Reno ICO was started in 2021 by Rob Schamberg who recruited a 6-person Leadership Team of committed volunteers from the Sierra Club, the Washoe County School District, California State Parks, and Sierra Nevada Journeys. Through monthly meetings during the first year, the Reno ICO Leadership Team:
Developed the mission statement, along with 2-year goals and metrics to measure our success.
Built relationships with five community groups interested in getting their youth outside.
Made a presentation to the Toiyabe Chapter Executive Committee soliciting partnership and support.
Recruited 18 volunteers and held our first annual Outdoor Leadership Training Retreat, certifying five trip leaders.
Purchased and organized high quality equipment and clothing to ensure the safety and comfort of participants on hiking, snowshoeing and backpacking trips, and leased a secure storage unit.
Adopted all necessary policies and forms for trip organization and approval, gear access, along with financial & liability processes.
Developed the Reno Inspiring Connections Outdoors Website and the Reno ICO Newsletter & Blog.
In that first year in order to support our startup work we secured a $5,000 start up loan from the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, $55,000 in grants, and raised over $12,000 in donations. Most of the initial funding was used to purchase and set up our equipment and clothing inventory. We were ready to lead trips.
Reno ICO Impact: The first Reno ICO trip was January 28, 2023: The Proctor Hug High School Adventure Club went snowshoeing at Donner Memorial State Park. In three and a half years of leading trips, Reno ICO trip leaders, volunteers, and our community partners have guided 29 successful outings with over 380 participants. These trips include:
Hiking
Snowshoeing
Camping
Rock Climbing
Whitewater Rafting (with our partners at ICO Rafting)
Multigenerational picnics and walks
Backpacking (planned for summer 2026)
Reno ICO now has 16 partner groups in Northern Nevada and in the Sierra Nevada (California), seven certified trip leaders, 4 provisional trip leaders (who have completed all their requirements, except leading a trip), and 20+ active volunteers, including many who became Sierra Club members because of ICO.
This origin story is just the beginning. The growth of Reno Inspiring Connections Outdoors over our four short years of existence is stellar. One cool thing about the structure of Reno ICO is that the future impact is really unlimited! Think of ICO simply as a support structure for community organizations that want to get their youth and adults outdoors. ICO just helps them to make it happen.
Stay tuned for the next chapter of the Reno ICO story, which will be SUSTAINABILITY. We will be altering our structure over the next year, so that Reno ICO will continue to thrive for decades. We will further build our community and our support for outdoor adventure for the long term.
In the meanwhile, "Get Outside!"
