Spending time in nature can lower stress, strengthen health, build self-esteem, improve academic performance, and build community ties. To experience outdoor space is to rediscover our shared humanity.
Our hope is to bring teachers, youth-group leaders, and youth together in a beautiful environment to play, learn, and experience the outdoors, inspiring conservation ethics and action. The students we serve are primarily from low-income families and attend underfunded urban schools. Many are English language learners and most have never been to the mountains or snow.
WHY THE SIERRA CLUB AT DONNER SUMMIT?
Because it’s beautiful all year round, and kids love it!
Historic Clair Tappaan Lodge has a dining room, living room, library, twin-sized bunk beds, and shared bathrooms, and serves three meals a day; it accommodates up to 145 guests.
Nearby Hutchinson Lodge is a rustic, unstaffed cabin with a fully equipped kitchen, two sleeping lofts with bunk beds, sauna, showers, toilets, and wood-burning stoves; it has a maximum capacity of 25.
Environmental Education Scholarship Fund
A special fund provided by Sierra Club’s Clair Tappaan Lodge Advisory Committee provides grants to cover room and board for underserved youth to experience nature at the lodge. Led by non-profit groups with leaders experienced in environmental education, kids and their chaperones/teachers will stay at Clair Tappaan or Hutchinson Lodge near beautiful Donner Lake in the Sierra. Teachers and youth-group leaders may apply for these grant funds by submitting a funding request at least two weeks in advance of the event.
Please see the Clair Tappaan Environmental Resource Guide for all the information you need.
What You Will Need
EQUIPMENT - All participants will need appropriate clothing for the time of year. During snow season, everyone needs either goggles or sunglasses so that they do not damage their eyes. For snow equipment rental, one excellent source is Bay Area Wilderness Training (bawt.org): “Free outdoor gear loans for BAWT-trained leaders at schools and organizations serving either 80% youth of color or 40% low-income youth. Extremely low-cost gear rentals are available for all other BAWT trained leaders.“
CHAPERONES - to provide practical and emotional support and encouragement. They are parent substitutes on the outing, ensuring proper behavior. We recommend one chaperone for every seven children.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONTENT PROVIDERS – Some group leaders may prefer to organize their own program. Others may want to take advantage of one of the excellent programs offered at the lodge.
ADDITIONAL INFO -
To apply for a grant, please fill out our Funding Request Form.
Sierra Club Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO): sierraclub.org/ico
Gateway Mountain Center - sierraexperience.org
Headwaters Science Institute - headwatersscienceinstitute.org
Bay Area Wilderness Training – BAWT.org
If you are unable to join us, you are still able to donate to our Environmental Education Program. Make your check payable to Sierra Club Foundation and note that this donation is for Clair Tappaan Lodge’s Environmental Education Fund. Please mail your check to: Clair Tappaan Lodge, P. O. Box 36, Norden, CA, 95724.
Environmental Education Content Providers
To help you educate and oversee the students, Sierra Club Inspiring Connections Outdoors, along with two 501 (C)(3) non-profit groups (Gateway Mountain and Headwaters Science Institute) often base their educational programs at Clair Tappaan and Hutchinson Lodges.
Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) - sierraclub.org/ico.
Sierra Club’s volunteer-run nationwide ICO groups conduct more than 900 outings for approximately 14,000 participants each year. By introducing participants to the transformative power of nature, ICO serves a key function within the Sierra Club and supports John Muir's assertion that people who experience wilderness firsthand are much more likely to preserve it for future generations. Goals of the program are to expose inner-city youth to the wonders and joys of the Sierra Nevada in the winter so that they will develop an appreciation for it. Many of them have never been able to experience snow or winter in a natural setting. Children are also educated about the ecology, biology, hydrology, and entomology of the Sierra Nevada in winter.
ICO covers all the costs, with support from the Clair Tappaan Education fund.
