Connecting Sun Valley Area Students to the Outdoors Through Field Days

Hundreds of Sun Valley area students connected to hands-on field experiences thanks to a $10,000 donation from Washoe County special district funds initiated by Washoe County Commissioner Mariluz Garica.

Third, fourth and fifth-grade students from Esther Bennett, Sun Valley and Virginia Palmer elementary schools traveled to Sun Valley Regional Park for a field day with Sierra Nevada Journeys which included science and team-building activities.

“Increasing access to our amazing parks and providing educational opportunities is very important to me. It was a fantastic way to kick off the school year by getting kids outside and doing hands-on activities that build confidence in STEM and a stronger connection to nature and their peers. Sun Valley Regional Park is an ideal location for outdoor learning as it has hundreds of acres of open space, abundant wildlife and unusual rock outcroppings,” said Garcia. “I was first introduced to Sierra Nevada Journeys over a decade ago through my work with Dean’s Future Scholars. Year after year, I personally witnessed the transformational change in our students and parents after participating in the amazing programming of Sierra Nevada Journeys,” added Garcia.