Hands-On Discovery: Explore Tahoe’s Natural Wonders

Step into a world of exploration with our hands-on exhibits, where you can see, touch, and interact with the natural elements that make up the Lake Tahoe ecosystem. These engaging activities offer a fun and educational experience for visitors of all ages, helping them connect with the region’s forests, waters, and wildlife.

Trees of Tahoe

Can you tell the difference between a Jeffrey Pine and a Red Fir? Get hands-on with real pine cones and needles from native trees and learn key identification tips to help you recognize Tahoe’s towering evergreens on you next nature walk around the basin.

Secchi Disks & Water Clarity

Test your scientist skills with miniature Secchi disks, just like those used by TERC researchers to measure water clarity in Lake Tahoe. See what causes the water to change colors and understand why the Secchi disk continues to be used all over the world for over a century.

Why Is Lake Tahoe Blue?

Ever wondered why Lake Tahoe looks so blue? Use a prism to split white light into a rainbow and uncover the science of light absorption and scattering. Experiment with different angles of light to see how the lake changes in different conditions. Learn why clarity affects color and what that means for Tahoe’s future.

Who Left This Behind? – Wildlife Clues & Tracking

Step into the role of a wildlife detective as you examine real animal tracks, fur, scat models, and other clues to help you identify Tahoe’s local creatures.