Gateway Mountain Center - sierraexperience.org/
Peter Mayfield, Director, and his team have created a mission/vision where youth of all backgrounds “Learn, Heal and Thrive.” They hope to foster a sense of wonder, connection, and inquiry. With spirited, adventure-learning they help youth transform their self-awareness through connections with self, nature and community.
Gateway Mountain Center programs balance field science instruction, hiking, and reflection. They emphasize active learning that is cooperative, fun, and provocative. Destinations are chosen by their staff to illustrate themes and concepts and to provide a meaningful outdoor experience. Group safety, trail conditions, group cooperation, and fitness levels (including adult chaperones) are considered in determining a day’s activities. Groups will be made up of 10-12 students and one or two chaperones to one guide.
Gateway integrates and aligns with standards:
Serving 4th – 12th grade students, our holistic curriculum is shaped by Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), STEM principles, and best practices in current social emotional learning, wellness, ecology and mountain sports.
Our innovative, experiential programming integrates Crosscutting Concepts, Science and Engineering Practices, and Disciplinary Core Ideas from NGSS, as well as Environmental Literacy principles of California’s Education and the Environment Initiative
$125 per person, per day (plus tax on meals)—includes lodging, three meals per day, and guide and educational services. The average program is three to four days. Scholarships are available.
Headwaters Science Institute - headwatersscienceinstitute.org
Megan Seifert, Executive Director, Spencer Eusden, Program Director
Our outdoor science program is designed around independent research projects to give students the empowering experience of designing and implementing their own original research projects. Our field site on the Sierra Crest offers diverse ecosystems for student engagement. Students investigate questions of their own design and build experiments in our natural laboratory. Potential topics include wetland wildlife, fire ecology, host-parasite relationships, environmental chemistry, forest succession, geology, and the impact of human history on local ecology. We also offer snow science programs for winter experiential programs. We are happy to mix in outdoor adventures such as skiing, kayaking, swimming, and hiking.
“The spirit of experiential education is alive through Headwaters Science Institute programs. Students learn science by doing science, in amazing environments. The inspiration students have to chase down their own questions and to learn rigorous methods is a testament to the value of experiential ed.”
-Andy Giordano, Sugar Bowl Academy Dean
$45 per day per student for the teaching program (includes day and evening programs)
$55 per day (plus tax) for lodging and food at Clair Tappaan Lodge
$5 per student materials fee
Contact Megan Seifert about group discounts for larger groups as well as scholarship funding.
Support Environmental Education
Environmental Education Scholarship Fund
Every year the Clair Tappaan Lodge Advisory Committee puts on a fundraiser at the lodge to enable environmental education opportunities for under-served youth. Due to our Covid-19 closure, the 2020 fundraiser was canceled. We hope to continue our fundraising events when safe to do so. All proceeds go into a special fund that provides grants to groups wishing to stay at the lodge and participate in Environmental Education programs.
Donate
If you are unable to join us at the lodge, you can still donate to our Environmental Education Program. Make your check payable to Sierra Club Foundation and note that this donation is for Clair Tappaan Lodge’s Environmental Education Fund. Please mail your check to: Clair Tappaan Lodge, P. O. Box 36, Norden, CA, 95724.
Teachers and youth-group leaders working with under-served youth may apply for grant funds by submitting a funding request at least two weeks in advance of the event. To apply for a grant, please fill out our Funding Request Form.
Annual Fundraisers
Festivities at past fundraisers have included live music, delicious wine, hearty meals, art auctions, raffles, history talks, hikes, organized outdoor activities, and more. In 2005 the Sierra Nevada Group of the Sierra Club created a summer fundraising weekend to benefit the Lodge. They successfully hosted the event for 2 years, after which the Clair Tappaan Lodge Committee organized the event.
The festivities begin Friday with a gathering of lodge friends and supporters, an afternoon hike, and an evening program, often visual or historical. Saturday brings multiple hikes of varying lengths, interests, and locales, an afternoon live music program with wine, a silent Art Auction, a delicious dinner, and a special evening speaker. A raffle highlights Sunday morning breakfast, followed by more hikes into the afternoon.
