Fiscal Year 2025 | Quarter 3
May 19th-22nd | Flagview Fieldtrips
Nevada Outdoor School had a fantastic time during the Flagview field trips held May 19th through 22nd. Each group of students visited for 20 minutes, arriving with smiles—many already familiar with NOS and excited to engage. During their visit, students learned about worms and their body parts through hands-on exploration, getting the chance to observe and gently touch live worms. Afterward, they participated in a nature walk, helping identify and remove trash or items that didn’t belong in the natural environment. The students were incredibly respectful, especially in following the key safety rule of staying away from the fast-moving water. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and excellent behavior made the field trips a rewarding experience for all involved.
May 16th | Little Choices, Big Impact
Nevada Outdoor School was thrilled to welcome 102 participants to the "Little Choices, Big Impact" event, held in the beautiful courtyard of the UNR Extension Office on May 16th. The Elko Pollinators Club brought live bees and shared engaging information about native pollinators in Northern Nevada, including how the gentle vibrations of bees can help reduce stress. The Elko Compost Club captivated attendees with a worm display and practical tips on starting home compost systems, highlighting the essential role worms play in environmental health. SNAP-Ed and 4-H joined the event to promote healthier food mindsets and share resources with local families. Nevada Outdoor School, alongside dedicated AmeriCorps members, led a hands-on wildflower seed bomb activity while teaching the Leave No Trace principle of traveling on durable surfaces. It was a day full of learning, fun, and inspiration to make small, meaningful changes for the planet.
May 15th | Brush Strokes in the Wild
On Thursday, May 15th, Nevada Outdoor School staff traveled to the Winnemucca office to assist with "Brush Strokes in the Wild," a painting and hiking event held at Water Canyon. The group, made up of three participants, enjoyed a short hike to a scenic overlook above Winnemucca, where they took in the natural beauty of the area. Following the hike, participants drew inspiration from the surrounding landscape to create nature-themed paintings. With perfect weather and meaningful conversation, the event offered a relaxing and creative way to connect with the outdoors.
May 14th | Northside Day
On May 14th, Nevada Outdoor School had the pleasure of seeing every student at Northside Elementary School enjoy time outside in 30-minute intervals—an estimated 261 students total! The school’s nature study area served as the perfect setting for a nature journaling activity, where students were invited to slow down and connect with the outdoors. With just a clipboard, a piece of paper, and a pencil, students recorded what they saw, heard, felt, or were simply thinking about, through writing or drawing. Even with off-and-on rain throughout the day, students embraced the experience with enthusiasm. It was a wonderful reminder that nature is always nearby, and connecting with it can be as simple as taking a few moments to observe and reflect—something they can easily do again at home.
May 13th | Battle Mountain Watershed Day
On Monday, May 13th, Nevada Outdoor School participated in Battle Mountain Watershed Day, engaging with approximately 56 enthusiastic students throughout the day. Although unexpected hail forced the event indoors, the shift in setting didn’t dampen the students’ excitement or eagerness to learn. Each group remained actively involved, with the final class showing especially positive energy. The teachers were incredibly patient and accommodating despite the weather challenges, contributing to the event’s overall success. Nevada Outdoor School staff thoroughly enjoyed the day, inspired by the students’ curiosity and respectful behavior.
May 8th | Volunteer Fair
On May 8th, Nevada Outdoor School participated in a Volunteer Fair hosted by Nevada Volunteers, an event designed to connect community members with volunteer opportunities. NOS made 76 contacts and shared information about the AmeriCorps program, highlighting it as a meaningful way to serve while earning a living stipend and education award. Staff also spoke with attendees about the wide range of skills they could bring to the community through NOS’s skills workshops. The event provided a great opportunity to connect with other nonprofits who share the same goal: to serve and strengthen our communities through meaningful engagement and service.
