What's New at NOS! June 2025

At Nevada Outdoor School, we believe that meaningful outdoor experiences create lasting memories, spark curiosity, and build stronger communities. This year, our team has been hard at work delivering a variety of programs that connect people to nature through hands-on learning and outdoor adventure. From family camps to educational hikes, youth activities, and skill-building workshops, we’ve seen incredible enthusiasm and engagement across all ages. One standout moment from this year’s programming was our Elko Family Camp—an unforgettable weekend of connection, exploration, and fun.

June 6 | Gravely Fjord Field Trip

Nevada Outdoor School recently had the unique opportunity to explore a permit-only section of the California Trail, offering a rare glimpse into areas many don’t typically get to see. Traveling caravan-style, we journeyed along historic routes, tracing the paths once taken by wagon wheels and early travelers on foot. One particularly memorable moment was the chance to use dowsing rods at an unmarked graveyard, adding a layer of reflection and connection to the past. Lunch was generously provided, giving participants time to rest and reflect on the significance of the day. This special experience deepened our appreciation for the rich history woven into the landscape of the California Trail.

June 7 | Cave Lake Reopen

On June 7th, Nevada Outdoor School had the pleasure of attending the Cave Lake reopening celebration, where we connected with approximately 100 attendees. We engaged in conversations about potential future programs and collaborative events with community members and partners. Our Leave No Trace Trash Timeline activity was a crowd favorite, drawing interest and sparking discussion. We also led a Leave No Trace hike along the scenic Steptoe Creek Trail with three enthusiastic participants. The day concluded with the ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially marking the long-awaited reopening of Cave Lake.

June 8 | Fire & Ice Charity Golf Scramble

On June 8th, Nevada Outdoor School hosted the Fire & Ice Charity Golf Scramble, and it was a day to remember! With 25 teams participating—the most we've ever had—the event was a huge success. After being rained out last month, we were thrilled to see so many teams return for our rescheduled date. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our incredible sponsors who helped make this event possible. Cooler Sponsors included American Legion, Gene & Chrissy Hunt, US Bank, Core Title Group, and Les Schwab. Firearm Sponsors were Ramcon, 5th Gear Powersports, and BF Guns & Gear. Prize Sponsors included Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Dayton Valley Golf Club, and Duncan Golf Management. Team Sponsors were Bawcom Realty, Florida Canyon, and AIT Technologies, and our Silver Sponsor was Orla Mining. We also extend our gratitude to Ogi on the Green for catering a delicious lunch and to the Spring Creek Golf Course for hosting and helping us reschedule the tournament. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this event—your contributions help make outdoor education in Nevada possible!

June 16–20 | Summer Camp Training  

Summer Camp Training at Nevada Outdoor School was filled with hands-on learning and meaningful connections. A highlight of the week was a special visit from Jorge and his team at Renown Children’s Hospital, who led a “Stop the Bleed” training, equipping our AmeriCorps members with important emergency response skills. In addition, all participating AmeriCorps members became certified as Level 1 Leave No Trace Trainers, empowering them to lead LNT Awareness Workshops throughout the summer and within our communities. The training also offered plenty of time for team building and familiarization with the equipment and resources used during our summer camp programs, ensuring everyone is ready for a safe and successful season.

June 27 | Elko Bike Rodeo

On June 17th Nevada Outdoor School attended the Bike Rodeo at Adobe Middle School to promote bike safety for kids where we met with approximately 146 people. We had an RS2 booth and had a bike course model that the kids could play with while also learning some bike safety points and real life scenarios that could happen when out riding bikes or OHV’s, and how we can avoid or solve the situation. This event was hosted by Nevada Gold Mines and they provided free bike inspections, a bike course, helmet fittings, safety coaching and riding tips as well as free ice cream and face painting.

June 28 | Winnemucca Bike Rodeo

On June 28th, Nevada Outdoor School attended the Nevada Gold Mines Bike Rodeo in Winnemucca. Approximately 40 people attended the event, where NOS shared Ride Safe Ride Smart principles and helped educate families on the importance of bike safety. A helmet giveaway drawing added excitement, while both kids and parents gained a deeper understanding of why wearing helmets is essential—especially in Northern Nevada, where there is no Level 3 trauma center equipped to treat serious head injuries.

June 28-29 | Elko Family Camp

On June 28–29, Nevada Outdoor School hosted Elko Family Camp, bringing together four families for a weekend full of learning, laughter, and connection. With 11 enthusiastic participants, the group was fully engaged in all the camp activities. The highlight of the weekend was the lively campfire program, where everyone joined in on skits, sang the Milk Song together, and enjoyed s’mores while sharing stories and laughter. Campers spent their time bonding through arts and crafts, playing games, exploring the campground, and trying new things. The positive energy was contagious—everyone was in great spirits, eager to learn and explore. It was a joyful and memorable experience for all!

June | Nature in the Park

June marked a strong start to Nevada Outdoor School’s Nature in the Park (NITP) program! Designed for young explorers ages 4–7, this summer series blends outdoor learning with engaging stories and hands-on discovery. So far, participants have dug into archaeology, stomped through time with dinosaurs, and hopped into the fascinating world of amphibians. During the first week alone, nearly 100 children in Elko and Winnemucca joined the fun, building curiosity and connection with the natural world right in their local parks.

Meet Bayley Mason: Elko Native, Outdoor Educator, and AmeriCorps Member Making an Impact

At Nevada Outdoor School, we’re lucky to have a dedicated team of AmeriCorps members who bring energy, passion, and purpose to their roles. One of those inspiring individuals is Bayley Mason, an outdoor educator based in Elko, Nevada. Since joining us in February, Bayley has made a meaningful impact not only on our programs but also on the lives of local youth and families.

