Dear Teachers and Administrators,

My name is Rori Wylie, and I am excited to introduce myself as the TuCARE Education Coordinator for the 2026–2027 school year. As a proud Tuolumne County native, wife, and mom to three energetic boys (ages 12, 10, and 6), I have a deep appreciation for the place we call home. My family loves spending time outdoors whenever we can—whether we’re fishing, hiking, or sitting on the sidelines cheering on our boys as they play the sports they love. I feel incredibly fortunate to now share that same appreciation for our community with local students through TuCARE.

TuCARE offers a truly special FREE educational program called Tours for Kids, designed to connect students with the natural resources, industries, and careers that are unique to our region. These hands-on learning experiences help students gain a greater understanding of the environment and the people who help care for it.Our field trips include visits to the Stanislaus National Forest, Active logging sites, Pacific Ultrapower, Sierra Pacific Industries, Tri-Dam at Tulloch Reservoir, Working cattle ranches, Horse ranches, and more! In addition to field trips, we offer engaging classroom presentations, including Talk About Trees, which explores the life cycle of trees and the importance of healthy forests.  Every TuCARE field trip and classroom presentation is correlated with California content standards and designed to be grade-level appropriate.

We are now booking FREE field trips and classroom presentations for the 2026–2027 school year. If you’re interested in scheduling a program for your class, please scan the QR code on the last page or contact me directly at toursforkids@outlook.com.

If transportation costs are a concern, please see the next page for information about available field trip funding assistance. Thank you for everything you do for our students. I look forward to working with you and helping create meaningful, memorable learning experiences for your classroom this school year!

Sincerely,

Rori Wylie, Education Coordinator

TuCARE wants to support YOU!

 

In an effort to promote environmental education and hands-on learning, a new initiative was created to provide free transportation during the 2026-2027 school year!  This program, spearheaded by Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and Environment and partnered with the George James Memorial Fund at Sonora Area Foundation, aims to eliminate transportation costs- a common barrier that prevents many schools from offering enriching outdoor learning experiences.

The initiative is open to all K-12 Tuolumne County Schools and allows teachers to apply for funding for transportation for their class to a variety of locations around Tuolumne County. Funding for the program comes from a combination of grants, sponsorships, community donations, and TuCARE educational funds. By removing logistical and financial hurdles, this initiative is opening the door to impactful educational experiences and helping cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards.

All classes, from all k-12 schools in Tuolumne County are able to apply! The 2026-2027 school year is still in our pilot program for this initiative, and therefore, TuCARE has not determined a maximum amount of funding available. The maximum will be determined based on the need in Tuolumne County and how well the program works. Please be patient with us as we review applications for funding and determine how much we can support. To Apply: Scan this QR Code to submit a funding request For questions about this initiative, please contact the TuCARE Education Coordinator, Rori Wylie at 209-770-3399 or email toursforkids@outlook.com.