Hands-on research Archives - Headwaters Science Institute

Bay Area January Recap

Feb 12, 2026 | Home Page Featured, School Programs, Bay Area Region, School Field Days

January was a busy month for the Bay Area team! We served over 225 students in Richmond, San Pablo, and El Cerrito.

We kicked off 2026 with a field trip to the Marin Headlands with Richmond High School. Throughout the field trip, students asked thoughtful questions about the site’s soil, plants, insects, water, and animals. We then returned to the classroom, where students were guided through a data analysis lesson, created graphs using DataClassroom, and developed presentations to share their findings with classmates. We were so impressed with everyone’s final presentations!

We also completed our second round of expeditions with Summit Tamalpais Middle School in San Pablo. Over 9 days, we guided students through our full research process, from brainstorming questions to collecting data and communicating their findings. Each group spent three days in the field collecting data at a park within walking distance of their campus. We’re excited to return for the final round of expeditions with this school in March.

Finally, we wrapped up two programs with Fairmont Elementary School in El Cerrito. We worked with one 5th-grade class in a three-day program and a 5th/6th-grade split class during a one-day, on-campus field experience. Both programs were designed to prepare students for success in their science fair. By the end of our time together, students left not only better prepared for their science fair, but more confident and excited to think like scientists.

Overall, this January was filled with some truly great projects from our Bay Area students as they learned to follow their curiosity through the process of science. We are looking forward to seeing what questions they ask next!

Get Ready For 2026 Summer Camps

Jan 27, 2026 | Home Page Featured, Truckee/Tahoe Region, School Programs

In the midst of these chilly winter days, it’s easy to start daydreaming about warmer and sunnier days ahead. Luckily, that just got a whole lot easier, as we’ve just announced the dates and themes for the 2026 Headwaters Summer Science Camps!

This summer, Headwaters Science Institute is offering a full lineup of hands-on, research-based science camps across the Truckee–Tahoe region. Give your child a summer where science is an adventure, learning happens outside, and every day is full of wonder!

Camp Sessions For Every Young Learner

At Headwaters, science isn’t about memorizing facts. It’s about asking questions and experiencing the discovery process firsthand. Whether your child loves splashing through streams, observing buzzing insects, or identifying unique plants, there’s a camp session designed to spark their imagination! This year’s themes include Animals & Insects, Water Week, and Plants & Wildflowers.

We also offer two overnight camps for students ready to take their learning to the next level and make lasting memories. Our All-Girls Science Camp aims to empower young scientists through community, mentorship, and hands-on field research, while our Intro to Research Camp offers a deeper dive into ecology and field science with multi-day investigations at Webber Lake.

For a full list of dates and details, head on over to our Summer Camps page.

Experience the Stunning Sierra Nevadas

At Headwaters camps, nature is the classroom. In incredible locations including Serene Lakes, Truckee Springs, North Lake Tahoe, Webber Lake, and Kirkwood, campers learn by doing. Students will take notes at the lakeside, spot vibrant insects tucked among the foliage, and identify plants by the shapes of their leaves.

Every day, our campers explore the ecosystems that make the region so unique, from rippling lakes and buzzing wetlands to high-elevation forests bursting with life. In the process, they discover how closely connected they are to the world around them.

Memories That Last

Students will leave with more than just a learning experience; they’ll make true connections and lasting memories! Campers join lakeside chats with real scientists, experience the thrill of discovery in nature, and build confidence in asking questions and solving problems. Every day is a chance to connect with peers, mentors, and the wild landscapes around them, all while making memories that last long after the campfire stories end.

Give Your Child a Summer of Discovery

With the Headwaters Summer Science Camps, your child will experience a safe, supportive, and engaging environment to explore nature, build scientific thinking skills, and create unforgettable summer memories. Spots fill quickly, so don’t wait to register!

Registration Opens February 1

Headwaters Heads to the Coast

Dec 12, 2024 | Bay Area Region, Home Page Featured, School Programs

We were incredibly impressed by the passion, dedication, and teamwork displayed by the students from Latitude High School and LPS Richmond during their research trips in Santa Cruz.

In the weeks leading up to the trip, students dove into their research projects, learning essential skills in research methods and hypothesis development. Working in groups, they crafted thoughtful hypotheses and set the stage for a hands-on scientific adventure.