Rooted in the Community

Bayley was born in Coos Bay, Oregon but has called Elko home since she was four years old. A true local, she brings a unique perspective and deep connection to the area she serves. When her mom sent her a job listing for an AmeriCorps position with Nevada Outdoor School, Bayley saw it as a chance to do something new, spend time outside, and work with kids, something she’s always enjoyed.

“I was really excited to work outside all summer,” Bayley says. “This job looked to be a really good opportunity for new experiences and challenged my comfort levels.”

What is AmeriCorps?

In Bayley’s words, “AmeriCorps is a nonprofit service program on a national level. It covers many different branches of needs and experiences.” As an AmeriCorps member focused on outdoor education, Bayley spends her time increasing people’s connection with the outdoors and teaching them about their local environments. She believes this kind of education is essential.

“We will always be surrounded by the outdoors. Getting to learn how to keep our beautiful areas clean, how to navigate them, and understand everything inside of them is a priceless skill.”

Lessons Beyond the Lesson Plan

In just a few months of service, Bayley has already learned valuable lessons herself. She’s gained confidence, developed leadership skills, and mastered the art of flexibility, especially when working with young students.

“Anyone who has worked with kids knows how unpredictable anything can be, even if you plan every minute to a T,” she says. “Serving as a member has taught me how to keep a group of kids engaged and make sure they walk away having learned something new. It’s helped me believe in my ability to create lasting memories for them.”

Building Community and Inspiring Young Minds

Bayley’s impact is visible across the community. Students often recognize her when she visits schools, excited to see a familiar face and eager to participate in her engaging lessons. That recognition, she says, is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

“I get to help kids create good memories outdoors. When they remember what I taught them, it’s such an awesome feeling.”

A Moment That Stuck: Ride Safe Ride Smart in Logandale

One of Bayley’s favorite experiences so far was traveling to Logandale for Nevada Outdoor School’s Ride Safe Ride Smart education program. There, she helped distribute free helmets and educate families about OHV safety.

“The impact of our education was clear,” Bayley recalls. “We showed parents a map from Renown Children’s Hospital that highlighted trauma center locations across the U.S. Nevada stood out as completely empty, which shocked a lot of people. It really drove home the importance of safety and preparation.”

The trip was not only educational but also provided a chance to form new community connections and take in the stunning landscapes of Southern Nevada.

Advice for Future AmeriCorps Members

Bayley doesn’t sugarcoat the experience, it’s hard work, but it’s worth it.

“Being a member is a lot. You work long days and meet many new faces. But if you’re willing to step up to the challenge, it’s incredibly rewarding. You’ll make lifelong friends and grow in ways you didn’t expect.”

Looking Ahead

After completing her service, Bayley plans to use her AmeriCorps education award to begin her General Studies coursework and continue exploring what she wants to do next. With the skills and experiences, she’s gained through AmeriCorps, we have no doubt she’ll continue to make a difference wherever she goes.

Thank you, Bayley, for your service, your heart, and your dedication to outdoor education. You’re helping build a stronger, more connected community; one outdoor adventure at a time. 

A Special Thank You to NV Energy

Nevada Outdoor School would like to thank NV Energy for their generous support of our AmeriCorps program. Their continued investment in our mission makes it possible for members like Bayley to deliver high-quality outdoor education experiences across rural Nevada. Because of NV Energy, we are empowering the next generation of environmental stewards and community leaders. Thank you for helping us make a lasting impact.

AmeriCorps Spotlight: Jamie Horse

At Nevada Outdoor School, our AmeriCorps members play a vital role in bringing outdoor education to our communities. This month, we're excited to spotlight Jamie, who has been serving with NOS for the past nine months. From hands-on lessons with students to engaging with the public at community events, Jamie has embraced every opportunity to inspire a love for the outdoors. Here’s what she had to say about her experience:

"Hello! My name is Jamie, I’ve been an AmeriCorps member at NOS for about 9 months. I am originally from Arizona and have been living here in Elko for about 2 years. Something interesting about me is that I just got back from Japan a couple weeks ago. It was super awesome and had an amazing experience and can't wait to go back again. We have started doing NIMW classes, so I’ve just been working on familiarizing myself with all the lessons. We just had our first couple lessons about Owl Pellets this week and that went over very well with the students, they had a lot of fun with the pellets. Some other lessons we have are flower functions, watersheds, and a kindergarten lesson about worms, which I’m really looking forward to doing more kindergarten lessons, because we haven't had the opportunity to do a lot of them, so I'm really excited about that. Over the weekend we attended the Sportsman's Expo, we had a good amount of people come up to the booth and play our Trash Timeline game and we also did a raffle to give away some NOS swag and we made good connections that hopefully we can partner with sometime in the future. Tomorrow, we have the trout release in Winnemucca that I'm actually very excited for. This Friday we have our Trails Through Time Event learning about the heritage and cultural landmarks of Elko. This weekend we are setting up another booth at CTIC for Junior Ranger Day and next week we are attending the Stem Fair Expo. So, we are pretty busy with a lot of events and on top of that we have our Young Naturalist Signs of Spring Lessons every Friday. Glad to have our new members joining us who are just super helpful in every aspect of what we do here at NOS."

Jamie’s enthusiasm for outdoor education and community engagement shines through in everything she does. Whether she's teaching students about owl pellets, leading lessons on watersheds, or representing NOS at public events, her passion for inspiring the next generation is evident. We are grateful to have dedicated AmeriCorps members like Jamie who make a lasting impact on the communities we serve. Keep up the great work, Jamie!

Thank you to the NV Energy Foundation for their continued support of Nevada Outdoor School, and the AmeriCorps programs. Service is at the heart of Nevada Outdoor School.