May 2nd | Wildfire Workshop
On Friday, May 2nd, Nevada Outdoor School hosted a Wildfire Workshop at South Fork Meadows in partnership with the Nevada Division of Forestry and South Fork Recreation. This hands-on event welcomed 20 participants who rotated through interactive stations to learn about fire prevention, the ecological benefits of fire, controlled burns, planting and seeding techniques, and the tools and equipment used by NDF crews in the field. To cap off the experience, attendees toured fire engines, wrote letters to Smokey Bear in Washington, D.C., and even had the chance to meet Smokey Bear himself. Nevada Outdoor School is proud to bring engaging educational opportunities like this to our communities, helping connect people to the outdoors through safety, science, and stewardship.
April | Elko Nature in My World
In April 2025, the Elko office of Nevada Outdoor School reached over 300 students across 16 classrooms in six schools, bringing hands-on, standards-based outdoor education to communities throughout rural Nevada. This spring, the Elko team launched a worm farm right in the office, creating a fun and interactive way to teach Kindergarteners about composting and soil health; an experience made even more engaging by the students' excitement in meeting our wiggly worm friends. In third grade classrooms, the lesson Whooo’s in the Pellet: A Feathery Investigation has been a huge hit. Students examined real owl pellets to uncover what owls eat, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm with reactions ranging from “gross!” to “cool!” as they learned about food chains and the role of owls in the ecosystem. NOS also adapted its Watershed Field Trip into a one-hour outdoor learning experience for second graders. Now the most requested lesson of the year, this new format has been embraced with enthusiasm and flexibility by local educators, and we are grateful for their ongoing partnership.
April | Winnemucca Nature in My World
April was a busy and exciting month for our team at Nevada Outdoor School! We wrapped up all of our spring lessons in every community we serve, including a full schedule at NIMW in Winnemucca. We engaged 145 K–4th grade students across 8 classes with hands-on lessons featuring artifacts, flowers, worms, and animal adaptations. It was a fun-filled month of curiosity, exploration, and learning about the natural world!
April | Winnemucca Nature Journaling
Our final nature journaling lesson of the year in Winnemucca wrapped up in April, and what a meaningful way to close out the season! Students explored the birds of Nevada, learning to observe and identify different species while practicing their drawing skills. Teachers shared their appreciation for the lessons, and the kids especially loved sketching birds in their journals. It was a bittersweet goodbye, but we're proud to have reached 245 students across 13 different classes. What a fantastic way to finish the year!
April 25th | Paracord Bracelet Making Workshop
On April 25th, Nevada Outdoor School engaged 38 participants in a hands-on paracord bracelet-making activity. Attendees received a brief overview of the origins of paracord, including its original military use and structural components. They also learned about the wide variety of practical applications paracord offers in both everyday life and outdoor settings. As a group, participants followed step-by-step instructions to create a simple cobra pattern paracord bracelet. With a wide selection of cord and buckle colors available, everyone was able to personalize their bracelet to match their style. By the end of the activity, participants left with both a customized bracelet and the skills to make their own at home.
April 18th | Bunny Hop Trek
On April 18th, Nevada Outdoor School hosted the Bunny Hop Trek, a fun and festive outdoor event designed to get community members outside and give kids a chance to enjoy an egg hunt in nature. Held along the scenic trail near Campsite 3 in Water Canyon, the event featured hidden eggs near the bench at the top of the trail. With support from NOS AmeriCorps members Beau and Breanne, and volunteer Sofia, the event ran smoothly and brought plenty of smiles. Thanks to a surprise school day off in Winnemucca, attendance was higher than expected, with 54 participants. The kids especially loved the Easter baskets, and the event was a great success filled with laughter, exploration, and springtime joy.
April 18th | Sunshine Stroll
On April 18th, Nevada Outdoor School hosted a Sunshine Stroll that brought smiles despite the less-than-ideal weather. The event had a solid turnout, with participants in high spirits, chatting, and making new connections along the way. The cheerful atmosphere was enhanced by fun giveaways—ribbons and sunglasses were a hit with everyone! While the weather may have limited attendance, the stroll itself was a success, leaving participants happy to be outdoors and part of a well-executed event.