The students kicked off their fieldwork at Natural Bridges State Beach, where they fine-tuned their data collection methods while exploring the local habitats that would serve as the focus of their studies. Despite the chilly winds and massive waves from the Bomb Cyclone, students pushed forward, embracing the challenge. The day ended with a cozy campfire, delicious s’mores, and a fun card game that sparked personal connections and team bonding.

Thursday was all about immersive, hands-on research. Students ventured to multiple locations—including the beach, creek, forest, and pond—to gather data and deepen their understanding of the local ecosystem. After a productive afternoon, they relaxed with some free time at the lodge before taking part in a night vision demonstration and engaging in interactive games. Another campfire and more s’mores rounded out the evening, strengthening both friendships and scientific curiosity.

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On Friday, students dedicated their time to analyzing the data they had collected, applying statistical methods to uncover insights and draw meaningful conclusions. They wrapped up the trip by starting to build their presentations, excited to share their findings with their peers and teachers when they returned to school.

I felt really free. Being there was a really unique experience. I’ve never been an outdoor person but I really enjoyed being in nature and having nature around me. It was very therapeutic and it made learning fun.

We were also thoroughly impressed by the hard work and enthusiasm displayed by the students from Leadership Public School – Richmond during their overnight trip to Santa Cruz!

In preparation for the trip, students began their research projects by learning about research methods and hypothesis formulation. They worked in groups to develop hypotheses and set the stage for their field research.

On Tuesday, students focused on refining their hypotheses and finalizing their research at Natural Bridges State Beach. There, they explored the local habitat that would serve as the focus of their studies. We were fortunate to visit during low tide, giving the students the opportunity to explore the tide pools and observe a variety of fascinating marine life, including sea stars, sea urchins, and sea anemones. The day wrapped up with an exciting observation of monarch butterflies migrating for the winter. In the evening, students learned about night vision and enjoyed some fun, interactive games.

Wednesday was filled with hands-on research as students diligently collected data from multiple locations, including the beach, creek, and forest. After gathering their measurements, students enjoyed some free time at the lodge, where they encountered local residents—banana slugs! The day concluded with a lively campfire, tasty s’mores, and a musical performance by one of the talented students.

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Being outside the classroom helped me to explore my curiosity more than I would have in a typical school setting. I learned how to channel my energy to get specific scientific findings in a timely manner.

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On Thursday, students dedicated their time to analyzing the data they had collected. Using statistical methods, they worked hard to interpret their findings and draw conclusions. The trip concluded with students creating presentations to share their research results before heading back to school.

In the weeks after the programs, groups of students presented their findings to their classes, practicing presentation skills as they communicated complicated scientific information.

Headwaters Science Institute is thankful to to the California Coastal Commission for a Whale Tail Grant to make these trips possible. Being able to bring these students to Santa Cruz, allowing them to explore the amazing complexity of California’s coast and experience something completely new, was incredible.

That’s a Wrap on Spring Semester School Programs!

Jun 20, 2024 | Home Page Featured, Truckee/Tahoe Region

That’s a wrap on the spring semester! As thoughts turn to summer exploration, summer camps, fun events, and vacations, we want to take a moment to recap some of the local Tahoe Truckee school programs we did this school year.

With a huge thank you to our local community with grants from Powdr Corp Community Foundation, Martis Camp, Donner Party Charitable Fund, Tahoe Mt. Resorts, Truckee Airport Foundation, Truckee Rotary, North Tahoe Kiwanis, and Tahoe League for Charity. Thank you for all your support.

Alder Creek Middle School

Late this spring, we worked with ACMS 7th graders to create research projects focused around human impacts in Donner Memorial State Park! We began the week by joining students in class to talk about question asking and planning to collect data. Students were interested in the various ways that humans may impact the park, ranging from investigating water quality, to looking at trash and litter, to measuring plant and insect biodiversity. In order to test these questions, students collected data at the park during the middle of the week. Each group was able to collect data at various locations across the park, while also observing wildlife like frogs and lizards outside of their projects!

Thanks to the support of Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation, Martis Camp, and the hospitality of Donner Memorial State Park, this adventure was a wild success!

