Patagonia Outlet in Reno selected five organizations to promote during the Voice Your Choice Campaign. River Wranglers is one of the five! The publice is invited to learn more about the organizations and to select their favorite cause. We are setting up a display at Patagonia on Saturday, June 21 from 10:00 - 1:30. Come down and check us out and cast your vote for the organization you would like Patagonia to support with a $4,000 donation. Just imagine what we could do with $4,000 if we receive the mosts votes!!
The campaign began June 10 and ends July 19. You may vote in person each time you go to the store. Patagonia is located in west Reno so check out their website for directions and more information about Voice Your Choice. http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=1931&intl
You are also invited to the Voice Your Choice reception at Patagonia Outlet on August 3, 2008 from 5:30-7:30. You can check out each of the five organizations and learn how you can support environmental activism in northen Nevada. So come down and see us on Saturday, June 21. We'll be there...hope you will be there too!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Carson River Festival Receives Advertising Funds for 2009 Event
The annual meeting of the Lyon County Room Tax Board was June 11, 2008 in Yerington, the county seat in Lyon County, Nevada. Board members considered $350,000 in funding requests from each community in the county with $200,000 in funds. The grant money is collected from room taxes in county motels and hotels.
River Wranglers uses room tax funds to advertise the Carson River Festival, held each year in the springtime. This year River Wranglers requested $2,900 and received $2,500. Grant funds have strict guidelines and must be used to promote tourism and natural resources in Lyon County. River Wranglers plans to use their grant to create flyers, posters and banners to advertise the 2009 Carson River Festival.
Thanks to the Lyon County Room Tax Board for their support!
River Wranglers uses room tax funds to advertise the Carson River Festival, held each year in the springtime. This year River Wranglers requested $2,900 and received $2,500. Grant funds have strict guidelines and must be used to promote tourism and natural resources in Lyon County. River Wranglers plans to use their grant to create flyers, posters and banners to advertise the 2009 Carson River Festival.
Thanks to the Lyon County Room Tax Board for their support!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Teens Work on Erosion Control with Support from Patagonia
Students from Silver Stage High School traveled to Dayton Valley to work on stream bank erosion. River Wranglers coordinated the project with support from a grant funded by Patagonia.
Kylie and Rachel, two teens that presented activities about noxious weeds and agriculture at the Carson River Festival, planted native seeds and staked down erosion control mats along the Carson River.
“I like doing this because I am interested in pursing a degree in rangeland management.” said Kiley, a senior at Silver Stage High School. “I know that I am making a difference in our watershed.”
River Wranglers and Dayton Valley Conservation District coordinated work on the river as part of a bioengineering project. In the fall, students from Dayton, Silver Stage and Fernley High Schools worked with students from Dayton, Sutro, Silver Stage and Hugh Gallagher Elementary Schools. They bundled willows and placed them along the stream bank. By spring, the willows take sprout and their dense root system will hold the soil on the river bank in place.
A few high school students returned to the project to provide final treatments and learn more about bioengineering techniques.
“The teens are enthusiastic workers” said Rich Wilkenson, manager for the Dayton Valley Conservation District “They are doing a great job and are interested and concerned about the river.”
Non-Point Source Pollution...Everyone's Problem
NDEP environmental scientist meets with Silver Stage High School studentsIn preparation for the Carson River Festival, River Wrangler teens met with environmental scientist, Mary Kay Riedl, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, to learn more about non-point source pollution as they prepared for the festival.
“Point source pollution is being well regulated” said Riedl. “It is the non-point source pollution, which comes from ordinary folk like all of us, that is causing problems.”
Fertilizer and pesticide use, emissions from vehicles in addition to construction and erosion all contribute to pollution. Education coupled with action is the way to address the problem.
Kayla and Thomas teamed up to demonstrate non-point source pollution using an enviroscape model. They were one of many activities featured at the Carson River Festival on Saturday, May 10.
