Earn academic credit at Lake tahoe

SUST 380.LT01 (Montana Hodges)

This hands-on course introduces the science of snow hydrology—the scientific study of how snow and ice move, disperse, and are composed. Snow hydrology focuses on the role snow plays in the water cycle, including how it falls, melts, and accumulates. Understanding the Sierra snowpack is important because snowmelt is a major source of water for many areas, including reservoirs, cities, and agriculture. Friday afternoon lecture on the Tahoe Basin and campus tour. Saturday morning lecture on snow hydrology followed by a tour of snow pillows, the Tahoe City dam, and a thrilling stop at the ski resort to meet with the avalanche scientists and dynamite-tossing ski patrol to learn about what they do. Sunday morning snow sampling.

SUST 380.LT02 (Lyndsay Munro)

This weekend course introduces students to the fundamentals of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), including its capabilities, limitations, environmental impact and ethical implications. Through hands-on activities and an outdoor experiential component around Lake Tahoe, students will integrate natural-world observations with GenAI-powered tools, fostering both technical understanding and creative problem-solving.

SUST 380.LT03 (Molly Allen & Rick Parsons)

In this course we will explore the Lake Tahoe landscape while image making with cyanotypes. Using these experimental images made with natural object collected from nature, we will design a graphic that will be translated, and silk screened onto t-shirts. Through these processes and outdoor exploration students will gain a historical and contemporary understanding of image and word. (Time permitting) This course will also utilize the laser cutter and design concepts to create further interpretation of image and word.

SUST 380.LT04 (Katie Zanto)

This course focuses on winter adventures in the snow on snowshoes and/ or cross-country ski gear. Intermediate hiking skills and fitness required. Students will learn winter skills, explore, adventure and come back to campus for reflective writing activities. Students will have the chance to reread, compile and share their reflective winter writing.

SUST 380.LT05 (Brennan Lagasse)

A course centered on outdoor recreation as it relates to the greater Tahoe area. Special attention will be given to topics related to climate change, trail building, and access to outdoor spaces in the region. This course will collaborate with professional members of outdoor recreation and advocacy groups such as Protect Our Winters, the League to Save Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Backcountry Alliance, Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association, the Washoe Youth Outdoor Expedition Program, and the Outdoor Alliance. Friday will focus on an introduction to the topics, including a visit to Olympic Valley to attend the Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series. Saturday we will snowshoe and/or hike in a special Tahoe area, such as the Mt. Rose wilderness or West Shore of Lake Tahoe depending on conditions. Students will be asked to craft a letter on sustainability and stewardship to future outdoor users/visitors of the area.

SUST 380.LT06 - Honors (Chris Lanier)

Friday afternoon we will discuss the two locations we will visit on Saturday (Tahoe Meadows and Chimney Beach) do some drawing exercises and look at historic & contemporary examples of landscape drawing and photography. On Saturday, we will explore the Tahoe Meadows for a drawing experience in the morning and Chimney Beach for a photography experience in the afternoon. Total time in the field will be about 8 hours, including transportation. A post weekend review and discussion of the photos and drawings will also be held.

SUST 380.LT07 - Honors (Brennan Lagasse)

A course centered on the history, perspectives, and current work of the original stewards of Da ow aga, the Wašiw Peoples. This course will spotlight the work of Washiw Zulshish Goom Tahn Nu (Washoe Warrior Society), the Washoe Youth Outdoor Expedition Program, along with other Elders and community members working in various fields of local cultural sustainability. Friday will focus on an introduction to the topics, including the rights of nature movement. Saturday will be spent in the field locally at choice locations around the lake. Locations and activities to be determined depending on partner availability. Students will be asked to write a final course reflection on the Rights of Nature for Lake Tahoe.

SUST 380.LT08 (Chris Lanier)

Friday afternoon we will discuss the two locations we will visit on Saturday (Tahoe Meadows and Chimney Beach) do some drawing exercises and look at historic & contemporary examples of landscape drawing and photography. On Saturday, we will explore the Tahoe Meadows for a drawing experience in the morning and Chimney Beach for a photography experience in the afternoon. Total time in the field will be about 8 hours, including transportation. A post weekend review and discussion of the photos and drawings will also be held.

SUST 280.LT01 (Chris Smith)

An advanced hike climbing from 9000 ft Mt. Rose Highway summit up to the top of Mt. Rose (10,600 ft.). There will be a 2-hour prep discussion on Friday followed by the ~11 mile round-trip (~10 hour) hike. The hike will stop at various points to talk about adaptations to the alpine environment, including plants above tree line and pika.

SUST 380.LT11 (Montana Hodges)

Interdisciplinary science course covering the hydrology, geology, and geography of the Tahoe Basin watershed. Friday afternoon lecture on the Tahoe Basin and campus tour. Saturday morning communicating science lecture, brunch, then departure to explore Lake Tahoe. Saturday early morning departure to circle Lake Tahoe with stops along the shore where students will create social media posts about the Tahoe watershed. Sunday water sampling along beautiful Incline Creek.

SUST 380.LT12 (Katie Zanto)

This course will give students the opportunity to experience and practice experiential education methods. Students will explore and learn about Lake Tahoe, participate in activities, discuss experiential learning lesson plans and teach their own lessons to their cohort. Additionally, students will experience the experiential learning cycle through potentially working with a local non-profit organization. Students should be ready to spend the entire day working and learning outdoors.

SUST 380.LT13 (Montana Hodges)

Join a real fossil dig while learning about our natural resource heritage and management practices. Many people don’t know that Nevada is a treasure trove of hundreds of millions of years of our fossil record. This course offers students the unique opportunity to collect fossils for scientific research. Uncover 10-million-year-old critters like mastodons, bone crushing dogs, horses, camels, and more, while will learn about fossils ownership, management, protection, and exploitation in the United States. The tentative schedule includes a Friday afternoon lecture on fossil resources and management, followed by a campus tour. Saturday drive to the western Nevada fossil site and spend the day searching for fossils. Sunday morning lesson on fossil curation while preparing and cataloging the fossils collected. Requires light hiking.

SUST 380.LT14 (Honors) (Chris Lanier)

Friday will include a couple hour discussion on basic drone operation/instruction and brief historic context of the Donner Tunnels. Saturday, travel to the tunnels and document the area, taking video with drones. Total time in the field will be about 6 hours, including transportation. On return to the UNR@LT campus, we can review the footage and do a writing exercise to draft a voiceover for the footage. A post-weekend follow-up will involve viewing and discussing video and the recording of voiceovers for the footage.