Nevada Outdoor School
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Nevada Outdoor School inspires exploration of the natural world, responsible stewardship of our habitat and dedication to community.
Our Vision
At Nevada Outdoor School, we envision a world where all people have the opportunity to learn and grow outdoors and choose to do so; a world where our youth have the desire and skills to become engaged citizens, to become the next generation of leaders, scientists and great thinkers. We will not hide from our need to use or from our responsibility to respect and conserve the Earth’s natural resources. In the society we see, no child born will be the last to be inspired by the natural world.
Our History
Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) was founded in 2002 by Stephanie Lefevre. She desired to establish an outdoor education program in rural Nevada that would create a sense of land stewardship amongst students of all ages. NOS gained its 501c3 non-profit status in 2003, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Conservation Corps, AmeriCorps, the City of Winnemucca and Humboldt County. Over the next few years, NOS increased funding through grants and strengthening partnerships with organizations such as the National Civilian Community Corps and the United Way. By 2006, NOS created over 20 volunteer positions through AmeriCorps, VISTA and the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) program. In the last several years NOS has directly served tens of thousands of rural students through a variety of community outreach programs, on-site education in classrooms, teacher training workshops, and summer camps. NOS is now the main hub of AmeriCorps Sate and VISTA in Rural Nevada, placing over 30 AmeriCorps State and VISTA volunteers into 12 valuable organizations. Today, NOS has formed strong partnerships with many local and regional organizations, corporations and agencies to create a coalition networked all across rural northern Nevada. Stephanie Lefevre stepped down as Executive Director in 2009 and passed the reins to Andy Hart who is continuing and furthering to build upon the great programs and level of service NOS has provided over the years. Choose this Non Profit to receive 2% of your purchase
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Nevada Outdoor School
Nevada Outdoor School inspires exploration of the natural world, responsible stewardship of our habitat and dedication to community.
Andy Hart
Executive Director
Andy.Hart@NevadaOutdoorSchool.org
P: 775.623.5656
F: 775.623.5656
655 Anderson Street
Winnemucca, NV 69445
From our Blog
- This month, local fourth graders will have a unique opportunity to see a historic place in northern Nevada. Nevada Outdoor School (NOS), in partnership with the BLM and other groups, will accompany students to Lovelock, Nevada where they will visit the famous Lovelock Cave. For anyone unfamiliar with Lovelock Cave, it is on the National Register of Historic Places, making it one of many sites in the United States that are essential to the interpretation of our nation’s past and present. Many thousands of artifacts have been recovered from Lovelock Cave over the years, from elaborate mats and bags made of tule and cattail leaves to the remarkable cache of duck decoys; at over 2000 years old they are the oldest in the world! In addition to visiting Lovelock Cave, students will tour the Marzen House museum, which will give them a taste of what life was like way before they were born! Equally exciting, are the variety of presentations and hands-on events led by Paiute Tribe members, representatives from the Emigrant Trail Center in Elko, and many others!To prepare for this amazing trip, NOS visited classrooms to talk about context and why it is important, especially in archeology. Students played a game where they were challenged to guess a room, when only given a few objects that might be in that room. After each round of guessing, an object was removed so that students would eventually have to guess the room when only given a single object contained in that room! This helped them to understand how crucial context can be. Naturalists spoke about why the Leave No Trace principle of Leave What You Find, is important to follow when exploring the outdoors. NOS Naturalists relay an event that happened a few years ago at Lovelock Cave when an inquisitive student removed a piece of a basket artifact from the cave that an archeologist left out for field trip participants to observe. As a result, everyone didn’t get a chance to see the artifact, and the basket piece is sitting on a shelf, under a bed, or maybe even in landfill where no one can learn from or see it. Students are reminded to take only pictures and leave only footprints.by: Merre - NOS Naturalist
- Last weekend I went on my first camping trip of the year. It was only for one night, but it was a great opportunity to get back in the camping mindset and a great time to do a gear shake down.
Thankfully I remembered the essentials (tent, sleeping bag, etc), but forgot my morning tea and my face wash wipes. Not too shabby for the first trip of the season. The trip also gave me a chance to break in my new hiking boots, for Aspen to try out her doggie backpack, and to test out my new camp stove.
A note on the camp stove, I purchased propane on the way to the campground, which didn’t give me a chance to test it beforehand. NEVER TAKE UNTESTED GEAR INTO THE FIELD. At least not the essentials – stove, water filter, etc. To compensate for this I took my tried and true backpacking stove as a backup.
Your challenge – do a gear shake down: you can just set up your equipment in your yard, take a short camping trip, or venture in the wilderness for a night or two. Let us know how it goes!
-Trails
Aspen is ready for this summer!
- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the largest, by acreage, of the federal land management agencies, is currently celebrating the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the General Land Office. The General Land Office was merged with the Grazing Service in 1946 to become the BLM we know today. Also currently being celebrated is the 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act. Both of these events were hugely significant in the western migration of Americans through the years and the establishment of modern public lands management practices. Students of western American history will know that much has changed in 200 years and it hasn’t always been the smoothest run. Federal land management agencies have had their share of mistakes, as well as successes; but one thing I can say is that the vast majority of land managers I have had the opportunity to work with have been dedicated public servants with a strong will to do what is best for a general public of diverse needs and interests. Another great movement we are seeing today is a pronounced emphasis on partnerships and community involvement in stewardship and promotion of public lands, something Nevada Outdoor School is proud to be a part of. You can learn more about the history of public lands management and the BLM at: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/history.html
Partnership is Key at Lovelock Cave, Nevada Here’s to many more years to come of community partnership in successful public lands management along with plenty of opportunities to have fun out there!
- Tomorrow is the beginning of National Park Week! Starting Saturday, April 21 through Sunday, April 29 National Parks are waiving their entrance fees. Here's a bonus idea - as a thank you, pick up a bag of trash during your visit and dispose of it properly!
Aspen and me at one of the many National Parks