Taking the Classroom Outdoors
Students from Silver Springs Elementary School in Lyon County and CC Meneley in Douglas County monitor the health of the Carson River every month. Fourth grade students perform simple water monitoring tests which include: pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. They plan to share their results with each other and connect the schools which are connected physically by the Carson River.
Douglas High School Student Designs Logo for Carson River Festival
Students in Rita Borselli's graphic design class at Douglas High School, submitted designs for the 8th Annual Carson River Festival. Twelve artists were selected as finalists. The winning design was created by Ashley Villigan.
Local business owners in Carson Valley donated prizes to the artists to recognize their creativity. Thanks to Danny's Ironwood Grill, Minden Starbucks and Library Video for your donations.
The Carson River Festival, held in springtime each year, gives high school students the opportunity to explore their interest in environmental education by working with scientists to learn more about issues in the watershed. Then they develop kid-friendly activities for the event.
Art work by the top twelve graphic designers is on display at the Minden Library through August,
Fostering Environmental Stewardship
River Wranglers teaches Nevada children and teenagers to care for their local environment, firmly rooting their enthusiasm and passion for learning along the banks of the Carson River.
Under River Wranglers' direction, more than 5,000 youth have helped preserve river habitat since 1994. The nonprofit environmental group, in cooperation with public schools, teaches children to build homes for wood ducks, protect trees from beaver damage, and plant willows to control erosion of the sandy banks.
“River Wranglers is an example of community experts teaching children and sharing their knowledge.” said Lyon County School Board Trustee Barbara Johnson. “I feel strongly that children need to understand the environment in their neighborhood.”
River Wranglers' initial work with Silver Springs youth has had a ripple effect. Today more than 15 schools in four Nevada counties are learning to be stewards of their environment.
River Wranglers' largest influence remains in Lyon County, where the organization created a mentoring program, pairing high-school students in botany/zoology/chemistry classes with elementary students. Each year, teenagers teach groups of younger children how to test water quality, and combat bank erosion.
"I was very surprised when we got all of those macro invertebrates (bugs)," said one middle school student. "When we learned this in class, it was cool. But you showed us and that was awesome."
Fourth-grade students from Silver Springs Elementary School assess the river's water quality monthly. This activity meets the Nevada State Standards in science, math and Nevada history.
"I thought it was pretty amazing that we got to check how healthy the river is," said another student after determining the river was "in fair condition, but a little too low, and it has too much sediment covering the bugs that live on the bottom.”
Originally, part of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Service, River Wranglers became an independent organization in 2000. Guided by a board of seven directors who represent education and conservation, River Wranglers' mission is to conserve, explore and celebrate rivers through community programs, projects, and hands-on education.
"We want to excite youth, their parents and their grandparents by deepening their understanding of and commitment to watersheds, rivers and streams that sustain life for generations to come," River Wranglers' educational coordinator Linda Conlin said.
In achieving this goal, the organization helps Silver Stage Middle schools hatch rainbow trout eggs and release the minnows into the river.
Every springtime, River Wranglers hosts an event with Ft, Churchill State Historic Park called the Carson River Festival. The event in 2008 is scheduled on May 10. Families are invited to the river along Ft. Churchill to learn more about the watershed. Hands-on learning provides opportunities for children and their parents to explore the exciting world of nature.
Since 2001, River Wranglers partnered with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to sponsor a daylong field trip called “Make a Splash” for middle schools in the watershed. Students attend workshops about agriculture, mining, water safety, and Nevada history.
“It is important to teach children the delicate issues surrounding water and how we have to balance the uses of water.” said former Assemblyman and Speaker of the House Joe Dini.
River Wranglers encourages individuals and families that want to be more involved with the Carson River to contact us by email, nevadariverwranglers@yahoo.com, or phone (775) 577-2631. Check out the River Wranglers blog http://www.riverwranglers.blogspot.com/
Under River Wranglers' direction, more than 5,000 youth have helped preserve river habitat since 1994. The nonprofit environmental group, in cooperation with public schools, teaches children to build homes for wood ducks, protect trees from beaver damage, and plant willows to control erosion of the sandy banks.
