September 30, 2017 is National Public Lands Day and there are so many ways and opportunities to get involved and give back to your public lands!

Follow this link to see all the opportunities in Nevada: https://www.neefusa.org/find-an-event/NV

If you are outside of Nevada you can go here and click on your state to see what’s happening in your neck of the woods. 

Here's a quick glimpse into what is happening here in Nevada.

In Northern Nevada:
• Soldier Meadows Desert Dace Project-Black Rock Desert Area
• Ferris Creek Improvements-Battle Mountain Area
• Truckee River Cleanup-Reno Area
• Washoe Lake Native Seed Collection-Reno, Carson Area
• Bloody Shins Mountain Bike Trail Maintenance –Winnemucca Area
• South Fork Canyon Trail Improvements—Elko Area

In Southern Nevada:
• Willow Creek Habitat Improvement-Las Vegas/Spring Mountains Area
• Northern Red Rock Canyon Cleanup-Las Vegas/Red Rock Area
• Logandale Trials Kiosk Installation-Logandale/Moapa Valley Area
• Lund Dump Site Cleanup-Lund Area
• Gold Butte National Monument graffiti Removal-Las Vegas Area
• Big Dunes Kiosk and Trail Improvements-Amargossa Valley Area
• Lake Mead Litter Cleanup-Las Vegas Area
• Mack’s Canyon Cleanup-Las Vegas/Spring Mountains Area

September 30, 2017 is National Public Lands Day. To celebrate this we are going to share images of public lands from our archives every day in September.

#welovepubliclands #publiclandsproud #publiclandowner #NPLD #basinandrangelandsofseptember 

We are in Lakeview, Oregon for the Northwest Basin and Range Synthesis Ecosystem Symposium. We are so excited to be here and share the Basin and Range Project! We will be presenting a poster during the poster session of the Symposium.

We are excited to announce that we have been invited to and are attending the Great Basin Landscape Conservation Cooperative's Northwest Basin and Range Ecosystem Symposium. in Lakeview, Oregon on February 15-16, 2017. 

We will be showcasing our project during the poster session and will have our photos on display throughout the symposium!

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is right around the corner (January 28-30). 

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is an annual celebration of the ranching and rural West. Through poetry, music and stories, ranch people express the beauty and challenges of a life deeply connected to the earth and its bounty. Every year, thousands travel to rural Elko, Nevada, in the heart of winter, to learn and share. It's been called the most honest and open-hearted festival in America, but it is also a darned good time! At the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, you can discover cowboy cultures from around the world, learn a traditional skill, dance the two-step, plan for the West's future with ranchers and conservationists, watch home-made films of rural life, meet new friends over a Buckaroo Brew, enjoy Basque food, listen to tall tales, dispel myths, build bridges and be inspired. Join us for an experience you will not soon forget! Use any of the links in our banner to read more about every aspect of the Gathering. Get up to date news and more on Facebookand Twitter.
For 2016, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering finds inspiration in the flowing grasslands, vast open spaces and indigo skies of the Northern Plains. From the Rocky Mountains to the Dakotas, from the sandhills of Nebraska to the grasslands of Saskatchewan, this expansive land of prairie and woodlands is one of the top cattle producing regions in the world. It is famous for short summers and punishing winters, but also for hardy people, excellent cattle, and fine bucking horses and bronc riders. Join us in Elko, as ranchers, poets, musicians and artists from the Northern Plains share and celebrate this land of enveloping horizons and expansive hearts. View the brochure.
​http://www.westernfolklife.org/General-Information-on-the-Gathering/national-cowboy-poetry-gathering-home-page.html_