April 13th | Sensory Walk with NV Humanities
Kim and AmeriCorps member Breanne, in collaboration with Nevada Humanities, GBC Humanities, and Fil Corbitt—an independent contractor who leads sensory walks across the state; participated in a sensory walk-through Water Canyon in Winnemucca.
Throughout the hike, the group paused at several points to receive guidance from Fil or Katie from GBC Humanities. During each stop, participants were invited to sit in silence and activate their senses of sight, smell, or hearing. After 3–5 minutes of quiet reflection, the group came together to share what they observed.
To conclude the walk, there was a discussion on the benefits of using nature as a tool for practicing mindfulness, staying grounded, and managing stress. All participants reported feeling more calm, present, and aware by the end of the experience.
April 9th-12th | Clark County Fair
From April 9th to April 12th, Nevada Outdoor School participated in the Clark County Fair in Logandale, partnering with UMC to provide free helmets and important safety education to both kids and adults. Ash and a team member represented NOS, engaging with over 200 individuals and distributing more than 60 helmets. The goal of this outreach was to raise awareness about the importance of wearing helmets while riding and to highlight the safety risks associated with not doing so. It was also a valuable opportunity to share the mission of Nevada Outdoor School and the work being done to promote outdoor education and safety across Northern Nevada.
April 7th-11th | Level Up for Health
From April 7th to 11th, Nevada Outdoor School was proud to support Level Up for Health, a weeklong educational event at Flagview Intermediate School focused on promoting health and wellness. AmeriCorps members helped assemble binders and supply boxes for teachers and students to use throughout the week and assisted with daily classroom activities. NOS team members helped introduce themed lessons such as Mindful Monday and Tasty Tuesday, which focused on mental and physical wellness through interactive discussions and engaging activities. On Monday, NOS connected with around 50 students during class and reached 615 students during a lively lunchtime session featuring freeze tag and a hula hoop chain game. At the end-of-week carnival, the NOS booth welcomed 115 students, offering a hands-on activity alongside information about upcoming events and opportunities to get involved with Nevada Outdoor School.
April 2nd | Wild Week with NDOW
On April 2nd, Nevada Outdoor School partnered with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for a Wild Week adventure at the museum, engaging 12 enthusiastic kids in a fun-filled and educational experience centered around animal adaptations. Excitement was in the air as students explored the museum’s diverse animal displays, sparking curiosity from the very beginning. Each AmeriCorps member led a segment of the lesson, diving into specific animal adaptations and how they help creatures survive in their environments. The day kicked off with an introduction to adaptations—what they are, why they matter, and how animals use them to their advantage—setting the stage for eager learners to ask questions and seek more knowledge. A highlight of the experience was an interactive scavenger hunt through the animal exhibits, where kids discovered real-life examples of adaptations up close. The lesson wrapped up with an engaging activity on predator vs. prey, where students used their observations to determine how eye placement influences an animal’s role in the food chain. To bring the concept to life, students played a game of tag while wearing special prey-animal glasses that limited their vision to their peripherals, helping them better understand how prey animals see. Special attention was also given to the unique adaptations of axolotls, rounding out a day full of discovery, critical thinking, and fun.
Fiscal Year 2025 | Quarter 2
March | Winnemucca Nature Journaling
In March, Nevada Outdoor School brought the Nature Journaling program to Winnemucca classrooms, featuring the engaging Sound Map lesson. Teachers shared that this was one of their favorite lessons, and students absolutely loved it, requesting that we continue offering it in the future. The activity sparked plenty of laughter and fun while also helping students recognize the importance of sound in the natural world. Through this experience, they discovered how tuning out other senses can heighten their awareness of sound, deepening their connection to their surroundings.