Nevada Outdoor School is the proud recipient of a $5,000 Union Pacific Railroad, Community Ties Giving Program grant, which will promote outdoor education in rural Nevada through Nevada Outdoor School’s Nature in my World programming, increasing students’ time spent outdoors and overall well-being.
“We are very grateful to the Community Ties Giving Program grant that will provide Nevada Outdoor School with the opportunity to bring outdoor education to students in rural Nevada!” said Nevada Outdoor School Executive Director, Melanie Erquiaga. “By enhancing students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills and nurturing a personal outdoor ethic, this initiative promises to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Thank you, Union Pacific, for empowering our mission to connect students with the natural world.”
Union Pacific’s Community Ties Giving Program provides small- and medium-sized grants that align with the railroad’s priority cause areas in safety, workforce development, community vitality and environmental sustainability.
“Local grants have the power to create meaningful change within the communities our tracks touch,“ said Beth Whited, Union Pacific President and Union Pacific Foundation President. “We are proud to partner with nonprofit organizations who are making an impact on the future – creating safer places for children and families; bringing economic prosperity to communities; building vibrant, inclusive areas for people to thrive; and instilling sustainable practices.”
Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) has been connecting students in rural Nevada to the natural world for over 20 years. NOS’s Nature in My World Programming provides outdoor learning experiences and education to over 4,000 K-8th grade students in six rural Nevada counties: Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, and White Pine.
Nevada Outdoor School inspires exploration of the natural world, responsible stewardship of our habitat, and dedication to community. Through cross-curricular programming, Nature in My World’s environmental education supports classroom learning and pro-environmental behaviors. Students learn to analyze their actions, evaluate the impacts those actions have on the natural world, and choose wisely to behave in ways that positively impact the natural world and reduce negative impact whenever possible. Through exploration and hands-on activities, students develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills while exploring the outdoors and their place in nature.
Nature in My World also increases students’ time spent outdoors and demonstrates that nature is a valuable learning experience. Overwhelming evidence shows the physical, psychological, and social well-being of humans depends on contact with nature (Kellert, 2017). Nature in My World outdoor learning experiences integrate science, math, art, language arts, social studies, music, and physical education, supporting academic standards and classroom learning. For more details about Nevada Outdoor School, visit: NevadaOutdoorSchool.org