Thank you to supporters who have donated in 2014!
Please check them out at:
Please join them by donating at:
The Community Foundation of Western Nevada will double donations made through January 31, 2015.
Impact the lives of Washoe County kids by giving them the benefits of outdoor, discovery-based education - for their immediate benefit and for the future of forest conservation and protection.
|
December Nature Note
What is the "Great Basin?"
|
Volunteer of the Month!
 John Farley
Come join John Farley on a guided hike every Saturday at 10am. John has extensive knowledge about the area's ecology, geology, and history, and is a great guide.
John is a native of the Midwest. He spent his career at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he worked on many projects including the Hubble Space Telescope. Upon retiring in 2011, he moved to Washoe Valley. John enjoys spending time with his daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren, hiking with his dog, home remodeling, and winter sports. In addition to volunteering at the Visitor Center, he also volunteers at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center in Incline Village where, as a docent, he provides education tours to the public.
|
|
 |
|
Educators: Book Now for Spring 2015 Day and Residential School Field Studies for K-12 students!
Great Basin Naturalists at Galena day and residential school field trips promote environmental literacy and nurture student relationships with the forest ecosystem. Hands-on discovery based education, paired with physical activity, inspires and reinforces student core learning in an outdoor setting. Working with teachers, we design programs to meet your grade and curriculum needs while aligning with benchmarks in Nevada Standards and STEM. A variety of curriculum topics are available, including Air Quality, Weather & Climate Change, Plant, Animal and Insect Adaptations and Habitat, and Water and Forest Ecosystems and Interdependence. Whether it's a three-hour day field study or a two-day/one-night to five-day/four-night residential program, outdoor education programs at the Galena Creek Recreation Area get students hiking, collecting and analyzing data, modeling systems and functions, building teamwork, developing outdoor life skills and having fun all while learning outdoors.
To discuss how residential outdoor school can work for your group, call (775) 849-4948 or email [email protected].
|
|
|
|
When: Every 3rd Wednesday
January 15: Snow Science
February 19: Air Quality
March 18: Pollinators
Where: Galena Creek Visitor Center
Cost: $5 per child, grades K-12
Every month we present an outdoor educational program. Students are divided into two groups: Grades K-5 and Grades 6-12. Activities are geared toward 2nd/3rd and 9th grades.
RSVP to reserve your spot as space is limited. Contact the Visitor Center at [email protected] or (775) 849-4948.
|
Do you enjoy staying active in the outdoors?
Do you enjoy interacting with the public?
Do you enjoy researching and preparing exhibits?
Galena Creek Visitor Center has multiple volunteer opportunities. Learn more about how you can help by reading the short January Volunteer Newsletter.
|
Animal sightings have been abundant in the Galena Creek Recreation Area. Come and check the Animal Sightings board, and add to it in person or by phoning in your sightings. Sightings will soon be available interactively on the Galena Creek Visitor Center website.
The Galena Creek Visitor Center is open on Friday-Sunday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. For trail maps, current conditions, and things to do in the park or at Lake Tahoe, stop by and ask our Visitor Center Hosts. Or you may take a break from your outdoor excursions in the elements and enjoy the exhibits and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.
|
|
|
|
January Events
Suggested Donation $5.00
Every Saturday, 10:00am-12:00pm
Winter Guided Hikes
Enjoy a guided hike through Galena Creek Park with a local specialist. Please bring appropriate clothing and plenty of water.
If there's enough snow, this will be a snowshoe hike! We have a few pairs of snowshoes at the visitor center available for rent. The hike intensity varies, depending on the audience.
Thursday, January 8th, 6:00pm
Galena Evening Series: The Truckee
presented by the Nature Conservancy
Wine Reception @ 5:30pm
Presentation @ 6pm
Come learn about the Nevada Museum of Art's Art in the Environment collaboration with the Nature Conservancy aimed at protecting the Truckee, among other local rivers. Once a thriving, wild waterway with hundreds of bird species and 40-pound Lahontan cutthroat trout, the Truckee River had been degraded over the past century. Hear about the conservation challenges being faced and how science-based restoration solutions, such as the installation of large-scale, habitat-centric natural sculptures designed by environmental artists, Daniel McCormick and Mary O'Brien, are bringing this important area back to a healthy condition to benefit both people and nature.
