Board Spotlight: Chuck Ritter
We’re thrilled to welcome Chuck Ritter to the NatureBridge family. Chuck joined the Olympic Board in January 2019 and we recently sat down with him to learn more about him and his connection to nature.
When I think about the intersection of the mission of NatureBridge and the current state of our world climate, it’s critical that we not only take immediate actions in this decade before us, but instill a sense of urgency and priority among our younger generation to do a far better job of loving our planet.Chuck Ritter
Tell us about your professional career. #
I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a Regent on the South Dakota State Board of Regents. As a governor-appointed board member, it was fulfilling to give back to the state that had invested in my education and to provide stewardship in a field I feel so strongly about.
My experience co-founding a startup, learning through mistakes, working with extraordinary people and having good fortune along the way made me a better leader and person. Most rewarding was contributing to the construction of a company that has been able to give so much professional opportunity to a great group of people.
After 22+ years of consulting, I’m exploring my next opportunity. I served as President of Point B for four years, a Fortune magazine #1 best place to work, and I’m excited to find the next leadership opportunity which allows me to lead with heart, develop great leaders and grow a company beyond the future they see for themselves.
Why is serving on the NatureBridge board important to you? #
When I think about the intersection of the mission of NatureBridge—essentially to connect young people to our natural world and build stewards of our planet—and the current state of our world climate, it’s critical that we not only take immediate actions in this decade before us as human beings, but instill a sense of urgency and priority among our younger generation to do a far better job of loving our planet than we did.
Do you have a story of one of your favorite experiences in nature or a national park? #
I remember making an overnight trip through Rocky Mountain National Park when I was just out of college and in the darkness of the night, we found ourselves surrounded by a herd of deer that had just stopped about us. It was a 15–20 minute journey for us to navigate safely, but it was an incredibly peaceful and, oddly enough, quiet experience that really spoke to the wonder of nature.
Stories
An Incredible 10th Anniversary of Evening on the Lake
On October 25, the Amazon Meeting Center in downtown Seattle buzzed with celebratory energy as over 300 NatureBridge guests and supporters gathered for the 10th anniversary of "Evening on the Lake," our signature Pacific Northwest fundraising event for our Olympic campus.
"Science became fun" at NatureBridge for Alum Laura Lomeli Russert
Laura Lomeli Russert is a NatureBridge alum who grew up in Groveland, CA and now calls Washington, D.C. home. Laura’s journey with NatureBridge began when she attended the Golden Gate campus as a young student with her class from Tenaya Elementary. Laura credits NatureBridge with shaping not only her love for nature but also her passion for education and science. "Science became fun,” she recalls. “You weren’t learning from a textbook anymore, and it became so much more real." Her hands-on, scientific experiences at NatureBridge laid the foundation for her eventual pursuit of a Ph.D. in psychology. “I feel like I owe a lot to NatureBridge."
2024 Olympic Student of the Year: Ames Black O'Neal
We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Olympic Student of the Year: eighth grader Ames Black O'Neal.
Ames participated in a NatureBridge program with his seventh grade class from Portland, OR at our Olympic campus in spring 2024. As a self-described "nature nut," Ames was surprised by how much he learned at NatureBridge and how meaningful he found the hands-on, immersive experience to be. As he later reflected, "Learning is so much more impactful when you are surrounded by the subject matter."