Environmental Coalition elevates science learning at Heavenly Mountain Resort

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two hundred and seventy middle school students are delving into the realms of science, snowmaking, winter wildlife, and snow safety this week at Heavenly Mountain Resort with a coalition of environmental educators. Thursday marked the culmination of the tenth year of this immersive, snowshoeing educational experience for local students, according to the South Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition (STEEC).

"Don’t tell my teachers, but yeah, this is way better than school," said one eighth-grade student at South Tahoe Middle School, who wishes to remain anonymous. “Until today, I had no idea I could take classes in high school first aid and go to college here for free to get my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate to be a ski patroller at Heavenly.”

Generously supported by a grant from Vail Resorts EpicPromise, this collaborative winter adventure program by STEEC brings together professionals from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency(TRPA), Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Career Technical Education team, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, Sierra Avalanche Center, Sugar Pine Foundation, USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, South Tahoe Refuse, the City of South Lake Tahoe, and South Tahoe Public Utility District.

"Taking the classroom outside, these field trips educate and connect students with their alpine backyard, making scientific concepts easily accessible through hands-on sensory learning," said Victoria Ortiz, event organizer and community engagement manager at TRPA.

This marked the tenth year STEEC has offered the field trip, although in previous years the program was geared toward fifth-grade students. Over the course of two days, every South Tahoe Middle School eighth-grader rode the Heavenly aerial tram to the top of the mountain, where they split into groups and rotated between interactive stations.

Students learned about winter animal adaptations, how to measure trees, and how to discern the shapes of snow crystals. They also meet Heavenly’s avalanche rescue dogs. Ski patrollers explained how they train the dogs, and then treat students to a demonstration of how they dig out someone buried by an avalanche.

“This program is one of many that STEEC organizes throughout the year,” said Alissa Zertuche, LTUSD career technical education specialist. “We’re grateful to all of our partner organizations for creating a curriculum that aligns with science standards and brings science to life!”

Photos by Victoria Ortiz, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Lily Summerville, South Tahoe Refuse.