Sierra Outdoor School

Mammals of the Mountain!
Sierra Outdoor School (S.O.S.) is not just a place for a few days visit, but it is also called ‘Home’ to a wide variety of wildlife. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, and surrounded by the Stanislas National Forest, many animals, plants… Ecosystems thrive in this area at 4100’ feet. Today we are going to be taking a closer look at the mammals of this mountain community.
Now, some of you might be wondering “What makes a Mammal a Mammal?” Mammals have five main characteristics that classify them differently from other groups of animals such as birds, amphibians and reptiles. All mammals share these features, of all shapes, sizes and species! Including people, we are mammals too.
1) Vertebrates! We all have a backbone called a spinal cord that is made of different vertebrae bones. 2) We are warm blooded. Using our metabolism and energy from the food we eat, we regulate our body to keep a warm body temperature. 3) We all breath air through …

It is that time of year! Noticeably, the days are beginning to warm and the sun is casting its light a little longer with each day. If you look and listen closely, you will notice pops of color from dormant flowers beginning to bloom, the birds have started singing, spring is here!
Image 1. Ruby Crowned Kinglet. Photo by Paul Higgins. 
After months of quiet skies, the Oregon juncos’ song will make your heart skip a beat. Many of the birds in our forest do not migrate, but their songs are silenced during the cold winter months.I like to believe they are saving up their vocal chord strength for their spring song, when the males are in full singing form to attract their mate! Since the Oregon junco does not leave our forest in the winter, they are the first species to declare that spring is near. When the days get longer, they know it is time to find a mate, so they open their throat and let their trilly-song come through, and each time I hear it, I cannot help but smile.
Image 2. Oregon …

What is Erosion? Erosion is the gradual degradation (breaking down) of rock and other natural material, by wind, water, gravity, and even animals. Erosion happens all around us on hillsides, the edges of riverbeds, beaches, and cliff walls. It is an entirely natural and necessary process; erosion is responsible for the dispersion and recycling of rocks and minerals into sediment, which enriches soil and provides opportunities for new life to emerge!

          However, human induced erosion is not natural, nor beneficial to our local environment. Scientists have estimated that global rates of erosion have increased 10-40 times its natural rate, due to human influence and activity. If you are looking for signs of human induced erosion, it is particularly obvious alongside walking trails in parks and forests.



Every year, our Sierra Outdoor School Naturalists take hundreds of of students on field trips to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, aptly named for the beautiful Giant Sequoia …

On our next installment of "Meet a Naturalist" we talk to Phil "Badger" to find out what he would do if he were given an elephant. Check out the video below!

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work at SOS? Get to know our Naturalists in a new monthly video series, entitled "Meet a Naturalist". Our first installment features Naturalist Maddie, "Nova". Check out the video below!

We're Leafin' on a Jet Plane!
As we reach the end of our school year here at Sierra Outdoor School, we would like to share some wonderful news! Each year the interns have the opportunity to create and work on a project to improve our campus. Read on to see all the wonderful things the interns have done before hoping on a jet plane!
Internship Recruitment Video
Kelsey "Goose" Roberts has worked alongside naturalist Angel Olavarria to film and interview our naturalist intern team to create a video highlighting the internship. The video is going to be used as a recruitment tool for future prospective interns. Visit our website to see this year's interns in action and to listen to them reflect on their experiences!



Geology of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range Mural 


Elise "Coyote" Adams added to teaching resources on campus, by designing and painting a mural. The mural depicts the creation of the Coastal and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. 






Elise's mural will a…