The primary goal of the fundraiser is to provide grant funds for Environmental Education groups; event participants are encouraged to donate. In the first ten years of the event, over $77,000 has been donated to Clair Tappaan’s Environmental Education fund with the Sierra Club Foundation.
Support Environmental Education
BUILDING A SNOW CAVE / WINTER 2016
By Alex Ezzell, Teacher
Adventure & Service Learning
Grass Valley Charter School
Activities: Construction of six habitable igloos by teams of four students to anchor students in the character traits of perseverance, responsibility, and self–discipline. Students could then sleep out in their igloos (via challenge by choice). Historically 90% of students elect to seize this additional opportunity for adventure! This experience is then followed by a snowshoe outing to study winter ecology and conduct snowpack analysis, conducted with visiting experts from the Nevada Irrigation District to better understand the relationship between weather, water, and natural resource conservation.
SOCCER WITHOUT BORDERS / WINTER 2019
By Madeline Boston, Program Coordinator
Soccer Without Borders uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing under- served youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success. We focus on serving refugee and immigrant youth by creating soccer teams for them to belong to, as well as offering team-building trips and wrap-around services that provide year-round academic support and cultural exchange opportunities.
In March of 2019, captains of 14 soccer teams had a weekend at Sierra Club’s Hutchinson Lodge to focus on personal growth skills and leadership activities, as well as enjoying sledding and hiking in the snow. It was an amazing reward for these leaders who have stepped up and led the program over the past year. It was also the first time seeing snow for many of the boys.
MADISON PARK ACADEMY / Oakland Unified School District
By Michael Fischer, ICO Leader
Fifteen students from Madison Park Academy stayed at Hutchinson Lodge in March 2019. The school serves a primarily low-income population with most students eligible for subsidized lunch programs. Their neighborhood, Sobrante Park, is an area known for gang violence and is one of the highest crime neighborhoods in Oakland. The students formed the Outdoor Adventure Club to provide leadership and outdoor experiences as a healthy alternative for motivated students. The Sierra Club’s Inspiring Connections Outdoors program subsidizes the trips and provides leaders.
SAN JOSE ICO / MARCH 2016 / PROGRAM GOALS
The Sierra winter gives us an incredible opportunity to teach about winter ecology and the life cycles of the many animals and plants and how they survive in these harsh conditions. We also emphasize the hydrology of snow and how climate change is affecting the snowpack and our water supply. During the daytime, we focus on outdoor activities like sledding, cross-country skiing, snow play, and talking about the nature around us. During the evenings, we play games to add to the fun of our discussions, and the children learn lessons they can take away with them. On clear nights they are amazed to see the brilliance of the stars. We discuss our role in the big picture of life on earth and how humans affect natural cycles of other organisms and what we need to do to ensure that our natural resources are there for future generations.
The adults leading the trip are ICO volunteers, trained in outdoor skills and practiced in teaching youth about the environment. The kids learn many invaluable lessons and gain an appreciation of the beauty and importance of the winter mountain environment. We generally have up to 20 students and four to five adult ICO leaders and some teachers and parents who are familiar with the kids. We ask for help with funding for the lodge rental.
The participants targeted on the March trip are students of Kipp Charter School in East San Jose, San Jose Collegiate High School. These winter trips are the culmination of many shorter trips with kids from these schools. Each trip is one small step in teaching the kids vital lessons about the importance of our natural world through both lecture and experience. The kids are well-behaved, because going on these trips is a reward for good performance in school. This gives us maximum time to focus on lessons from nature. On all our outings, we take advantage of teachable moments to discuss lessons in ecology, biology, hydrology, entomology, and much more.
