SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Last week, volunteers representing nine environmental organizations in the South Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition (STEEC) made a splash at the annual Wonders of Water field trip. The event brought more than 1,000 students in grades 2–5 from Lake Tahoe Unified School District and Zephyr Cove Elementary School to Tahoe Paradise Park for a day of learning.
During the field trip, students rotated through three educational stations, learning about nature and water’s impacts through hands-on, place-based activities.
Fifth-grade students joined the Sugar Pine Foundation, where they pretended to be elements involved in photosynthesis. They brought the process to life by dancing through a “plant food factory” tunnel.
“This is way more fun than being at school,” said a fifth grader from Bijou Elementary School.
The Lahontan Water Board taught second graders to become water-pollution experts. Students played a game where they represented clean water trying to escape pollution, showing how quickly pollution can spread. The South Tahoe Public Utility District led students through the water cycle by having them make bracelets that recorded their journeys.
“I want to come back to this park and keep exploring!” said a second grader from Zephyr Cove Elementary School.
STEEC programs reach local K–12 students and provide equitable access to outdoor education. The hands-on lessons align with the Next Generation Science Standards and build on learning from the previous year. STEEC’s goal is to provide programs that foster an understanding of natural resources, recognizing that these young minds will one day lead our community.
To learn more about the South Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition or to volunteer, visit steec.us.