Truckee High School

Thanks to the incredible support of the Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation and the Martis Camp Foundation, we ran an amazing field program with Truckee High School for over 40 students! From formulating questions in the classroom to hands-on fieldwork at Donner Creek, students explored macroinvertebrate populations, measured stream pH and temperatures, and even discovered unexpected surprises like fish and a large crawfish! Back in class, they analyzed their data and delivered insightful presentations. A huge thank you to our sponsors for making this enriching experience possible!

Student questions were mostly centered around organisms within the stream, including fish, crayfish, and macroinvertebrate insects. Some groups were also interested in plants around the stream, and looked at biodiversity found in the area, as well as chemical composition of leaves.

Truckee Afterschool

This year, we received $5,000 from the Truckee Tahoe Airport District that we put towards a six-week after-school program with the Truckee Elementary School. This was a twice-weekly program that focused on grades 3rd through 5th. The program had a bird theme where students were introduced to new bird-related knowledge, games, and science activities each session. Each session was independent so that students could join without feeling left behind while those who attended multiple sessions could continue to ask questions about birds and expand their knowledge.

Students explored bird adaptations, migration patterns, behaviors, anatomy, and more. One activity we did every day was monitoring bird feeders to see what species were in the area and observing how that changed throughout the semester as our own citizen science project! However, our most popular activity was our owl pellet examination, where the students could see what the owls were consuming and reconstruct their skeletons.

Sierra Expeditionary Learning School

Projects focused on snow science, and how chemical and physical properties of snow are affected by location, depth of the snow pack, and presence of insects. Each groups’ question was inspired by a tour at the Central Sierra Snow Lab, where students got to learn about the large-scale climate and snow monitoring happening at the lab, before conducting their own smaller scale research.

Students were able to work in the area around the lab, collecting data, and also having fun playing in the snow and playing some group games.

La Fuerza Latina Truckee

Thanks to funding from Truckee Rotary, a group of La Fuerza Latina Truckee students from Truckee High School came with us to tour the Central Sierra Snow Lab and to start data collection. The students had really insightful ideas on what their data meant, and why they saw the trends they did, and it was great to see the students engage in that discussion around data visualization.

Donner Trail Yuba River Day

It was a great, warm, sunny October Day on the South Yuba River. Headwaters spent the day in the river teaching the kids about water speed and gradient in the river, as well as algae growth and water quality. The students loved using the ducks and meter sticks to measure the flow. They learned how increased gradient means increased water speed. They also learned how where in the river you are measuring changes the water speed. For example when the bank or logs/sticks jet out into the river they block the water and decrease the speed that is flows. Truckee Tahoe School district media was there and are interested in doing more stories with us.

King’s Beach Elementary

During this program, we developed hyper-local, sustainable food programming to engage with over 60 fifth-grade students, including varied paths to science, the importance of a sustainable diet, and creating a healthy meal from the local 7-Eleven.

Over three sessions, students learned about Headwaters’ program manager Courtney’s background, her master’s thesis, and how to make a healthy meal based on what you can find at the local 7-Eleven.

Students learned about the components of a healthy diet including understanding the role of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. During this discussion, students were able to cook themselves from boiling water, create salads, or pass out cut fruit. The students were surprised to see how much fruit and vegetables were available at the local 7-Eleven and how they could make healthy choices for their diets, no matter their access.

Looking Forward to Summer with the Truckee Donner Land Trust

Feb 26, 2024 | Truckee/Tahoe Region, Uncategorized

Headwaters Science Institute is lucky to be able to bring our summer camps to Truckee Donner Land Trust Land. Campers explore the natural spaces, ask scientific questions, and design and conduct experiments to answer their own questions. Science is fun and engaging when children get to ask and answer the questions they are curious about, and these fun camps help foster a unique connection between campers and the land. The foundations of our overnight programs are scientific research, mentorship, and professional caliber scientific exploration, helping these future scientists hone important skills.

We have the pleasure of learning more about the Truckee Donner Land Trust, their work, and the lands they protect as campers are starting to register for camp.

2023 Reno Overnight at Davis Creek student backs

Intro research camp - enjoying the campfire

Hi, Greyson! It’s certainly still winter here, but thank you so much for joining Headwaters to talk about summer! And thank you to the Truckee Donner Land Trust for allowing Headwaters Summer Camps to explore, learn, and discover at some of your sites! Could you introduce a little bit about TDLT?

