Fall Fun, Forests, and Fieldwork

As the sun begins to retreat its warmth, the leaves change color, and the wind grows cooler, SWEP staff continues to stay in motion with our full slate of fall outdoor programming.

From learning about the Tahoe watershed and becoming scientists at the Sagehen Outdoor Field Station, to creating defensible space, diving into our Forest Health Field Day, and participating in our first-ever outdoor school overnight program, students have stayed active and engaged throughout the fall season.

SWEP kicked off the school year with our annual Wonders of Watershed program, teaching students about the vital importance of the Tahoe watershed. Through lessons at four different elementary schools, students explored this critical topic, then took meaningful action to foster hope in themselves and their communities through service learning. Projects included picking up trash around school campuses, removing invasive weeds, making native wildflower seed bombs, creating native fish art, assessing creek pollution levels, and marking storm drains with art.

While we were leading watershed education at these school sites, SWEP also facilitated lessons at the Sagehen Field Station to promote environmental stewardship through hands-on experiences in nature. Students immersed themselves in the magical woods of Sagehen during a sensory hike. The other half of the day was spent in Sagehen Creek, where students got their feet wet catching macroinvertebrates to determine the creek’s health. (Hint: the presence of many pollution-intolerant macroinvertebrates indicates that the creek is thriving. What do you think? The students figured it out!)

In addition, SWEP partnered with the Truckee Fire Department to teach students about the importance of fire safety. Living in a fire-prone area, it's crucial for students to understand what they can do to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their community. In our pre-lesson, students learned what defensible space is and why it matters. Then, to put their knowledge into action and build hope around this serious topic, students took a field trip to the home of a local woman, where they helped create defensible space around her property to improve fire safety. The kids got to work—leaving sweaty, proud, and empowered by the impact they made.

Seventh-grade students at North Tahoe School gained field experience through our annual Forest Health Field Day. In preparation, students learned about the significance of our forests—especially in the Tahoe area—and the special species that live among us. On field day, they headed into the woods behind the school for interactive, outdoor lessons. Activities included orienteering, assessing defensible space, monitoring forest health, and planting blister rust–resistant sugar pine trees.

Last but certainly not least, SWEP—along with several partners and the school district—launched the first environmental overnight program at the Rideout Community Center in Tahoe City. Sixth-grade students from Alder Creek Middle School experienced the magic of Ward Creek Forest through a mix of science lessons, social-emotional learning activities, and fun group experiences. With SWEP, students learned about forestry and partnered with California State Parks to collect real forestry data in designated test plots. Their findings were added to FieldScope, a national database where students can continue to track and analyze data in the future—helping to assess whether forest treatments are building resilience to wildfire.

SWEP has had a full and rewarding fall, dedicated to delivering quality outdoor education that instills a deep sense of responsibility and care for the environment. We believe that the more time students spend outside learning about the natural world, the more inspired they’ll be to protect it :) 

Thank you to our partners: Education Foundation, Truckee Fire Department, Sugar Pine Foundation, UC Berkley Sagehen Creek Field Station, Sagehen Outdoor School, and California State Parks.