨

Your support helped keep our performers energized and ready to shine on stage—we’re so grateful to have community partners like you. 💚

#TrashionShow #CommunitySupport #ThankYou #TruckeeTahoe

@tacosjaliscotruckee Taco's Jalisco

Curiosity. Creativity. Connection. 🔬💚

The Truckee Elementary Science Festival was full of all three. We’re always grateful for opportunities to engage with students and bring science to life through hands-on learning.

Thank you to the Truckee Elementary community for having us!

@truckeeelementary

#ScienceFestival #STEMEducation #HandsOnLearning #SWEP #YouthInAction #FutureScientists #CuriosityInAction

BIG things are happening! ✨

We’re excited to partner with the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District to bring TAHOE Lab & Outdoor School to North Tahoe Middle School 6th graders this spring. 🌲🔬

SWEP is honored to serve as the camp host for this two-night immersive outdoor experience, taking place at the Rideout Community Center—a truly special location near Ward Creek and Hurricane Bay on Lake Tahoe, surrounded by native flora and fauna.

We’re grateful to collaborate with Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS), Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), and California State Parks (CSP) to bring hands-on, place-based learning to life. 💚

#OutdoorEd #PlaceBasedEducation #EnvironmentalScience #NatureImmersion #OvernightCamp #6thGrade

@tahoetruckeeusd @ntslakers @tahoenaturalists @castateparks

It’s moments like these that make science come alive in the best way possible 💚

Glenshire Elementary students took part in an engaging Science Festival filled with hands-on activities, experiments, and opportunities to explore the world through curiosity and discovery. From testing ideas to asking big questions, students truly stepped into the role of young scientists—and we loved seeing their enthusiasm, teamwork, and joy for learning shine throughout the day 🌎💡

A heartfelt thank you to all of the volunteers, educators, and staff who helped make this experience possible. Your support helps create meaningful, memorable learning moments for students!

Glenshire Elementary School PTO

#ScienceFestival #STEMEducation #HandsOnLearning #EnvironmentalEducation #SWEP #YouthInAction #FutureScientists #CuriosityInAction

🌿 Earth Month may be over, but Green Team tips keep going! 🌿

Truckee Elementary Green Team Tip of the Week: Save Energy! ⚡

Small changes make a big difference. This week, try one simple way to cut energy use:
💡 Turn off lights when you leave a room
🔌 Unplug electronics when not in use
🌞 Use natural light during the day
🌡️ Adjust your thermostat a few degrees
Every action helps reduce energy use and protect our environment! 🌲

@truckeeelementary

#GreenTeam #EnergySaving #Truckee #Sustainability

🎉 Please join us in welcoming Parisa Nodehi to the SWEP Board of Directors!

Parisa brings a background in law and community leadership, along with a deep connection to the Tahoe-Truckee region. Her passion for the outdoors, education, and service makes her a wonderful addition to our team.

We’re excited to have her insight and perspective helping guide SWEP’s mission of inspiring environmental stewardship in the next generation. 🌲

Welcome, Parisa!

#SWEP #BoardOfDirectors #CommunityLeadership #Truckee #Tahoe

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