The Nevada Division of Tourism (TravelNevada) will launch its annual Discover Your Nevada campaign this month to encourage Nevadans to explore and discover the Silver State this summer.
The campaign is a cooperative program with the Nevada Department of Education, which runs an essay contest for Nevada eighth-graders, the winners of which will be taken on an “ultimate field trip” in the state.
“Discover Your Nevada is really all about educating Nevadans on all the treasures and adventures they can find in their own back yard,” Claudia Vecchio, director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, said. “The essay contest allows us to extend this spirit of discovery to our schools, and in the end, reward students for their creativity by exposing them to even more awe-inspiring scenery and activities on their field trip.”
TravelNevada has developed six road-trip routes around the state, and travelers who “check in” via social media on the routes from Memorial Day through Labor Day using the hashtag #discoverNV17 will earn $1 toward a Field Trip Fund.
In the fall, the Department of Education will conduct an essay contest among eighth-grade students to award the ultimate end-of-year field trip to the winning student.
TravelNevada and the Department of Education will wrap up the campaign with an essay contest in the 2017-18 school year. A winning student in both northern and southern Nevada will be awarded the ultimate field trip — an educational road trip in Nevada.
“I commend Nevada parents and teachers who encouraged their eighth graders to participate in the essay writing contest,” Steve Canavero, Ph.D., superintendent of Public Instruction, said. “This is a terrific way for students to work on their writing skills while learning the colorful history of the Silver State.”
The Routes
The Loneliest Road in America – Carson City to Ely with a spur to Great Basin National Park
NV 95: Free-Range Art – Las Vegas to Tonopah via Highway 95 with a detour to the Seven Magic Mountains art installation on Interstate 15
Burner Byway – Reno to the Black Rock Desert
The Extraterrestrial Highway – State Route 375
The Rubies Route – the Lamoille Scenic Byway via state routes 227 and 229
Great Basin Highway – U.S. Highway 93 from Las Vegas to Ely with a focus on state parks, and a detour to Great Basin National Park
Information on the routes, including maps and suggested places to visit, can be found at DiscoveYourNevada.com.
The Nevada Division of Tourism is part of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. More commonly knowns as TravelNevada, it is responsible for promoting and marketing Nevada as a travel destination to domestic and international travelers. Operating within a performance-based budget structure, TravelNevada is funded solely by a percentage of lodging tax paid by overnight guests throughout the state. For more, visit www.TravelNevada.biz.