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Sierra Nevada Journeys reports expanded 1 Water family STEM nights across Washoe County
Summary
Sierra Nevada Journeys updated the Northern Nevada Water Planning Commission on its 1 Water STEM family nights, saying the program reached more schools and thousands of participants in year two and targets continued curriculum improvements and outreach to high‑need schools.
Sierra Nevada Journeys told the Northern Nevada Water Planning Commission on June 4 that its 1 Water family STEM nights have expanded beyond initial targets and reached thousands of local residents, especially in Washoe County.
Sean Hill, chief executive officer of Sierra Nevada Journeys, said the program delivered hands‑on watershed and STEM education to families and schools in Northern Nevada. "You all are helping support a little program with a big impact," Hill said, adding that family STEM nights combine classroom activities with field experiences at local natural areas.
The program aims to increase science exposure at schools with limited in‑class science time. Hill cited research showing many elementary teachers spend less than three hours per week on science instruction and described the organization’s approach of pairing classroom lessons with visits to nearby sites such as McCarran Ranch and the Oxbow Nature Study.
Sierra Nevada Journeys reported organization‑wide 2024 totals of about 28,000 students served, with 50.8% from low‑income communities, 62% students of color and 15% of participants living with a disability. In year two of the 1 Water STEM effort, the organization had planned to serve 27 schools but reached 33, and ran roughly 40 to 50 family STEM nights in Northern Nevada with average attendance around 100 people per event. Hill said the program reached about 2,665 participants locally in that year.
Program structure combines three hands‑on watershed stations tailored to families, followed by a family design challenge. Hill described the stations as: an aquifer demonstration; a community water allocation exercise (recently changed to use blue corn kernels to represent water); and a filtration activity still under redesign because it proved difficult to run for multiple families simultaneously.
Birgit Whittigrain, who introduced the presentation on behalf of the commission staff, said the Western Regional Water Commission (WRWC) provided funding and that staff would continue to monitor curriculum development. Commissioner Flansberg and Commissioner Enloe praised the program’s emphasis on family participation and its reach into schools with higher percentages of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The commission and Sierra Nevada Journeys discussed next steps for curriculum refinement. Hill said the group planned to update the filtration station over the summer and roll out updated stations in the fall to continue reaching local youth.
The presentation closed with Hill asking for any questions; commissioners expressed support and appreciation for the program.
