At this year’s Angel Lake camp, campers and educators traveled to the Angel Lake campground near Wells, Nevada for three days and two nights of exploration, education, and fun! Campers participated in various games and activities related to the seven Leave No Trace principles, all aimed at teaching campers how to explore the outdoors sustainably and responsibly. Through swims and hikes, we identified a variety of flora and fauna (including a bald eagle!), using the rule of thumb and leaving what we found along the way. Through our travels, campers not only got to experience the beauty of Angel Lake but had the chance to practice teamwork and cooperation as they played games, performed skits, and cooked meals. Our trip to Angel Lake created priceless memories and countless stories that our campers and educators alike will tell for years to come!
Early on the morning of Saturday, July 8, 2023, fourteen (14) novice fishing recreationalists set out from Elko and Spring Creek to participate in the Fishing for Beginners Workshop. We traveled past South Fork State Recreation Area through Jiggs and over Harrison Pass into Ruby Valley before turning South to enter Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Our first stop was at the historic Bressman Cabin where the group learned the seven (7) principles of Leave No Trace. We were visited by NDOW Game Warden Thomas Hamblin, who shared insight into the rules and regulations of fishing, where the fees from licenses go to, and answered a lot of questions about what he does. Then the group learned how to cast and had the opportunity to practice on two types of fishing reels.
Photo: campers swimming in Angel Lake
Next, we moved South to the Passey Springhole where everyone finally got the opportunity to fish in the collection ditch for some of those trophy sized rainbow and tiger trout. The group learned that the state records for largest rainbow trout and tiger trout came from RLNWR.
After lunch, the group moved down to the Brown Dike, Unit 21 where the Collection Ditch ends to fish some more, maybe even for some smallmouth bass. One rainbow trout was finally landed near the end of our time by a young lady named Scarlett who was a first-time fisher. She acknowledged that she really didn’t want to come to the workshop, but her mom made her attend. She however enjoyed herself by the end and was happy she attended. We traveled to the fish cleaning station just outside of RLNWR where AmeriCorp Member Angie showed part of the group how to clean and filet the trout that was caught.
The group ended the workshop with a tour of the Gallagher Fish Hatchery managed by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. It was a long hot exhausting day, but everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were grateful for the skills and knowledge they now had.
Scarlett Plata of Spring Creek, NV with her first rainbow trout
AmeriCorp Member Angie Gonzales shows workshop participants Becca Banks & KJ Palmer how to clean and filet a rainbow trout.
On July 10th we began our 2nd adventure camp of the summer with 12 campers at Elko City Park! The first day began with assigning camp names and getting everyone to know each other. The day capped off with a trip to the Museum, where we had a special presentation on the Pony Express. The next day was filled with water activities and beach fun at the Spring Creek Marina! Wednesday was the beginning of our overnight camp, but before we traveled to the Neff Campground, we took a visit to the Weather Station. Here we were given a tour of the facility, and a demonstration on some of the equipment used every day to predict our local weather. Finally, that afternoon we traveled to our campsite to begin our overnight stay. We learned all about Leave No Trace, and cooked hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner. That night we started a campfire where we had fun doing skits and singing songs. The next day we packed everything and started the journey home! It was a great adventure, I’m glad everyone had a great time and enjoyed the experience. I can’t wait for more escapades in the future!
Photo Caption: Adventure Camp #2 Campers going for a hike at Neff Campground!
The Great Basin Kids Workshop in Ely Nevada started on July 14th and went through the 16th. This was a fun-filled weekend full of exciting adventures and many learning experiences. We partnered with ENLC for an amazing camp! We went on fun adventures in the Ely area and learned about all sorts of different creatures such as bats, bugs, and native animals of Nevada. NOS was also able to teach Leave No Trace at the workshop and play many games and activities alongside ENLC. At the end of the camp, the families of the campers were able to attend the barbeque with their campers and played games all together. It was a fun and great experience to be able to attend, and we would like to thank everyone who was able to join us as well as support us during this camp!
Campers learning about the Elk trunk at the Great Basin Kids Workshop
Thanks to the generous support from the Chukar Chasers Foundation, Winnemucca Trap Club, Nevada Division of Wildlife, Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited - Midas, and the Back Burner Smoke Haus, Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) hosted the 3rd Annual Youth Trap Shoot Tournament on July 8th, 2023. We are happy to announce that 34 kids were able to attend this firearm education and trap shoot tournament and we could have not done it without our partners! Because of their generosity, this event was free to all participants and included breakfast, lunch, personal protective gear, shooting vests, shotguns to borrow and plenty of shotgun shells and cold water to go around!
During this event youth 7 – 17 years old were educated about safe and responsible firearm use with partners and volunteers on hand from Chukar Chasers, Nevada Division of Wildlife, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the Winnemucca Trap Club. Upon entering the event the youth participants were given a gift bag with Chukar Chaser hats, safety glasses, ear plugs, stickers, and a summer camp voucher from NOS. Before the tournament started and after firearm safety instruction from the Humboldt County Sheriff's office, Chukar Chaser team and Winnemucca Trap Club was given. Participants were then given the opportunity to practice their shooting skills with adult volunteers by their side before the official shooting competition began.
