About Nevada Wildland
Vision:
Leading the way toward a vibrant, sustainable future for Nevada.
Mission:
We are dedicated to preserving the unique natural beauty, landscapes, and cultural heritage of the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin regions. Through education, exploration, and community engagement, we offer locals and visitors alike meaningful opportunities to connect with Nevada’s rich legacy. Together, we’re shaping a future that honors and protects this remarkable place for generations to come.
Meet The Founders
Nevada Wildland was founded by Sylvain and Elody, a husband and wife who came to the United States to pursue their version of the American dream—one deeply rooted in nature, heritage, and education. Inspired by the French tradition of the ferme pédagogique (educational farm), they envisioned a place where people could connect with the natural world through hands-on learning, meaningful encounters, and shared stewardship.
Their journey led them to Nevada, a land whose raw beauty, cultural richness, and open landscapes felt instantly familiar. In its deserts and mountains, they saw reflections of their own story: from the Basque heritage that helped shape Nevada’s rural culture, to the landscapes of southern France, where Sylvain and Elody spent most of their life together as a couple. That powerful convergence of place and identity sparked a vision they were determined to bring to life.
Elody grew up across the world, including time in Africa, an experience that perhaps shaped her deep love for wilderness and wide-open spaces. Her ancestral roots trace back to Saumur, France, home to the French National Equestrian School and the Cadre Noir, a renowned showcase of classical equestrian art rooted in military tradition. Her grandfather once served in the cavalry there, and that legacy continues in the couple’s lifelong bond with horses. Though their own horses still live in France, they’ve long been central to Sylvain and Elody’s lives—and part of the inspiration behind the project.
A talented photographer, Sylvain brings a deep passion for capturing life in motion—whether it’s a galloping mustang, a hawk mid-flight, or the shifting light across Nevada’s high desert. His work reflects not just the breathtaking beauty of the region, but also the quiet, untamed energy of the animals who call it home. His lens has become a tool for storytelling, conservation, and deepening the emotional connection between people and the wild world around them.
Nevada Wildland is more than a project—it is the living expression of Sylvain and Elody’s shared journey. It weaves together the landscapes that shaped them, the animals they’ve loved, and the values they’ve carried across continents. In this place where wild horses run free and learning flows from the land itself, their passion finds its fullest purpose: to protect, to inspire, and to give back to a world that has given them so much.
About Nevada
Nevada is far more than the bright lights of Las Vegas, the ski slopes of Lake Tahoe, or the charm of Reno, the Biggest Little City. It’s a land of vast, untamed beauty—home to dramatic mountain ranges, soaring peaks, natural hot springs, sweeping sand dunes, and wide desert plains. Known as the driest state in the nation, Nevada supports over 300 species found nowhere else on Earth, from hardy desert plants to the elusive pygmy rabbit. However, this remarkable landscape is also one of the most fragile. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and expanding human activity are putting increasing pressure on its delicate ecosystems.
Did You Know ?
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Despite being called the Silver State, Nevada produces over 70% of all the gold mined in the United States today.
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More than 80% of Nevada’s land is owned by the federal government, making it one of the most sparsely populated states in the country.
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Nevada is home to the largest population of wild horses in the U.S., a symbol of the American West still roaming free.
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The state offers access to four incredible national parks and natural wonders: Death Valley, Great Basin, Lake Mead, and Tule Springs Fossil Beds.
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Straddling the border of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America.
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Road trips in Nevada offer unforgettable experiences: travel "The Loneliest Road in America" on U.S. Route 50 or cruise the Extraterrestrial Highway, where UFO sightings are part of the lore.
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With vast stretches of uninhabited land, Nevada boasts some of the darkest night skies in the U.S., making it perfect for stargazing.
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Famed American author Mark Twain once lived in Carson City. Speaking of Lake Tahoe, he wrote: ‘The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine. Bracing and delicious. And why shouldn’t it be? It is the same the angels breathe.’’
Preserve
From geological wonders to the beauty of native plants and wildlife, our focus is on protecting Nevada’s wild places. Northern Nevada is home to a uniquely fragile biodiversity, where the dry high desert of the western Great Basin meets the alpine climate of the Sierra Nevada.
Our project is rooted in a philosophy of sustainability, one that respects the delicate balance of this environment. We are committed to careful stewardship of limited resources like land and water, and we embrace clean, efficient energy sources in all of our efforts. Our goal is to pass this land on to future generations with as little human impact as possible.
We also work to preserve Nevada’s rich and diverse historical heritage. Though it became the 36th state in 1864, Nevada’s story stretches much further back—through the ancestral lands of the Paiute people, the gold and silver booms, the days of the Pony Express, the arrival of Basque settlers, and the transformative rise of railroads and highways. We honor all of these legacies as part of Nevada’s shared identity.
Educate
We believe that understanding is the first step toward preservation, which is why education is at the heart of our mission.
We offer students and educators meaningful opportunities to bring classroom lessons to life, whether they’re studying biology, history, or environmental science. Our approach is rooted in hands-on learning through observation, dialogue, and active participation. We want students to be explorers, not just spectators, creating lasting memories through immersive, real-world experiences.
We also welcome the broader public to enjoy our guided discovery hikes, where each step offers a chance to discover more about Nevada and what makes it so unique.
Among our most beloved ambassadors are our mustang horses—a living symbol of the American West and a vital part of Nevada’s story. With the largest population of wild horses in the country, Nevada remains a place where this powerful legacy still runs free.
Explore
In 2023, Reno was named the fastest-warming city in the U.S. by the Climate Center—a clear signal that Northern Nevada must proactively plan for a rapidly changing environment and an evolving economic landscape.
Through agricultural innovation and scientific research, we’re leading efforts to adapt to resource scarcity and shifting climate conditions.
We actively build partnerships with universities, field scientists working in similar climate zones, and forward-thinking startups. Together, we’re shaping a resilient future for this region.
Our place also serves as a safe, collaborative space for experimentation, dialogue, and learning to empower the next generation to help build a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow.
“Preserving the natural world is a timeless endeavor, and our dedication today will shape the future for generations to come.”
― Nevada Wildland
Follow in the footsteps of Nevada’s pioneers! Our hands-on activities invite you to explore the outdoors, study native plants, track animal footprints, and identify local wildlife and insects—all as part of our engaging guided discovery hikes.
Led by our knowledgeable local guides and supported by educational materials like scavenger hunt booklets and learning boards, every adventure is designed to spark curiosity and deepen your connection to the land.
From fossil digs to gardening, building windmills, and hands-on science experiments, we offer a wide range of seasonal projects designed to engage and inspire.
Each activity can be tailored to align with local school curricula, making learning both fun and relevant for students of all ages.
Our Mustang Ambassadors live in a protected environment where they can roam freely and safely. In return, they offer something extraordinary: a chance for visitors to connect with them, to witness their resilience, and to learn from their quiet strength.
Through observation and guided interaction, these once-wild horses become powerful educators, teaching us about trust, freedom, and the importance of preserving both the land and the lives it sustains.