Follow-Up
The Kipp San Jose Collegiate High School kids participated in another winter trip to the Sierra Club's Hutchinson Lodge in Norden, California. This year we got all the snow we were missing for the past three winters as we got over two feet of snow in the one night we were there. For almost half the kids, this was their first time experiencing snow. We sledded, snowshoed, cross-country skied, and had a great time. The kids learned about the effects of climate change on the snowpack and water supply. We talked with the kids about why it is colder at higher elevations, about the different trees here versus at home, why moss grows on the north side of trees, how snow settles, how to build a wood fire, and how to be safe in the snow.
GATEWAY MOUNTAIN CENTER
CASTLEMONT HIGH SCHOOL / April 2018, Program Overview
Friday, April 20, 2018
Snowshoeing and Forest Ecology, Forest Carbon Survey
We hike through the forest behind the lodge, searching for animal tracks and learning how animals adapt and survive with the climate at Donner Summit. We also learn native tree species and other elements of the forest habitat, emphasizing the many benefits these forests provide, such as recreation, beauty, timber resources, and carbon storage. In addition, students get hands-on practice assessing the carbon sequestration capacity of local trees. In small teams, students learn to identify tree species, measure their height and diameter, and use this information to calculate the amount of carbon sequestered in each tree and how this relates to students’ carbon footprint.
Evening Program: Night walk and animal adaptation activities or Environmental Films
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Snowshoeing, Weather, Snow Science
We shuttle to the UC Snow Science lab to learn how Sierra snowpack is the “water bank” for California, and how this water bank is likely to be affected by climate change. Students learn of the latest climate research conducted by the lab and they do a hands-on activity to measure water content in different layers in the snowpack. The students also do a water chemistry survey of the snow, learning about different pollutants and where they come from. The group then hike back to the lodge on the snowshoe trail, with a grand overview of the unique geology of the area.
Evening Program: Final evening campfire with skits/talent show and s’mores
Sunday, April 22nd, 2018
Snowshoeing, History Loop, and Solo Hike
As a group, students hike to Stewart slab, a granitic dome on Donner Summit with spectacular views of Donner Lake and the east slope of the Sierra Crest. They learn about the people who have passed through this area, referred to as “The Richest Square Mile in California.” After group reflection and discussion, each student embarks on a silent solo hike from Stewart Slab to Donner Ski Ranch, taking time to reflect on their experiences during the trip and lessons learned. The core curriculum is rounded out with nature games, team-building games, art, sensitizing and reflection activities, and creative writing.
EARTH TEAM / Spring 2019
By Jenna Topper, Program Manager
Each year, Earth Team offers hands-on immersive environmental education to over 100 underrepresented youth through experiential learning opportunities. Recruited as paid interns from Title 1 public high school partners, they participate in a unique program that offers hands-on STEM learning (science, technology, engineering, math), STEM and Environmental Career Exploration, youth development opportunities, and deep-in-nature experiences.
The first day was spent snowshoeing around the Lodge area. This was everyone’s first-time snowshoeing which made the experience extra special. The group learned about dressing properly for the colder weather and soon took off in search of prime-time sledding spots! Once a spot was agreed upon, the fun really picked up. Participants enjoyed tons of free-time, most of them spent it making snow angels, sledding, having snowball fights, and building igloos.
After everyone got all their energy out, the group settled down to learn from Gateway Mountain Center staff about forest ecology and the important role our forests play in our changing climate. The group learned how to identify different tree species and played a game where they had to use senses other than their sight to locate specific trees throughout the forest. Then the group started to explore snow science! Participants conducted mini-experiments to get a better understanding of what is in the snow and how that varies based on snow depth. It was awesome to practice some STEM learning on an outdoor trip.
The climax of the weekend was the last day, when the group headed to Donner Summit for a first-time snowboarding/skiing experience. Everyone got suited up with gear and equipment, participated in guided lessons, and spent the rest of the day flying (or falling) down the mountain!