“River Wranglers is an example of community experts teaching children and sharing their knowledge.” said Lyon County School Board Trustee Barbara Johnson. “I feel strongly that children need to understand the environment in their neighborhood.”
River Wranglers' initial work with Silver Springs youth has had a ripple effect. Today more than 15 schools in four Nevada counties are learning to be stewards of their environment.
River Wranglers' largest influence remains in Lyon County, where the organization created a mentoring program, pairing high-school students in botany/zoology/chemistry classes with elementary students. Each year, teenagers teach groups of younger children how to test water quality, and combat bank erosion.
"I was very surprised when we got all of those macro invertebrates (bugs)," said one middle school student. "When we learned this in class, it was cool. But you showed us and that was awesome."
Fourth-grade students from Silver Springs Elementary School assess the river's water quality monthly. This activity meets the Nevada State Standards in science, math and Nevada history.
"I thought it was pretty amazing that we got to check how healthy the river is," said another student after determining the river was "in fair condition, but a little too low, and it has too much sediment covering the bugs that live on the bottom.”
Originally, part of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Service, River Wranglers became an independent organization in 2000. Guided by a board of seven directors who represent education and conservation, River Wranglers' mission is to conserve, explore and celebrate rivers through community programs, projects, and hands-on education.
"We want to excite youth, their parents and their grandparents by deepening their understanding of and commitment to watersheds, rivers and streams that sustain life for generations to come," River Wranglers' educational coordinator Linda Conlin said.
In achieving this goal, the organization helps Silver Stage Middle schools hatch rainbow trout eggs and release the minnows into the river.
Every springtime, River Wranglers hosts an event with Ft, Churchill State Historic Park called the Carson River Festival. The event in 2008 is scheduled on May 10. Families are invited to the river along Ft. Churchill to learn more about the watershed. Hands-on learning provides opportunities for children and their parents to explore the exciting world of nature.
Since 2001, River Wranglers partnered with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to sponsor a daylong field trip called “Make a Splash” for middle schools in the watershed. Students attend workshops about agriculture, mining, water safety, and Nevada history.
“It is important to teach children the delicate issues surrounding water and how we have to balance the uses of water.” said former Assemblyman and Speaker of the House Joe Dini.
River Wranglers encourages individuals and families that want to be more involved with the Carson River to contact us by email, nevadariverwranglers@yahoo.com, or phone (775) 577-2631. Check out the River Wranglers blog http://www.riverwranglers.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
River Wranglers...from the beginning
River Wranglers began in 1994 through a grant written by Mary Reid, Water Specialist, University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension. The objectives were; 1) to supplement water quality data collected by professional staff in water quality agencies and scientific institutions. 2) to educate the public about water quality issues. 3) to incorporate water quality river monitoring into an ongoing school program. 4) to provide field experience for science students in rural communities. The grant was secured and $15,500 was allocated to determine the youth interest in water quality monitoring in central Nevada. When the grant funds were exhausted, Linda Conlin, project coordinator, continued to volunteer and kept the organization intact.
On October 20, 2000 River Wranglers incorporated and formed a non-profit organization. The mission of River Wranglers is exploring, conserving and celebrating our rivers through community programs, projects, and hands-on education. River Wranglers’ vision is to excite youth, their parents and their grandparents by deepening their understanding of and commitment to watershed, rivers and streams that sustain life for generations to come.
On October 20, 2000 River Wranglers incorporated and formed a non-profit organization. The mission of River Wranglers is exploring, conserving and celebrating our rivers through community programs, projects, and hands-on education. River Wranglers’ vision is to excite youth, their parents and their grandparents by deepening their understanding of and commitment to watershed, rivers and streams that sustain life for generations to come.
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