Alumni Community
We're so glad you're here! By joining the NatureBridge Alumni Community, you're becoming part of a nationwide network of students, families, educators, and supporters who share a passion for nature, science, and lifelong learning. As a member, you'll receive invitations to alumni events, opportunities to reconnect with NatureBridge educators and fellow alumni, share your story, hear inspiring stories from across our community, and exclusive NatureBridge alumni benefits.
Alumni Benefits
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) #
We’re excited to share a special opportunity from our friends at NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), the global leader in outdoor education. As a NatureBridge alum, your student is eligible for $500 off any Summer 2026 NOLS expedition that is 10 days or longer.* Apply now with coupon code NYA88J at checkout.
Students can build on their time at NatureBridge by elevating their leadership and wilderness skills with NOLS’ immersive, real-world learning experiences that challenge young people to step outside their comfort zone and develop the confidence to lead. Whether you’re seeking personal growth, college preparation, or the adventure of a lifetime, NOLS will help you unlock your full potential and create the kind of leader you want to be. Join NOLS on a rafting, backpacking, or sea kayaking expedition or at any of the many other magnificent places in between!
We’ve partnered with Blog Posts
The Early Days of Yosemite Institute
Bob Hansen joined Yosemite Institute in the very early years as assistant program manager. He soon became campus director and spent six years with YI, which would serve as the foundation for a career in nature organizations and park philanthropy. For Bob, the cornerstone of his time with YI was the lifelong friendships and relationships with Yosemite residents, especially the ones built during the season he became the Yosemite Campus Director and was tasked with hiring 12 new educators.
Alumni Spotlight: Andrew West
Andrew West attended Yosemite Institute in 1997 as a high school junior with a group of students from the Redding Area. That trip was transformative for Andrew. It was the foundation of his life's work, as he returned to Yosemite National Park upon college graduation where he worked for over a decade.
Student to Steward: Cameron Macias
When she was a child on the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s reservation, Cameron Macias would listen to her grandmother tell tales of 100-pound salmon swimming up the Elwha River. Read on for our interview with Cameron, a NatureBridge alum and graduate research assistant at the University of Idaho studying wildlife on the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe reservation.
Educator Spotlight: Dana Delos Santos
After completing the Educator Development Program in Yosemite National Park this summer, Dana Delos Santos moved back east to be an educator at our Prince William Forest campus where she enjoys connecting city youth to the outdoors for the first time.
