Discover Nevada's Kids

Planting Cottonwood Trees

Public Lands Day

Gary Reese

There are various events in the year when planting a tree is the center of activity. These include Arbor Day, National Trails Day and National Public Lands Day. These were being planted by young volunteers on the South Fork of the Humboldt River, in Elko County.

Where have you planted a tree?

Family Ranch

Susanne Reese

This family lives on their own ranch. One day they went out to pick wildflowers. Mom wanted to gift a neighbor botanical art that would remind her of home. She got the whole family involved.

Have you created art for a friend?

Teen Dream

Ruby Mountains Sunset View

Lynne Kistler

Acrylic

Northeastern Nevada Featured Artist

Often rural kids have to spend lots of time alone. Their ranches can be many miles apart. In this painting, the artist depicts herself as a teenage girl with her devoted friend - her horse. Her horse gave her the freedom to explore. She was dreaming of going away to school, what she wanted to learn and other parts of the world where she could travel.

What is your favorite place where you can dream about the future?

The Book Worm

Elgin Schoolhouse State Historic Site

Susanne Reese

This historical re-enactment was organized by Susanne and Gary Reese. The actors represent the students and teacher of the one room school. This photo was published in a Nevada Magazine article recording the story of the Elgin Schoolhouse in Rainbow Canyon. The publication coincided with the dedication of the property into the Nevada State Parks system.

How many rooms does your school have?

3 Students in Classroom

Elgin Schoolhouse State Historical Site

Susanne Reese

The Elgin Schoolhouse is the only one room schoolhouse in Nevada open to the public. The school room and teacher's quarters are furnished with period and authentic furnishings dating back to its 1921 origin. This historical re-enactment calls attention to the school’s historical significance. It was dedicated as a Nevada State Historical Site a year after the photos were taken.

What would you wear if you needed to look old fashioned?

Hand Cart

Susanne Reese

Pioneers formed wagon trains starting in 1841 to travel West through unmapped territory toward Alta California and the promise of free land. Those folks, without the wealth to purchase a wagon and livestock, could make due with a simple hand cart which could hold a tent, ground-cloth, blankets, food, medicine, water, and a few tools for repairs. The 2,000 mile trip took about 3 months.

Could you pull this cart all day?

Flint and Steel Lights a Fire

California Trail Interpretive Center

Susanne Reese

Fire is important in the outdoors to keep warm and be able to cook hot food. Matches, originally called Friction Lights, were rare when pioneers traveled the west. So it took ingenuity and talent to start a fire when camping on the wagon trail. This boy is being taught by two mountain men to start a campfire with a spark from striking flint and steel.

What keeps you warm in the winter and allows you to cook meals?

Wagon Train Re-enactment

Trail Days

California Trail Interpretive Center

Gary Reese

Pioneers traveled across America to settle lands in the west. Back in 1849 there were not yet enough people settling the western territories to allow them to be a state. This wagon is how the new settlers brought along what they needed to make a new home.

If you didn’t have a car, how would you travel?

Elko Basque Festival Dancers

Moira Smith

Colored Pencil on Drafting Film

Northeastern Nevada Featured Artist

Elko Nevada’s rich cultural heritage is on display during their annual mid-summer Basque Festival. The gathering features dancers young and old, who are keeping the vibrant music, language and traditions of their lost European homeland alive for future generations.

Where have you been where everyone was dancing?

Basque Beauties

Annual Elko County Basque Festival

Susanne Reese

Children are learning to appreciate their Basque heritage through distinctive food, music, stories and dance. It’s an opportunity for their far flung community to gather and make friends. Their parents and relatives use the occasion to honor the hard work their children accomplished at mastering and continuing their traditions.

Do you have a special day when you gather to celebrate your heritage?

Rope Swing

Susanne Reese

Rural kids often seek out the highest view-point. They might be tasked with bringing in the saddle horses from the pasture to the barn, doing a fire watch, monitoring coyote activity, looking for something to hunt, or maybe even escaping chores! This huge tree gave Brandon a clear view for miles. Six generations were raised on that land in Ruby Valley.

