Student Stewards Program Modules
NEW! Plants Survey
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Our newest module is all about Native Nevadan plants! On the first day, students will learn about photosynthesis, why plants are important members of the ecosystem and how to identify the many species of native and invasive plants we have in our local area.
For the In-park portion of this module, students will walk to their closest park and take transect data of what plants are growing in the park. Some parks will have many native plants and some will have non-native, ornamental plants.
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On the third day, students will analyze the data they collected and decide if the park has plants that are better for the ecosystem and the animals living there.
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This module is available for 3-8th graders.
Water Bird Survey
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Students will participate in a citizen science project in partnership with the Lahontan Audubon Society. Students will engage in a water bird count at a local park that is walking distance from their school.
Students will be introduced to background information about waterfowl in the Truckee Meadows. By using bird mounts from Galena Creek Visitor Center, students will identify different waterfowl they will find in the park. The students will learn data collection practices in the first lesson. After the park visit, they will graph and analyze their data.
By the end of the program, students will be able to identify and distinguish between different kinds of waterfowl present in their local park. Students will understand the importance of migration, biodiversity, and proper treatment of wildlife in our urban ecosystems.
This module is available for 3rd-8th-grade students. High school curriculum can be provided as well. Materials will be provided by TMPF.
Arthropod and Insect Survey
Students will participate in a citizen science project in partnership with the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Students will engage in an arthropod count at a local park that is walking distance from their school.
Students will be introduced to background information about arthropods in the Truckee Meadows.
For the K-2 classes, students will learn the different body parts of an insect, discover the mouths parts of different insects, and explore the metamorphosis of a butterfly.
For the older students, they will learn the characteristics of arthropods and explore the different types of arthropods that live around them.
Similar to the bird count, students will learn data collection practices in the first lesson and analyze and graph their data after the park visit.
By the end of the program, students will be able to identify and distinguish between different kinds of arthropods present in their local park. Students will understand the importance of arthropod populations in the ecosystem of their park, and of biodiversity in general.
This module is available for K-8th-grade students. High school curriculum can be provided as well. Materials will be provided by TMPF.
NEW and IMPROVED! Soil Survey
Students will participate in a citizen science project in partnership with University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) soil scientists. Students will engage in a soil survey at a local park that is walking distance from their school.
Students will be introduced to soil types by using the characteristics of each soil type in a hands-on discovery, and how soils can be altered by weathering and erosion. The students will also learn about animals that live in soils. Once in the park, students will find erosion features and take soil samples that will be analyzed for different tests and they will go over data collection practices as well. For the younger students, they determine the type of soil, the temperature of the soil, and the weight of the soil to find the amount of water content in each sample. In addition to this, the older students will find the soil infiltration rate and bulk density of each sample. After the park visit, students will further analyze their data and reach conclusions based on their observations.
By the end of the program, students will be able to identify and distinguish between different types of soil, erosion, and weathering present in their local park. Students will understand the impact of erosion and weathering on their communities.
This module is available for 3rd-12th-grade students. Materials will be provided by TMPF.​
Water Quality Survey
Students will engage in a water quality survey at a local park that is walking distance from their school.
Students will be introduced to how water quality is measured and why we are concerned about water quality here in the Truckee Meadows. Students will go over data collection practices they will perform that include many water quality tests (pH, bacteria, turbidity, and water chemistry). After the park visit, students will analyze their data and reach conclusions of the water quality.
By the end of the program, students will be able to identify and distinguish between different tests used to measure water quality, common pollutants and determine the water quality of their local park. Students will understand what impacts water quality in their communities.
This module is available for 6th-12th-grade students. Materials will be provided by TMPF.