From the Earth Team Blog:
This trip made it possible for me to fly down a mountain and have an amazing experience this weekend. It meant the world to me” – David, Outdoor Explorer
The snowboarding part of this trip took it to the next level. This is way better than staying at home and playing video games. It was so fun, no matter how much or how hard I fell I always got up happy no matter how much it hurt. I have met so many kids from different schools - talking to them, figuring out their different personalities, and spending the night with each other was so cool.”
- Elijah, Outdoor Explorer
Yesterday, we snow-shoed and hiked up a beautiful snowy mountain in the forest. The trees were so vibrant with the little pops of the bright green from the moss. To top it all off, we went sledding down huge mountains. We had awesome snowball fights and truly a great time playing in the snow, discovering new things, and learning about it – I know I did!
This is one of the best experiences of my life!”- Asha, Outdoor Explorer
GATEWAY MOUNTAIN CENTER FIELD STUDIES
FOREST ECOLOGY:
Hikes through the forest to search for animal tracks and learn how animals adapt and survive on Donner Summit.
Tree identification and the many benefits of forest.
Hands-on assessment of the carbon sequestration capacity of local trees.
Rich and empowering discussions to relate forest ecology to students’ carbon footprint.
MEADOW / WETLAND ECOLOGY:
Riparian habitat / streamside surveys, and wetland studies in Van Norden Meadow
Data collection may include macroinvertebrate surveys; stream transects and maps; amphibian surveys; ground water measurement; vegetation surveys.
Discussions about current issues in Van Norden meadow. Career opportunities in wetland ecology and restoration. Led by local experts in the field.
Historical impacts on the meadow ecosystem and South Yuba Watershed, from native populations, settlers, and modern development.
CLIMATE CHANGE:
Explore historical climate patterns and how they shaped the Sierra Nevada
Investigate local issues, such as climate refugia, snowpack and water storage, drought and development
Identify current plant and wildlife adaptations to a changing climate, and consider future challenges
Contemplate current and future solutions to mitigate and reverse the effects of climate change
SNOW SCIENCE:
Students may visit the Central Sierra Snow Lab to learn about current studies taking place on Donner Summit
Hands-on measurement of snow density and Snow Water Equivalent
Learning the anatomy of a snowflake and many unique crystal formations
Discover Sierra’s role as California’s water bank
GEOLOGY:
Explorations of the volcanic and granitic landforms of Donner Summit
How the Sierra Nevada mountains were formed
Glacial movement and the creation of watersheds
HUMAN HISTORY: Walk back in time to explore:
Tunnel Number Six (the most difficult-to-complete section of the entire Transcontinental Railroad)
The craggy gap that the emigrant Stevens and Donner parties struggled through with their wagons
Some of the oldest petroglyphs found in the Sierra
MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE:
Snowshoe hikes - Traverse and ascend snowy mountain peaks, in dazzling sparkles of low angle winter light.
Rock climb the spectacular granite cliffs of Donner Summit. Challenges met and overcome. Face risk with support. Certified, experienced guides.
Students will learn the basics of the climbing safety system (harnesses, knots, belaying).
Flat water kayaking - Paddle mirror-like, pristine alpine lakes, immersing yourself in the joy of reflective stillness.
Ski or Ride - Snowboarding, cross-country or downhill skiing. Exciting snow travel, technical descents, pure magic. Rentals and lessons provided.
Hike Sierra peaks – Challenge hikes provide “top of the mountain,” breath-taking, 360-degree views.
HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE PROGRAMS
SNOW SCIENCE AT CLAIR TAPPAAN LODGE
Spring 2017 / Met Sacramento High School
by Spencer Eusden, Program Director
This April, students from the Met Sacramento High School had the opportunity to come to Sierra Club’s Clair Tappaan Lodge on Donner Summit to learn about the Sierra snowpack. California has had an interesting water year, and this group of students took a unique approach to study the snow that sources 60 percent of California’s drinking water. Instead of learning about research that other scientists had conducted, these students were the scientists conducting the research.