Hi Megan! All of us here at the Truckee Donner Land Trust love working with Headwaters Science Institute to get young people out on our lands. Since the Land Trust was founded in 1990, we have protected more than 40,000 acres of open space in our region. We also manage about 50 miles of trail, a campground, and backcountry huts to get people out to enjoy those lands. Some protected lands folks might know include Waddle Ranch in the Martis Valley, Royal Gorge on Donner Summit, Independence Lake, Perazzo Meadows, and Lower Carpenter Valley. Some of our trails include the Donner Lake Rim Trail, Royal Gorge Rim Trail, and Elizabethtown Meadows Trail.

The Truckee Donner Land Trust mission includes both Protect and Enjoy. What does that mean to the land trust, and why is it important to help campers get out onto TDLT land?

Truckee Donner Land Trust’s mission is to Protect and Enjoy Open Space for Nature, For People, Forever. This means we choose our conservation projects to help protect natural resources like forests, meadows, wildlife habitat, and watersheds – and also to allow for sustainable access and recreation for the public to enjoy. Getting Headwaters’ campers out on our Lands is a great way to get young people out on our lands and appreciating the nature all around them, and hopefully giving them a lifelong interest in both enjoying and protecting the outdoors.

Headwaters’ camps are happening again this year at Webber Lake, Serene Lakes, and our Truckee Young Scientist Exploration Camp has a new location at Johnson Canyon. What should campers be looking forward to about these sites?

Webber Lake is a truly special place with not only the beautiful lake, but also Lacey Meadows to explore. The sound of sandhill cranes ringing across the lake while the mist clears from the lake in the morning is a really magical experience. Our Royal Gorge property up near Serene Lake is also a great place to get to know our local ecology. Sitting on the crest, it’s the headwaters of both the North Fork American and South Yuba River, with beautiful meadows, forests, and incredible views down into the American River Canyon. And Johnson Canyon is such a great property because it’s so easy to access, but so quick to get into a unique mix of flora and fauna. Seeps and springs keep lush fern mats green well into the summer, and the variety of riparian plants really make this a great place to learn.

Are there any activities that campers and families, and the wider Headwaters community, can participate in while enjoying TDLT land this year?

Truckee Donner Land Trust definitely suggests getting out on other Land Trust lands. Using our new interactive map here: https://www.truckeedonnerlandtrust.org/explore is a great way to get to know Land Trust lands and trails, and of course we’re always happy to talk if you want to give us a call at (530)582-4711. Each summer the Land Trust offers docent-led hikes if you want a little help getting to know a new place, and trail days where volunteers help build and repair trails for those interested in a fun way to give back.

What advice would you give to the Headwaters community about exploring TDLT land and the surrounding area? Where should they go and when, but also how should they be good stewards of the space while enjoying the land?

There are year-round opportunities to enjoy Land Trust lands, with a variety of properties at different elevations throughout our region. In the winter, Johnson Canyon has become popular for snow play, as well as access to bigger backcountry pursuits. If you’re waiting for snow to melt, Elizabethtown Meadows Trail in the Martis Valley is typically one of the first trails to be accessible. Wildflowers in Lower Carpenter Valley are a must in summer, and as summer wears on Royal Gorge up on the summit can be a great place to beat the heat. We do ask that folks check the rules on our website before going, and to practice Leave no Trace to keep our lands beautiful for generations to come.

And what advice would you, or some of the TDLT staff, have for campers who are budding young scientists who might want to one day work in conservation?

First off, I’d say always be curious, and enjoy the adventures your curiosity takes you on – you never know what you’ll learn. Being outside in nature, learning first-hand in situations like Headwaters Science Institute camps is so important too. There are so many great ways to get involved in conservation as you find out what interests you, so exploring all the different aspects and finding what you’re passionate about is a great place to start. Whether you’re interested in scientific research, doing in-the-field restoration to help strengthen our forests, meadows, or waterways, or if you’re interested in what the Land Trust does to protect land, there are lots of ways to get involved and to make a difference for the future.

Headwaters Camps

Camp registration is open now!

Thank you so much to the Truckee Donner Land Trust for supporting Headwaters camps!