Thursday, January 15th, 10:00am-11:00am
Nature education for the knee-high, including a story, activity, and craft.
Saturday, January 17th, 1:00pm
Environmental Drama for Kids
This month we will go owling on a walk through the woods. Children, ages 5-10, are invited to learn about our environment through literature and drama. activities will include a presentation of text followed by performing using characterization, facial expression, voice control, and music.
Join the "act" at Galena and be part of the show
Saturday, January 17th, 2:00pm
Fairest Picture: Mark Twain at Lake Tahoe with local author, David Antonucci
In 1861, the man who would become Mark Twain hiked to Lake Tahoe to stake a claim for a timber ranch. He spent many blissful days on the Lake but carelessly allowed his campfire to escape, creating a spectacular wildfire. He later wrote about his experiences in his 1872 memoir, Roughing It. Follow his footsteps from Carson City and see the locations where he camped and relaxed. See the same views that inspired him to declare Tahoe as the "fairest picture the whole earth affords." Copies of David Antonucci's books, including Fairest Picture, are available for purchase.
Sunday, January 18th, 10:00am & 11:00 am
KIDS' ADVENTURE HIKE & REPTILE DAY
(1) Scavenger Hunt @ 10:00am
Join us on this family adventure through the
forest as we search for things produced by
nature, as well as a few things that weren't.
Afterwards, warm up in the Visitor Center
with hot cocoa or cider.
(2) Reptiles of Nevada @ 11:00am
See live snakes, spiders, and other creatures
up close and personal and learn how they
have adapted to survive the winter
Wednesday, Jan. 21st, 10:00am-12:00pm
Nevada Homeschool Day - Cost - $5/child
Snow Science
In January, students will learn all about snow!
RSVP to reserve your spot as space is limited. Contact the Visitor Center at [email protected] or (775) 849-4948.
Saturday, January 24th, 1:00pm
Avalanche Awareness
Join avalanche experts from Mt. Rose Ski Resort and learn about avalanche safety - great for all ages.
Saturday, January 31st, 11:00am
Seismography: Nevada and the Truckee Meadows
Nevada has not experienced a seismic event over M6.5 in over 60 years - this is not the norm for the state. Dr. Annie Kell of UNR will guide us in understanding geophysical techniques, and we will look at details of major fault systems in our region and study our seismic history.
February 6th - 8th
Three-day Winter Photography Workshop
with local photographer, Burt Crapo
Ever wonder how to keep the bright snow from becoming featureless? How about how to keep snow in shadow, and people for that matter, from turning blue? Do you know how to set your exposure with your digital or film camera in high contrast or low contrast scenes?
Learn all this and more in our Winter Photography Workshop. Join us for a weekend of learning and photographing the winter wonderland in the Toiyabe National Forest. Half of the proceeds will go to the Visitor Center's outdoor education and conservation programs.
$345 per person
For more information, click here.
To reserve a spot, call us at (775) 849-4948 or email us at [email protected].
Check out our calender for additional event updates!
____________________________________________________
 | Bear Tracks through Galena Forest
Photo Credit: Gloria Boike
|
Did you snap a great photo during your last visit to Galena Creek Park? Whether it's a picture of a beautiful bird, your school group, or a scenic vista, we would love to see it! Send in your picture and we may feature it in our next newsletter.
|
|
|
|
|
Galena Creek Visitor Center
Friday - Sunday
9:00am - 4:00pm
(Winter Hours: Oct 15 - Apr 30)
Galena Creek Recreation Area
Day Use Only
8:00 am - 5:00pm Daily
|
|
|
