Winter Wonderland at NatureBridge
The first week of February delivered a round of winter weather that heavily impacted our campuses at both Olympic and Yosemite National Parks. Despite being dealt a mix of wintery travel conditions, lodging closures and hurdles regarding food delivery, our dedicated NatureBridge staff at both Yosemite and Olympic National Parks have been hard at work making modifications that enable programs to continue.
Olympic National Park #
Last month’s storm came just as educators at our Olympic campus were gearing up to welcome back program participants. Though the weather added several challenges, it provided a great opportunity for staff team building as well as a chance to display snow sculpture-making talents!
Most importantly, it didn’t stop our leaders from hosting a large group of Miramonte High School students for the overnight environmental science program. In addition to exploring the Elwha River and paddling Salish-style canoes on Lake Crescent, students went snowshoeing through the forest trails to Marymere Falls - a rare opportunity granted by the recent storms.
Yosemite National Park #
Our NatureBridge campus at Yosemite also enjoyed some exciting weather early last month. According to the Yosemite blog of the National Park Service, the area was blanketed with 97 inches of fresh snow in just five days. This storm, unfortunately, led us to close our tent cabin accommodations at Half Dome Village in the Yosemite Valley.
The good news is that NatureBridge is fortunate enough to have incredibly flexible staff members who are accustomed to adapting to the changing weather. Shortly after the storm, new lodging headquarters were established at the Yosemite Valley Lodge as well as the historic Big Trees Lodge, formerly known as the Wawona Hotel.
At present, our Yosemite team continues to welcome students and teachers to our Environmental Science program so that young people can enjoy the transformative NatureBridge experience in the wind, rain or snow!
In the event of more winter weather in the coming weeks, Director of Risk Management Jeff Crow and our Olympic staff are equipped and ready to work with schools to ensure safety and a unique snowy NatureBridge experience.
Stories
2024 Student of the Year: Kai Diaz
At NatureBridge, we celebrate the stewards of today and foster the development of the stewards of tomorrow, working to inspire environmental stewardship in all our participants. Our goal is to motivate our students to make waves and be changemakers in their communities and for our planet.
Each year, NatureBridge honors a student who has demonstrated leadership, growth and a commitment to protecting our natural world as a result of their participation in a NatureBridge program. This year’s honoree will be recognized and will speak at An Evening Outside with NatureBridge on Thursday, May 16 at our Golden Gate campus.
We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Student of the Year: Kai Diaz.
An Interview with Evening Outside Keynote Speaker Dr. Britt Wray
The minute we found out about the work of Dr. Britt Wray, we knew we wanted to learn more about her. A well-respected author and scientist, Dr. Wray possesses expertise in an area of research we talk about a lot at NatureBridge—specifically how we can be resilient, hopeful, and actionable amid a changing world, including the climate crisis. We’re thrilled that Dr. Wray will be joining us on May 16 for An Evening Outside with NatureBridge as our Featured Speaker. Ahead of the event, we had the chance to ask her a few questions relating to her work and her connection to the mission of NatureBridge.
Staff Spotlight: Appreciation for Miho Aida
Miho Aida (she/they) has held multiple roles at NatureBridge over the past twenty-four years, including Environmental Science Educator, Community Connection Coordinator, Field Staff Scientist, Marine Project Coordinator, Pacific Rim Environmental Education Specialist, Armstrong Scholars Educator, Diversity Coordinator, Equity and Inclusion Manager, and Director of Equity and Inclusion. Now, on the eve of Miho's departure, we asked them to reflect on their time at NatureBridge and share a bit about their upcoming adventures.