Sierra Experience
Sierra Experience offers nature immersion experiences to young people to open their hearts and minds to the natural world. We partner with schools, community groups, and youth organizations to offer trailblazing environmental education, including field science, outdoor adventures, mindfulness practices, and customized personal development. Young people learn to cultivate knowledge and curiosity about the natural world as they develop their whole selves, forge their own growth, and build connections.
Sierra Experience Programs
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Sierra Experience Retreats
We work with a range of organizations and schools to deliver best-in-class programming customized for your group. We provide unique multi-day field science, wellness, and adventure programs hosted at a lodge on Donner Summit for groups all year round! Gear, highly trained guides, and exclusive use of our lodge space are included.
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Community Support
We are rooted in community support. We curate single-day programs as enrichment and incentive programming to support schools, other nonprofit organizations, and youth in the Truckee/Tahoe region and throughout Northern California.
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Summer Camps
We offer several high-end camps which feature rock climbing and exploring alpine terrain throughout summer. Open to all levels of explorers, ages 5–17.
Check out our options for Adventure Camps and Climbing Camps!
Sierra Experience Retreats
All of our programs include environmental science education that aligns with NGSS standards, social-emotional learning activities, as well as tools that empower others to recreate outdoors safely.
Curriculum highlights includes*:
Climate Change
Snow Science
Forest Ecology
Meadow Ecology
Geology
Human History
Mindfulness
Journaling
Meditations
Sound Bathing
Wellness Crafts and Activities
*all align Common Core, NGSS, and STEAM standards
Want to curate your ideal program today? Contact us at: programs@sierraexperience.org
Community Support
School Field Days & Wellness Programming
In partnership with school counselors and teachers, we provide both outdoor education and wellness day-sessions throughout the school year.
YEA! Programs
YEA! Stands for Youth, Ecology & Adventure. These free programs bridge the gap of equity to outdoor spaces and enrichment programming for underserved youths. Programs include leave-no-trace ethics, resilience-building adventures, career internship pathways, and community service projects.
Refer a youth or partner with us today!
If you are a local organization and want to support getting youths into the outdoors, contact us!
Email us at: programs@sierraexperience.org
Summer Camps
Adventure Camp
Give your kids the opportunity of a lifetime, participating in a week of adventures including rock climbing, swimming, learning about the natural history around Donner Summit, mindfulness practices, bonding fun, and more!
Questions? Email us at: camps@sierraexperience.org
Climbing Camp
Ready to step up your climbing skills? All levels of climbers may join our world-class guides to get personalized coaching and reach new heights! Programs are hosted outdoors on famous Sierra Nevada granite.
Questions? Contact us at: camps@sierraexperience.org
We evolve programs to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the youth, teachers, and communities we serve. Our Adventure Guides in these programs create meaningful experiences by promoting self-discovery, holistic development, and inspired learning.
We harness the group experience because young people share these experiences with adults and peers. Being a part of a group allows them to share, learn, and grow as individuals — together. Connecting and working alongside new people helps develop social skills and build confidence, while learning within an already closely knit group fosters a deeper connection to their existing community.
We inspire young people to learn new skills, gain more self-awareness, and make empowered choices. The impact of the program continues into their homes and communities through skills building and tools that help them make healthy choices and effectively navigate adversity in their everyday lives.
We use nature’s powerful metaphors and experiences to help young people not only feel empowered in the wilderness but also to develop comfort and pride with their own bodies and physical abilities. By exploring uneven ground with them and providing support every step of the way, we encourage young people to discover the power of their abilities and begin to gain the confidence to try new experiences and take on new challenges.
We invite young people to develop a deep curiosity about the environment and love for the natural world — which helps them see new possibilities in their own lives and in the world around them. We combine fun and engaging physical activities, mindfulness practices, and education about conservation and environmental justice. Collectively, these experiences empower youth to become the next generation of environmental stewards and leaders for good in the world.
Sierra Experience Curriculum
Interactive learning: We spark curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with hands-on activities, field experiments, and other immersive learning experiences. Through these activities, young people explore forest ecology, human history, watershed science, conservation, climate change, and more. We make learning fun, engage in scientific discovery, and have intentional discussions — because curiosity is a gateway to holistic well-being for all young people.
Outdoor adventures: Program activities include hiking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, swimming, kayaking, paddle-boarding, rappelling, rafting, stargazing, plant/tree/flora/fauna identification, nature journaling, snow play, and more. These activities create a sense of adventure in California’s majestic Sierra Nevada. By introducing young people to new experiences they haven’t tried before, we inspire their wonder and awe for nature. These experiences also unlock young people’s potential and help them become more confident.
Healthy and enriching relationships: Through teamwork, social-emotional learning, mindfulness activities, and adventure, we help young people learn how to experience life in the present, take a break from the effects of social media and screens, and build healthy relationships with themselves and others. These trusting relationships provide a safe container for young people to learn self-awareness and the ability to make empowered decisions. We listen to and see young people for who they are and affirm that they matter and belong, and their ideas and experiences matter.
Community building: We harness the power and joy of being a part of a group to help young people practice empathy and develop their sense of community. Through shared nature and wellness experiences with their peers and supportive adults, young people build the skills and confidence to meet new people or reinforce existing relationships. They also walk away with skills to collaborate with others to accomplish goals and extend kindness and compassion toward fellow human beings.
Impact: Success in Our Approach
our 2023/2024 Fiscal Year numbers
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1241
Youth served
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194
Days of programming
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520
Chaperones in attendance
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26
Programs ran at High Mountain Lodge