Nature Conservancy hosts STEM Night

The Nature Conservancy in Nevada and Sierra Nevada Journeys will host a Family STEM Night and Open House from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 15, at River Fork Ranch Preserve, 381 Genoa Lane.

“The event will provide a fun and interactive experience for the whole family,” organizers said. “Participants will enjoy hands-on science through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities, and learn more about the riparian zone — the interface between land and the Carson River—at the River Fork Ranch. Investigate why Nevada’s Mule Deer population is declining and how restoration efforts at River Fork Ranch are working to improve their habitat.”

Attendees will also explore different types of bird beaks and the foods they eat and create paper watersheds to explore the direction water flows in and why.

River Wranglers, a Carson City-based nonprofit that promotes stewardship of the Carson River watershed through youth mentorship and experiential education, will also be participating in the event.

They are bringing a variety of animal pelts, skulls, and scat which are always a hit for hands-on learning about animals native to the Carson River watershed.

Educational events like this one, are part of a larger initiative funded by Nevada Dream Tags. “Our goal through this grant is to engage Nevadans in wildlife conservation, including the Mule Deer population, to restore resilience in at-risk Nevada habitats,” said Sierra Nevada Journeys CEO Sean Hill. “Our partnership with The Nature Conservancy has been working in tandem with their restoration efforts around Mule Deer habitat by educating our youth with Family STEM Night stations that demonstrate this unique ecosystem and how environmental scientists use vegetation to improve the confluence of the East and West Forks of the Carson River. We look forward to seeing Carson Valley families join us on Sept. 15; we guarantee you’ll have fun and learn a little about Nevada at the same time.”