How old are the trees where you live?

Three Hats

County Fairgrounds, Ely

Susanne Reese

These kids were at the White Pine County Fair Grounds. Their parents were busy, so the oldest had the responsibility to keep the kids together and watch out for them.

Do you help take care of your brothers and sisters, or babysit?

Ash Meadows Explorer

Gary Reese

The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a protected wildlife habitat located in Southwestern Nevada, Amargosa Valley, Nye County, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Did you know that Nevada has places, like this, with plants and animals found no where else on Earth?

How far from home have you gone to discover Nevada’s nature?

Red, White & Blue

Wendy Ehrmann

Watercolor

Northeastern Nevada Featured Artist

This is a painting of a young girl visiting Elko County in northeastern Nevada. It might have been lonely until she found a friend.

What other animals might she have found which need to be fed each day?

4-H Swine Competition

White Pine County Fair

Susanne Reese

Another name for a pig is swine. These swine are in competition for excellence in breeding and the owner’s ability to handle and care for them. They grow bigger than the kids who exhibit them by the time of the annual county fair. The best animals get the highest points during the competition and are sold at auction. The kids earn ribbons. But the biggest isn’t always the best!

What farm animal would you raise?

Boy and Bovine

4-H Competition

White Pine County Fair

Susanne Reese

You don’t need to be from a farm or have a show cow to be active in a 4-H Club. There are clubs all over Clark County. 4-H sponsors in-school and after-school programs, special interest groups, library programming, recreational and community center partnerships, camping opportunities and much more!

What after-school club are you interested in?

4-H Friends

County Fair Grounds, Ely

Susanne Reese

These girls took a rest from caring for their show animals. They need to prepare fresh water and feed and make sure that the animal cages and stalls were clean. They were participating in the White Pine County Fair, held about 250 miles north of Las Vegas.

What activity have you participated in with your friends? Are you responsible for caring for a pet at home?

Wind Walker

Susanne Reese

Children are very proud when they can follow in the traditions of their family and clan. They work all year long to perfect dance steps that perfectly fit their tribal and musical traditions. Along with that goes creating costumes which have very unique meanings to them. Their pow wows are an opportunity to meet other tribes and share their individual cultures, as well as entertain and educate visitors.

Do you have any musicians in your family?

Lightfoot

Snow Mountain Pow Wow

Gary Reese

A young dancer at the annual Snow Mountain Pow Wow at the Snow Mountain Indian Reservation. Her traditional, ceremonial costume contrasts with her modern Nike branded shoes. The pow wow is a ceremonial and competitive event presented each year. The Snow Mountain Reservation is approximately 20 miles north of Las Vegas on US Highway 95.

If you danced all day would you wear running shoes or leather moccasins?

Ivan

Lost City Museum

Susanne Reese

Ivan was demonstrating to the public his traditional Paiute Indian cultural dances and what they wear when they dance together. His aunt designed his costume and added his favorite Spiderman design to it’s Native American regalia. She created the costume to honor both his native culture and modern day to day life.

If you had to show what culture you and your parents have, what might you add to your clothes to show what YOU like?

Bub

The Youngest Ghost Rider

Susanne Reese

The Ghost Riders were a group of central Nevada horseman who volunteered to pretend to rob the Ghost Train of Ely. They also participated in a variety of community events, including parades. The money they earned helped their community. This picture of the youngest Ghost Rider was taken along the tracks near the ghost town of Lane City, west of Ely.

Have you ever volunteered to help your community?

Like Father, Like Daughters

Annual Pony Express Re-Ride

Gary Reese

Photographic Montage

Each June, around Father’s Day, the historic Pony Express route is re-ridden by volunteers. Some of the volunteers, who carry the mail in a leather mochilla (saddle bag) are families. This dad and his two daughters rode the trail in a remote mountain range.

Would you be able to ride horseback in a 2-mile relay?

Over and over again in a single day? What if you were told you had to ride through mud in a rainstorm?