A big thanks to the Nevada Bighorns Unlimited – Midas Chapter who made a donation of five 20-gauge shotguns for the youth to use at these events. Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies in three different age groups were given out to the winners as follows:
7-10 year old: 1st place- Quinn Kegler, 2nd place- Lewis Harros and 3rd place- Judah Bryant
11-13 year old class: 1st place- Jonathan Gildone, 2nd place- Peter Rivas and 3rd place- Joel Bengoa
14-17 year old class: 1st place- Maddox Lage, 2nd place- Hannah Benjamin and 3rd place- Enzo Lifante
Jacklyn and Casey Orr donated a combo 243 Rifle/20-gauge shotgun that was raffled off and won by Uriah Graham! The Chukar Chasers donated a 20 ga shotgun that was also raffled off and won by Peter Rivas!
What a great example of likeminded community organizations coming together to provide a good outdoor recreation education experience and expose youth to the fantastic hunting and trap shooting culture we have here in rural, northern Nevada! See you next year!
On July 17th 3 NOS members and 11 campers aged 11-13 went into the Santa Rosa Mountains to Lye Creek campground for 4 days. Over the week we played a lot of games and activities to learn about Leave No Trace (LNT). Between LNT activities we went to Paradise Valley and did some exploring and played some team building games. We partnered with the Forest Service and were able got a lot of work done during our stewardship project. We cleared the area surrounding the bathrooms and camp entrances of weeds and made paths to them. We were also able to clear a whole new spot for a future RV camping spot. Throughout our week we not only learned about the 7 Leave No Trace principles and team building but we also learned some basic life/camp skills with our camp chores and our stewardship project. Overall, the week was a great experience. We learned a lot about how and why to respect nature by using LNT and outdoor ethics.
Photo: Campers posing with their Leave No Trace movie poster they made at camp.
On July 24, campers Join NOS members Noah Doyle, Kaitlin Phipps, and Stewart Nielson for their first day of Adventure Camp #3! This was just the start of what would be a 3 ½ day adventure learning about how to have fun safely and responsibly outdoors in nature! This program works with youth groups between the ages of 8-10. Noah Doyle led this pirate themed camp and included a lot of ocean and pirate themed activities such as designing your own pirate hat, creating 3D textured treasure maps. In addition to fun crafts and games, campers learned all about following the seven principles that Leave No Trace has outlined in order to help educate others on what they can do in order to protect the recreational areas they spend time in. On Tuesday, July 25th, campers went up to Lamoille Canyon and hiked the Hanging Valley walking path! While on the path, NOS members emphasized the importance of being prepared for a hike by bringing snacks and water. They also reiterated the importance of the second Leave No Trace principle of choosing the right path and remaining on established trails while hiking and to be careful not to step on any vegetation that may have overgrown into the path. Once the group returned to City Park, they split into groups and went around the park with plastic bags and rubber gloves, picking up each bit of trash they could find (there was a ton of it!) so that it could make it into a proper trash can. On Wednesday, campers got to go out to the California trail center where NOS associate, Macy Rohr, led the group in a tour of the facility as well as other activities like archery! Here, campers discovered the history behind the California Trail and the pioneers that lived during that time. After playing with some pioneer toys, campers loaded back up into the van and headed out to Ruby Valley for their night of camping at the Neff Family’s Private Campground. During the overnight stay, campers got to set up tents on their own, help make dinner, learn about how to properly take care of dishes while out camping, and participate in a NOS campfire program! Overall, it was a very fun and educational experience for everyone involved!
Noah Doyle Leading Campers on a hike through Lamoille’s Hanging Valley Walking Path
On July 26th, Programs Coordinator, Allana, and Outdoor Educator, Noah, drove down to Mina, NV to provide the new Nevada OHV State Evaluation to a group of employees at GRC Nevada Inc for usage of their work ATV. By taking this optional OHV skills evaluation, they demonstrated and confirmed their and their ATVs riding skills and abilities to safely and responsibly ride whether it is for work or for play!
Photo caption: Evaluating weaving skills.
On July 22nd, 25 campers of all ages from several different states joined NOS and Friends of the Rubies at the Thomas Canyon Campground for a night of animal tracks fun. Associate director of NOS, Karl Klein, started off the hour with information about different animals and their claws/paws. We then lead all of the campers in looking at molded animal tracks. Campers got to use their knowledge of what tracks belong to which animals and why they came to that conclusion. We also discussed the advantages of each animal’s foot shape. The children of the group seemed to really enjoy this. Angelina Gonzales, NOS’s summer Outdoor Educator with AmeriCorps, lead the participants through a craft using animal print stamps that they got to take with them. We finished out the hour just in time for campers to return to camp a short walk away and enjoy their dinner before it got too dark. This was a great night to learn about animal tracks and relax while spending time with friends, family, and fellow campers.
At this year's Battle Mountain Day Camp, we spent the day playing fun games and making crafts while learning a lot about the importance of preparedness in nature and the power of the sun! We learned the science of solar stills and how to make them as a useful survival skill and campers got to show their creativity by making color changing bracelets to show the power of UV light from the sun. Through many games and activities all of our campers learned a lot and had a great time while also making friends and spending time outdoors. Everyone had lots of fun and got to take home not only their own cool crafts and useful knowledge, but also the great memories they made throughout their time at camp!
On July 29th, our two new Hunter Ed instructors Jacklyn Orr and Meghan Sturgell taught their first class in Elko! The Hunter Ed class is open to all members of the community who are interested in starting a path into hunting or who are just interested in learning more about firearm safety. The class consists of games and hands-on activities related to the sport of hunting and outdoor ethics. The class had 8 participants who all successfully completed the course. If you missed out on this class, no worries we have another one scheduled for August 12th. We hope to see you there!
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Photo Caption: Students at the first NOS Hunter Ed Course!
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