CARSON CITY, Nev., Jan. 8, 2016 – The Carson Ranger District on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is pleased to announce the return of the popular Forest Ranger-led snowshoe walks. The walks start this Saturday, Jan. 9, and will be offered every Saturday through March 26.
“Ranger-led snowshoe walks are a fun way to explore National Forest System Lands, while learning about the natural, cultural, and geologic history of the Lake Tahoe area,” said Carson Ranger District Recreation Specialist Anna Lowell.
The walk begins at 10:00 a.m., last three hours, and cover approximately two miles of moderately strenuous terrain. The hike is an off-trail exploration through the meadow and forest and offers grand views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The walk may be cancelled in the event of bad weather or dangerous road conditions such as when chains are required.
The guided snowshoe walks take place in Tahoe Meadows near the summit of Mt. Rose Highway (Nevada State Route 431), half way between south Reno, Nevada, and Incline Village, Nevada, on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Join the Forest Service Ranger at the west end of Tahoe Meadows, on the south side of the road (Look for a white Forest Service truck).        
There is no cost for the tour. Participants will need to bring their own snowshoes. “Weather can be unpredictable at Tahoe Meadows” cautioned Lowell, “so it is extremely important to wear appropriate outdoor clothing.” This would include layering light and warm clothing, gloves, hats, scarves and waterproof boots. Also bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a lunch and plenty of water.
Preregistration is preferred but not mandatory. Larger groups are encouraged to call ahead to ensure adequate staffing. For more information, to sign up, or for weather related cancellation updates, call 775-722-3985 or emailoldertrails@yahoo.com.

ELKO, Nev. – Celebrate holiday arts and crafts and learn about the Donner Party at the California Trail Interpretive Center. The Trail Center is presenting family friendly events and programs throughout December, free and open to everyone:
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Dec. 6, 2:00 p.m.: For the Kids: Pack Your Wagon
Attention all kids: Imagine packing your things at home in a wagon. Would they fit? What would you bring? Join Ranger Lisa for this interactive, hands-on program and learn the top 10 things to pack in a wagon for your long journey.

Dec. 13, 2:00 p.m.: For the Kids: Bear Tracks on My Bed
What do bear tracks, turkey tracks and log cabins have in common? They are represented on quilts. Learn about pioneers by the patterns they left behind. Join Ranger Rose and create your own paper quilt block that represents life on the Trail. 

Dec. 19, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Pioneer Christmas for Kids
Carve paper snowflakes, create Christmas cards, ornaments, clothespin dolls and more at the California Trail Interpretive Center. Visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to benefit F.I.S.H (Friends in Service Helping) and families of Elko County.

Dec. 26, 2:00 p.m.: Archaeology of the Donner Party: Starvation in the Sierras
Trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, the Donner Party resorted to desperate measures to survive. Come learn what the archaeological excavations at two Donner campsites reveal about the struggles of these emigrants, and of course, their diet. The speaker, Callie Greenhaw, studies bioarchaeology at the University of Nevada, Reno, and is a Trail Center volunteer.
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Dec. 27, 2:00 p.m.: For the Kids: Nevada Skins and Skulls
Hey kids: Learn about Nevada animals with Ranger Rose. Touch and feel their skulls and skins, and learn about predators and prey. Afterward, play a fun game and become the predator – or prey.

For more information about the California Trail Interpretive Center call (775) 738-1849. Visit the Trail Center online at www.californiatrailcenter.org.

The California Trail Interpretive Center is located eight miles west of Elko on I-80, Hunter exit 292. The Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.

• Nov. 21, 2:00 p.m.: Elko County Women 
  Join Research Associate Jan Petersen as she discusses the sinners and saints of early Elko County; women who made the desert their home, struggled against the odds and helped their families persevere. Some of these women were of Italian, Chinese or Basque descent.
• Nov. 22, 2:00 p.m.: For the Kids: The Art of Crochet 
  Get ready for the holidays by learning how to make homemade crafts using yarn and a crochet hook! Make a simple wristband to take home.
• Nov. 27, 2:00 p.m.: Shoshone Lifeways 
  Before the arrival of whites, Indians throughout northern Nevada were able to use the resources of the Great Basin to meet their needs. Listen to Research Associate Jan Petersen describe how the Native people used the resources at hand to produce baskets that had form, function, and beauty.
• Nov. 28, 2:00 p.m.: Crossing Nevada 
  In the early pioneer days, Nevada was a place to hurry through, not to. Join Research Associate Jan Petersen for this talk on the hardships faced by the emigrants as they passed through Nevada, the hardest part of their journey west.
• Nov. 29, 2:00 p.m.: For the Kids: Nevada Skins and Skulls 
  Hey kids: Learn about Nevada animals. Touch and feel their skulls and skins, and learn about predators and prey. Afterward, play a fun game and become the predator – or prey.

