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Stories of Hands-On Learning & Real-World Impact

Transforming School Waste into Sustainable Solutions: SWEP's Role in Empowering TTUSD Students

At SWEP, we often get asked, “Do you manage the schools’ trash?” The answer is... not quite. Our role isn’t hauling away garbage—it’s empowering students, staff, and administrators to rethink how they handle waste. By improving the way schools sort and manage waste, we’re helping reduce landfill contributions and carbon emissions, prevent pollution, and build a culture of sustainability. When we work with Truckee Tahoe Unified School District (TTUSD), we collaborate closely

Simone Tenorio

3 days ago

Less Organic Waste = Lower Carbon Emissions

SWEP students work with TTUSD to divert 13, 000 pounds of food waste from local landfills annually.

Simone Tenorio

May 11, 2023

Earth Day 2021

SWEP's favorite holiday is coming up! We hope you and your friends & family are looking forward to celebrating our planet with us...

Jenna Granger

Apr 20, 2021

SWEP's Sustainability Clubs Take on Food Waste

This year SWEP's Green Team and EcoAction clubs have been spending a lot of time learning about food waste. Why is food waste such an import

Jenna Granger

Mar 25, 2021

🎉 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

📚🌲 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

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