With guidance from Headwaters Science Institute, a nonprofit that specializes in research-based education, students went through the same, albeit compressed, process as professional scientists. On the first day, students were introduced to the study area and the instruments they had at their disposal. Later that afternoon, they brainstormed many possible research questions and then worked in groups to create “research proposals” for the questions they were most interested in.
The second day focused on data collection and conducting experiments to test their hypotheses. Just as things don’t always work out as planned for even the best scientists, these students had their fair share of problem-solving to do. For example, one group had to improvise an extendable water device when the creek they were sampling was lined with 10-foot-high snowbanks. On the final day, groups worked together to statistically analyze their data and create a scientific presentation. Before getting on the bus home, each research group presented their projects to their peers and teachers.
Research Highlights:
Two groups of students used dye to track meltwater movement in the snowpack and found patterns based on snow crystal type, aspect, and temperature. Through these experiments, they explored albedo and the other factors that affect the timing of water availability as the snow melts.
Students tested how human impacts can affect water quality in the snowmelt. While all the water they tested was quite clean, water near areas with higher human activity had higher salinity.
One group re-created a previous year's experiment looking at changes in water pH across an elevation gradient and found a markedly different trend, likely due to this year's record snowfall.
After a lot of digging, some students found that there is a temperature gradient in the snowpack, with deeper snow near the ground being the warmest, and cooler snow closer to the surface.
Letters
James Lick Middle School in San Francisco, Spring 2019, to Gateway Mountain Center
Thank you so much for all your help in making this field trip happen. I am so glad we did it! From the time we stepped off the bus, Peter and his team and the Lodge just helped take care of everything. All my anxieties and worries went away. From start to finish, Gateway provided a highly engaging program.
Everyone had such a great time! The students have been asking to make this trip annual and multi-grade level so they can go again next year! And our staff loved the place so much we are thinking of maybe having a staff retreat there! Dorothy Morallos, teacher
Sunrise Middle School, February 2018, to Jane Risk, CTL Committee Review Team
The purpose of our snow adventure was to introduce the students to snow (most will be seeing it for the first time), to learn about environmental science, to build teamwork, to explore the natural world, and to provide a meaningful alternative to electronics during the students’ winter break. Teresa Robinson, teacher
The Headwaters Science Institute led a group of students in environmental education at CTL. Students submitted cards of appreciation:
Sierra Club,
Thank you for supporting us by [letting us] stay for three days in this amazing and beautiful place.
Pedro Vargas
Thank you very much for helping commission this trip. As a person who needed a little help paying for the trip, it was great to have the help. Thank you!
Thank you! I really enjoyed this trip!
Miguel
Thanks so much! Had a wonderful time learning about science and being in nature!
Thanks bunches for everything! We learned loads and had lots of fun!
Molly
Thank you, this was a fantastic trip
Robert
Dear Clair Tappaan Lodge Committee,
I would like to give a huge thanks to everyone who helped make our Snow Trip possible. Without your donations, I would of never had the chance to experience such natural beauty. Thank you so much for the opportunity.
From Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) student Leilany
Videos
Debra and Scott Weistar with Synergia Learning Ventures (http://synergia.us/) created this video in 2009 but it is still relevant today. It offers a tour of Clair Tappaan Lodge given by an enthusiastic young visitor and focuses on environmental education. The only things that have changed since 2009 are lodge access and personnel.
A San Luis Obispo Sierra Club Chapter Board Member has always loved the lodge and wanted to get the word out to other members during their yearly Board meeting in March 2021. These videos were made for that occasion.
Gateway Mountain Center (https://sierraexperience.org/) is one of the environmental education learning groups that uses Clair Tappaan Lodge as a base. Their web page notes:
Gateway Mountain Center is where youth of all backgrounds Learn, Heal and Thrive. We foster a sense of wonder, connection and inquiry. With spirited, adventure-learning we help youth transform their self-awareness through connections with self, nature and community.
Their promotional video features Clair Tappaan Lodge: