Against schools more than three times their size—Incline Elementary School’s Makerspace students are making their mark in the world of robotics. 

Last month, the IES FIRST LEGO League team qualified for the Northern Nevada State Championship—a first in Incline Elementary’s school’s history and a moment these students will never forget.

Here’s what most people don’t realize: The entire Makerspace program is fully funded by the Incline Education Fund. Which means this opportunity exists only because of donors like you.

Inside the Makerspace, students don’t just learn STEM—they live it. They build robots, write code, test ideas, and solve problems that once felt completely out of reach. Many struggled with math. Some had never tried coding. But each week they step into a space where “I can’t” becomes “I did it.”A highly trained STEM teacher—funded by Incline Education Fund—guides them.

State-of-the-art robotics kits and tools—funded by donors like you—surround them. Suddenly, math makes sense. Engineering feels possible. Confidence grows.

Help us keep this innovative program alive. Your donation will: Keep expert STEM instruction in the Makerspace Provide robotics kits, coding software, and engineering materials Ensure every IES student—has access to high-quality STEM learningCreate life-changing opportunities rarely available in small, rural schools.

Without Incline Education Fund—and without YOUR support—the Makerspace wouldn’t exist. The spark that turned into a State Championship run might never have been lit.

DONATE HERE NOW Incline Education Fund

The Incline Education Fund is a 501c3 organization: 85-3759623948

Incline WayIncline Village, NV 89451

maryd@inclineeducationfund.org,sharons@inclineeducationfund.org 

We are proud to announce the publication of a short story by fifth-grade student, Maiia Christoffersen, marking a significant achievement that has transformed her into a budding literary role model for her peers!

Maiia’s journey began last year during a visit from author and illustrator Megan Ricciardi. Megan’s workshop focused on the art of puppetry, encouraging students to craft their own puppets and then write a short story inspired by their creation. The winning story would be selected for publication, and Maiia wrote and illustrated her book Mission: S.A.W.C. for consideration. The rest is history!

Our Librarian, Aly Nugent, says of Maiia’s story, “Mission: S.A.W.C. is a very creative story about what happens to the lost socks (or, as she refers to them, “lost soles”) in the dryer – a problem that all ages could relate to. Lost socks are transported to a magical land called Puppetville, where Maiia’s character, Rosie, comes to life as a sock puppet. Her story is well thought out, outlining the relationships between friends, and leaves room for imagination. Maiia purposely left pages mostly black and white for readers to color in the background, and she leaves room at the end for readers to write and illustrate their own Puppetville adventure for Rosie.”

Following the publication of her book, Maiia has wholeheartedly embraced the role of “visiting author.” She has been touring lower-grade classrooms, reading her story aloud, leading interactive Q&A sessions, and, most importantly, encouraging her younger schoolmates to dive into their own creative writing projects.

Her natural ability to connect with the younger students has made her a powerful advocate for literacy and self-expression within the school community.

“Students laughed along with Maiia as she engaged them not only with her story, but with Rosie, the sock puppet, that inspired her story. Maiia, the author, plays along with Rosie the character during her author visit,” added Ms. Aly. “Students were equally impressed and inspired, and already ready for a sequel!”

For more information about Megan Ricciardi’s Airy Fairy Library, visit airyfairylibrary.com.

Another example of how Incline Middle School is taking learning outside the classroom—and into the community—comes from this fall’s Library Exploratory.

Students were highly engaged as they learned about writing, editing, and public speaking through a creative adventure fiction project at the Incline Village Public Library. Each Wednesday, the library team provided all the materials and guided students through activities that strengthened their storytelling and presentation skills.

Beyond improving their writing, students discovered how much more the library offers—from free online resources and 3D printing to Teen Tuesday, Escape Rooms, and dedicated study and hangout spaces. Many left with a new appreciation for the library as a hub for creativity, technology, and lifelong learning.

Each student capped off the experience by reading their original stories aloud to a small audience—gaining confidence and poise as young authors and public speakers.

Incline Middle School and Incline Education Fund extend a special thank-you to the Incline Village Public Library team for creating such a dynamic, hands-on learning experience.    

📚 Support your public library—it’s more than just books!

The Incline Education Fund proudly funds the entire IMS Exploratory Program, making experiences like this possible for every student.

Incline Middle School students just wrapped up the first quarter of this year’s Exploratory Program—a signature initiative that turns learning into doing. Now in its third year, the program gives every student the chance to dive into real-world, hands-on experiences that build confidence, teamwork, and practical skills.

This fall’s lineup was as diverse as it was inspiring. Students explored Culinary Arts, Fiber Art, and Financial Literacy, hit the lanes in Bowling, and took to the pool for Swimming. Outdoor enthusiasts tackled Mountain Biking and Tennis, while construction-minded teams painted Bear Boxes and built Dog Houses—projects that blend engineering, design, and community service. Leadership and a class at the public library rounded out the offerings, helping students strengthen communication, organization, and collaboration skills.

A special thanks goes out to the many community members and local Rotary volunteers who shared their time and expertise to make these projects possible. Chuck Meyer (1), Chuck Meyer (2), Ginny Lewis, Ed Yarish, Greg Simvoulakis, Pam Sheldon, Lu Sweeney, and Valerie Kuchulis all rolled up their sleeves to mentor students in the Dog House build, teaching practical construction skills while reinforcing teamwork and problem-solving. Their involvement continues to show how much our community invests in its young people.

Look for the finished dog houses around town! The IMS class built four of them, which will be displayed throughout the village during November. In collaboration with the Pet Network, the houses are also being used to collect donations for Pet Shelter Awareness Month. In December, two of the houses will be donated to the Liberty Dogs program in Reno, and the other two will be raffled off to help fund future IMS Exploratory projects.

The American Association of University Women, Tahoe-Nevada Branch (AAUW Tahoe-NV), located in Incline Village, has awarded several financial grants to deserving not-for-profit organizations in the Incline Village area. 

Thanks to the generosity of numerous donors and AAUW Tahoe-NV’s fundraising efforts, the Branch, through their Community Education Grant Program for Fall, 2025, granted more than $ 8,000 that will benefit all three local public schools!

“These grants are awarded annually to nonprofit organizations serving the Incline Village area in the education arena and in alignment with our mission,” explains Jane Dykstra, Chair of the Community Education Grant Committee of the local AAUW Branch. “This Program was introduced in 2022, and has been a most rewarding endeavor for our AAUW Tahoe-Nevada Branch. This year, we received a record of nine grant applications from seven non-profits operating in our community,” Dykstra continued.

Volunteer members of the AAUW Tahoe-NV Branch comprise the Grants Committee. Each grant proposal is reviewed and the most impactful opportunities are sought out using a grading matrix method. Funding was awarded to a wide variety of projects that provide educational programs to benefit women and girls of all ages. This includes the following:

• Igniting Inquiry Project at Incline Elementary – Classroom Science Support through

Incline Education Fund (IEF)

• Makerspace Classroom at Incline Elementary through IEF

• Incline Middle School’s MathCounts Team through IEF

• Educational Programs for Mothers at Tahoe’s Connection for Families

-more-2/2/2 – AAUW TAHOE-NV AWARDS FALL COMMUNITY EDUCATION GRANTS

• Incline Middle School’s Girls Inquire (and Inspire) Club

• Tahoe Family Solution’s Homework Help Club

• ComputerCorp’s Summer 2026 TechCamp Scholarships for Incline Girls

• Women’s Snowshoe Outing with Tahoe Institute for Nature Science

• Incline Elementary School Library Supplies

AAUW Tahoe-Nevada Branch sponsors a monthly meeting in Incline Village that features speakers on a broad range of subjects to its more than 140 members. The Branch also has many interest groups (Outdoor Enthusiasts, Book Club, and a Great Decision discussion group, to name just a few).

The AAUW Tahoe-Nevada Branch is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation registered with the Nevada Secretary of State (Federal Tax I.D. #943055754), whose purpose is to further AAUW’s mission in advancing equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. 

Contributions to the Scholarship Program and Community Education Grant efforts qualify for a federal tax deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 170.c. of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 USC 170c. For further information on the AAUW Tahoe-NV organization or to contribute to their efforts, please go to their website: https://tahoe-nv.aauw.net

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 10/15/2025, Written by Katelyn Welsh

Tahoe Crew, an up-and-coming youth rowing team, is off to a promising season following its first two races this fall.

Based out of Incline Village, the team is fresh off the Head of Port Regatta, a competition in Sacramento, which took place Sunday, Oct. 5. The team brought home six gold medals in the following categories.

• Boys U19 Single – Sebren Key (Galena)
• Boys U17 Single – Alex Tippett (North Tahoe)
• Boys U16 Single – Kai Copeland (Carson)
• Boys U17 Double – Tippett and Kole Buckley (Galena)
• Boys Novice Double – Copeland and Brecken Key(Galena)
• Girls Novice Double – Katie Illg (Sage Ridge) and Kennedy Kelly (North Tahoe)

In addition to those six golds, U19 racer, Sebren Key, claimed a trophy awarded to the fastest single boat of the entire regatta, regardless of sex or age. The perpetual trophy will remain with Key until next year’s race. It has over two decades worth of names engraved on the side since its origination in 1999. Key, however, is one of just a few youth names to claim it.

READ MORE >

Photos provided to Tribune

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Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, a spacious resort nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, announces the return of its Haunted Carnival for Halloween 2025. This family-friendly event promises a night of fun while raising funds for the Incline Education Fund’s “Step Up for STEM” program.

“We are so excited to welcome our local community and resort guests to the Haunted Carnival this Halloween,” said Andrew De Lapp, resort manager at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino. “Guests of all ages can enjoy carnival games, crafts, tasty treats, and Halloween-themed activities, all while supporting a fantastic local organization.”

The Haunted Carnival will take place on Friday, October 31, between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the resort’s Regency Ballroom. The price of entry is a $10 donation and includes five carnival tickets that can be used for games and activities. Additional tickets will be available for $1 each. Validation will be provided for the resort’s self-parking lot.

Guests can enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities including a bouncy house, photo booth, as well as classic carnival treats such as popcorn and cotton candy. Additionally, the event will host a scary haunted house designed for older children and adults.

All proceeds from the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe’s Haunted Carnival will be donated to Incline Education Fund’s “Step Up for STEM” program. Through community support and recently-awarded grants, the program has funded the launch of the makerspace program at Incline Elementary School, a robotics program at Incline Middle School, and an engineering and entrepreneurship program at Incline High School. For more information about the program, please visit https://www.inclineeducationfund.org/program/step-up-for-stem/.

For questions about the Haunted Carnival, email TahoeAdventures@hyatt.com.   

For more information or to book a getaway to Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, please visit HyattRegencyLakeTahoe.com, or call (775) 832-1234.

About Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino

Situated among the towering peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the award-winning Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino offers a premier destination based in the nature-infused setting of North Lake Tahoe. The resort is home to an on-site Adventure program offering daily guided activities to help guests explore the Tahoe outdoors with everything from group hikes and archery classes to meditation sessions. Guests can enjoy premium amenities such as a year-round heated lagoon-style pool, two hot tubs, and a 25,000 square-foot Grand Lodge Casino. The resort also boasts the 20,000 square-foot Stillwater Spa featuring a variety of relaxing massages, facials and body treatments as well as state-of-the-art touchless therapies including the Cryobuilt Cryochamber, “Pearl” a revolutionary float orb, and the “Harmony” bioacoustic mat. The property showcases premier dining opportunities at the brand-new Osteria Sierra offering elevated Italian cuisine, pub-style fare at Cutthroat’s Saloon, and grab-and-go selections at Tahoe Provisions. Additional culinary delights include afternoon tea service on the weekends and a selection of world-class pastries created by the resort’s renowned team of pastry chefs. Recognized for excellence, the resort has garnered numerous awards including Travel + Leisure’s 500 Best Hotels in the World, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best, Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Smart Meetings Smart Stars Awards, and U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotel Awards.

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino is located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, at 111 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, NV, 89451. For more information, visit HyattRegencyLakeTahoe.com or follow the resort on Facebook or Instagram.

About Hyatt Regency hotels 

The Hyatt Regency brand is a global collection of hotels and resorts found in more than 200 locations in over 40 countries around the world. The depth and breadth of this diverse portfolio, from expansive resorts to urban city centers, is a testament to the brand’s evolutionary spirit. For more than 50 years, the Hyatt Regency brand has championed fresh perspectives and enriching experiences, while its forward-thinking philosophy provides guests with inviting spaces that bring people together and foster a spirit of community. As a hospitality original, Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts are founded on openness—our colleagues consistently serve with open minds and open hearts to deliver unforgettable celebrations, effortless relaxation and notable culinary experiences alongside expert meetings and technology-enabled collaboration. The brand prides itself on an everlasting reputation for insightful care—one that welcomes all people across all countries and cultures, generation after generation.
For more information, please visit hyatt.com

Submitted by Lake Tahoe School, Allie Sacci, 10/03/2025

Lake Tahoe School is delighted to announce the return of the High School Fair on Tuesday, October 21, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This highly anticipated event is designed to connect middle school students and their families from the Tahoe Basin and surrounding areas with representatives from a wide array of top high schools across the country. Providing a crucial early link to post-secondary planning, this fair recognizes that the choice of a high school is a foundational step in a student’s educational journey.

In the state of Nevada, the average high school graduation rate is around 82%, meaning 1 in 5 students do not graduate on time. This stark reality shows why attending a school that is the right academic and social fit is so vital. Attending the right high school impacts a student’s preparedness for college, career, and life, which is why Lake Tahoe School has placed such value in providing this resource for our community.

“Our local Incline High School is an outstanding choice and a great fit for many of our local students, but we believe the best educational path is an informed one,” said Kris Nugent, Director of Admissions at Lake Tahoe School. “In a geographically distinct area like the Tahoe Basin, we know it’s essential to bring as many educational opportunities as possible right to our doorstep. This event saves families countless hours of research and travel, giving them face-to-face access to information that will help them make the best, most informed decision for their child’s next four years and beyond.”

The High School Fair provides a unique opportunity for students and parents to:

• Meet Representatives from preparatory schools, specialized academies, and diverse public and private high schools.
• Discuss Programs including academic rigor, specialized curricula, and extracurricular activities.
• Learn About Affordability by exploring scholarship programs, grants, and financial aid options.

All middle school families seeking insight and direction for the transition to high school are invited to join us for this informative evening. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information and a list of participating schools, please visit https://www.laketahoeschool.org/high-school-fair. If you are unable to attend, please fill out our registration form to receive information from participating high schools.

Event Details:

What: 10th Annual High School Fair

When: Tuesday, October 21, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Where: Lake Tahoe School

995 Tahoe Boulevard

Incline Village, Nevada
Lake Tahoe School is a fully-accredited, independent PreK-8th Grade school in Incline Village, Nevada. For more information about Lake Tahoe School, visit https://www.laketahoeschool.org.