June 11, 2015
by Celeste Tinajero
Comments Off on Be #watersmart – Pick a Water DOT

Be #watersmart – Pick a Water DOT

This month, as part of GREENevada’s series on how to be water smart, each GREENevada organization is sharing what they’re doing to combat the drought.

At ACE, Alliance for Climate Education, we educate high school students about climate change and empower them to take action. We do this in two ways: The ACE Assembly combines current climate science with pop-culture entertainment. Secondly, we offer all students a chance to take action. For some, it’s a simple lifestyle change. For others, it’s hands-on preparation for a lifetime of leadership.

Simple lifestyle changes we call DOTs. A DOT is a pledge to Do One Thing to fight climate change. We ask all students who see the ACE Assembly to pick a DOT. And in northern Nevada, we ask all students to pick a water DOT.

What are these water DOTs? Below are some examples, all thought up by northern Nevada students.

  • Take shorter showers
  • Take fewer showers! (This one gets groans from fellow classmates.)
  • Only do big loads of laundry
  • Water the lawn less — or even STOP watering the lawn
  • Eat less red meat (Cause it takes a lot of water to raise a cow)
  • Carry a reusable water bottle (This might not save water locally, but it’s a great step to reduce waste.)

Collecting DOT pledges from around school is a great way to get all students involved in water conservation. You can also display all the DOTs together in a DOT mural – an artistic depiction of each student’s DOT. Check out how to make a DOT mural here.

Got a water DOT of your own? Share it below!

Facebooktwitter

June 4, 2015
by Celeste Tinajero
Comments Off on #Watersmart gardening with Urban Roots

#Watersmart gardening with Urban Roots

10986454_10152967887328860_8561147426500302572_nGet #watersmart with your vegetable garden! Urban Roots believes gardens are a tool to not only engage students in science and get them excited to learn, but also encourages healthy eating. In a place like Reno, with a short growing season and a dry climate, growing food can be a particular challenge. But with a little research and planning, you can still grow your own food and limit your water use!

1. Soil. Well-amended soil with lots of organic compost will trap moisture and encourage deep roots. Mulch keeps down weeds and retains moisture in the soil.

2. Choose your plants carefully. Some common garden plants require more water than others. Do a little research and use drought-tolerant plants. Jerusalem artichoke, Swiss chard, and peppers all need low amounts of water. Herbs like oregano, thyme, and sage, and rosemary grow well in our high desert climate and can usually come back year after year. Other crops, like corn, may not seem water-wise but there are drought-tolerant varieties that are a good choice this year. Consider ‘Hopi Pink’ corn, ‘Green Striped Cushaw’ squash, and ‘Iroquois’ cantaloupe.

3. Planting. Different veggies have different water requirements. Plan your garden out to group your vegetables that require similar water needs.

4. Watering. Plant now so your plants can establish their roots before the heat of summer truly arrives. Drip irrigation and deep watering ensures that water gets where it needs to be and limits water waste through evaporation. With careful planting and smart watering, you can enjoy a home garden and reduce your water use!

Facebooktwitter

June 2, 2015
by Celeste Tinajero
Comments Off on GREENevada gets #watersmart

GREENevada gets #watersmart

Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) is kicking off GREENevada’s #watersmart summer campaign to encourage community members to be conservative with water during this multi-year drought. KTMB is working behind the scenes on several water stewardship projects to protect the Truckee River watershed.

KTMB is engaging municipalities, agencies and stakeholders to develop a long-term stewardship plan for the Truckee River, which takes into consideration the needs of all river users in a sustainable way. As our community grows, the pressure on the Truckee River grows with increased drinking water needs and recreation. Currently our municipalities do not have a long-term, holistic plan for keeping the river vibrant and healthy, and we want to make sure one is put in place. We all have a stake in a clean, beautiful Truckee River. Such a plan is ambitious, and would require a lot of inter-agency cooperation, we have had great success with this kind of long-term, inter-agency planning through our Illegal Dumping Task Force, so KTMB is poised to help implement and bring this kind of plan together.

KTMB’s Adopt-A-Spot program allows businesses, community groups and families to adopt sections of roadway for litter removal. We recently expanded this program to include Adopt-A-River so we can engage businesses and residents directly in the health and cleanliness of the Truckee River, as well as include them as stakeholders to protect this important water resource.

Our Watershed Warriors curriculum will be completely focused on ways school children can affect the river’s health and why they need to care about keeping it clean. KTMB will also launch a PSA campaign targeting recreational users in the Truckee Meadows, educating visitors and reminding residents that the river provides our drinking water and we must do all we can to keep it clean.

To read more water related blogs from KTMB, visit: http://ktmb.org/category/resources/water-quality/

Facebooktwitter

May 22, 2015
by Celeste Tinajero
Comments Off on Quail Quest

Quail Quest

Quail Quest MapOn June 13th as part of the 8th Annual National Get Outdoors Day, Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation (TMPF) is hosting “Quail Quest: Truckee Meadows Treasure Hunt,” an all-day photo scavenger hunt through Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County parks, trails, and open spaces! It will be followed by a picnic and award ceremony in Idlewild Park (50 Cowan Drive). The Hunt is from 8am – 5pm and the picnic and award ceremony is from 5pm – 8pm. There will be prizes from local companies, free beverages, and local food trucks (Pho Real and Mount Mogrit Gourmet)! All ages are encouraged to participate – this event is great for families, adults, co-workers, friends, etc!!

Teams will receive clues at the TMPF office at 8am for the more than 200 parks in the Truckee Meadows. Teams have to take pictures (the entire team minus the photographer – unless you prefer selfies!) and post to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to accrue as many points as possible (Clues can also be sent via email or on a digital camera). Some clues will be easy and some will be difficult! Lesser known parks and hidden gems will be highlighted – how well do you know all the parks in the area? Start thinking of your Quail Quest strategy now!

Registration is $50 per team of 5 (additional members $10/each) and day-of registration is $60. However, if you share this event on your social media or with your email list, we can provide your staff, members, and volunteers with a 20% discount code!

For more information, official rules, and to register, please visit the Quail Quest webpage or contact Jackie at jackie@tmparksfoundation.org or 775-276-5816.

Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation is a nonprofit that supports parks in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County. For more information on our many programs, visit our webpage.

Facebooktwitter

April 2, 2015
by Celeste Tinajero
Comments Off on Great Basin Outdoor School Science Camps for Classes

Great Basin Outdoor School Science Camps for Classes

GBOS logobrownEnd your school year with a trip they will always remember!

Day Trips & Overnight Openings:
May 5-8, 11, 18 & in June 2015
Overnight Science Camps at Lake Tahoe
Day trips to Galena Creek or Spooner Lake

Contact us now for more information at
(775) 823-8888

It’s never too early to plan for fall science camps! Great Basin Outdoor School ecology camps at Lake Tahoe teach children leadership, community involvement, and environmental science. Underserved children are included thanks to community support. Students hike, snowshoe, learn local ecology with hands-on activities, and participate in projects that help keep Tahoe blue. Most programs target fifth and sixth grade classes, and activities meet curriculum standards. Young adult volunteers get leadership training, science background, and career experience.

Facebooktwitter