In a highly spirited and informative trip, 12 Quaker teens and 6 young children from Northern California and Northern Nevada bravely treaded over snow at Donner Memorial State Park. Lead by skillful ICO volunteers, our youth learned about the human history of the emigrants in the 1860s and the Native Americans who came well before them, as well as the natural history around Donner Lake.
We were struck by the Donner Party’s challenge as they faced a colossal amount more snow than we experienced, and the misfortune of cutting a straight line across Utah and Nevada, not heeding terrain challenges. (What hubris to put oneself against the might of weather and winter!)
Our January 18th trip was very sunny and our smiles seemed to match the abundant rays. We learned the value of sure footing and leaning on a friend when things get slippery. We stopped at the lake, reflected on the beauty, and held a competition to see who could keep their hands in the cold water the longest. We also gorged on homemade baked treats by the lake.
Later that evening we “camped out” at the Quaker Meeting House in Reno. After dinner we got the opportunity to interview Olivia Tanager, Director of the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club. Olivia is a strong environmental advocate who actually gets to work full time on protecting the planet and the lands and people of Nevada and the Eastern Sierra in California. The youth thought she had a pretty cool gig!
Editor’s Note: This was a remarkable experience for all involved – and it took so many people and organizations to make it happen. Reno Inspiring Connections Outdoors (Reno ICO) is grateful to the following folks for making this happen. It really does take a village!
Reno ICO volunteers Shanna Mae Slight, Humberto Hernandez, Torrey Palmer, and Rob Schamberg led the hike, ensuring safety, providing for engaging fun, and natural and human history lessons. Congratulations to Shanna Mae who, with this trip is now a certified Sierra Club Outings Leader! Shanna Mae is also Reno ICO’s volunteer coordinator.
Keenan Lorenzato, the Pacific Yearly Meeting Youth Coordinator organized all of the youth, their parents, transportation and worked deeply with Shanna Mae to arrange the entire weekend. One great outcome of this trip is that Keenan is currently in training to become an ICO Whitewater Rafting Guide… The family grows!!!
We are grateful to Kaytlen Jackson and the Sierra State Parks Foundation for the transportation assistance grant which helped to defray transportation costs.
California State Park employees Nick Potter, Bill Bowness, and Jeremy Lin supported the trip with parking passes, a room in the visitor’s center to stage the trip, and a pre-hike with the leaders to finalize the route and coaching on natural and human history.
And, of course, to Olivia Tanager of the Sierra Club for spending her Saturday night to help educate our participants about her environmental work and to motivate youth about the importance of being an outdoor activist.