For more information about the California Trail Interpretive Center call (775) 738-1849. Visit the Trail Center online at www.californiatrailcenter.org.
​
The California Trail Interpretive Center is located eight miles west of Elko on I-80, Hunter exit 292. The Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.
​

ELKO, Nev. – Learn about Peter Lassen, pioneer quilt patterns and Elko County women at the California Trail Interpretive Center. The Trail Center is presenting family friendly events and programs throughout November, free and open to everyone:

• Nov. 1, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Great Basin Native Market 
  Celebrate Great Basin Native American art, history and culture. Enjoy workshops and demonstrations. The market features handmade, traditional crafts, collectibles, jewelry, and much more for sale. At a 1:00 p.m. program, learn how to make traditional Native American baskets.
• Nov. 7, 2:00 p.m.: Maps and Knives, Oh My! 
  How did the pioneers know which routes to take west? They followed maps created by mountain men. Join Intern Julia Saintz and learn how the mountain men blazed the trail for pioneers to follow. Following the talk, enjoy throwing knives like mountain men.
• Nov. 8, 2:00 p.m.: For the Kids: How to Make a Thanksgiving Card 
  Get ready for the holidays with Intern Julia Saintz. Come out and make your own Thanksgiving Card to take home and give to a loved one.
•  Nov. 14, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Special Guest Kenneth Johnston Program and Book Signing 
  Join Retired park ranger, educator, and author, Ken Johnston, for Legendary Truths, Peter Lassen and His Gold Rush Trail in Fact and Fable. Peter Lassen has received a lot of bad press over the years. The major puzzle regarding Lassen is that while he was respected with many geographical locations have been named for him (Lassen Peak, Park, National Forest, County, College, Trail, Creek, et al), many disillusioned, trail-weary emigrants, and some highly regarded historians, have denounced him and his achievements. Mr. Johnston seeks to uncover the truths regarding Peter Lassen in this enlightening program. A book signing will follow the presentation.
• Nov. 15, 2:00 p.m.: For the Kids: Turkey Tracks on My Bed 
  What do bear tracks, turkey tracks and log cabins have in common? They are represented on quilts. Learn about pioneers by the patterns they left behind. Join Ranger Rose and create your own paper quilt block that represents life on the Trail.
• Nov. 21, 2:00 p.m.: Elko County Women 
  Join Research Associate Jan Petersen as she discusses the sinners and saints of early Elko County; women who made the desert their home, struggled against the odds and helped their families persevere. Some of these women were of Italian, Chinese or Basque descent.
• Nov. 22, 2:00 p.m.: For the Kids: The Art of Crochet 
  Get ready for the holidays by learning how to make homemade crafts using yarn and a crochet hook! Make a simple wristband to take home.
• Nov. 27, 2:00 p.m.: Shoshone Lifeways 
  Before the arrival of whites, Indians throughout northern Nevada were able to use the resources of the Great Basin to meet their needs. Listen to Research Associate Jan Petersen describe how the Native people used the resources at hand to produce baskets that had form, function, and beauty.
• Nov. 28, 2:00 p.m.: Crossing Nevada 
  In the early pioneer days, Nevada was a place to hurry through, not to. Join Research Associate Jan Petersen for this talk on the hardships faced by the emigrants as they passed through Nevada, the hardest part of their journey west.
• Nov. 29, 2:00 p.m.: For the Kids: Nevada Skins and Skulls 
  Hey kids: Learn about Nevada animals. Touch and feel their skulls and skins, and learn about predators and prey. Afterward, play a fun game and become the predator – or prey.

For more information about the California Trail Interpretive Center call (775) 738-1849. Visit the Trail Center online at www.californiatrailcenter.org.
The California Trail Interpretive Center is located eight miles west of Elko on I-80, Hunter exit 292. The Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.
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