2019 Student of the Year Honorable Mention: Rylan Mamola
The impact of the NatureBridge program on Montessori Elementary & Middle School of Tracy sixth grader Rylan Mamola was immediate. The moment Dr. Pamela Zell Rigg, School Curriculum Director, picked him and several other students up at the end of their four-day Environmental Science program in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Rylan was enthralled with his newfound knowledge of the natural world.
Speaking a mile-a-minute as he got in the van, he simply could not wait to share his ideas for taking his enthusiasm and zest for environmental stewardship forward. Rylan spoke with gusto of his adventures through the Marin Headlands, sightings of baby birds and a red-tailed hawk and visits to the Marine Mammal Center to learn about seals, sea lions and otters. Though despite his eagerness to share the knowledge he had acquired during the program, Rylan was still thoughtful of his peers sharing their own experiences, Pamela explained.
“The communication was not about Rylan, but rather the solidarity of the group, appreciation of the educators and the incredible experience that Nature Bridge had provided,” said Pamela. “Rylan builds each student's confidence and supports each student's expression. The students have such joy in his presence.”
Just two months after attending the NatureBridge program, Rylan arrived back at school in August and quickly helped establish a school-wide food consumption mindfulness initiative. Thanks to his efforts, students now bring only non-disposable containers to eat from at lunchtime.
As a result of this effort the school has no trash from lunch and our composting and gardening are in full swing. Rylan not only feels and speaks with passion and commitment, he acts with commitment. Rylan has helped to change this aspect of our school culture and operations!Dr. Pamela Zell Rigg
Rylan credits his new outlook of the natural world to his educator Kim Orbik. Rather than looking at pictures of whales in a science book to learn about the dangers of littering, Rylan and his peers had the opportunity to spot two whales thriving in their natural environment.
This thrilled him to see because unfortunately, the group had earlier encountered a whale that had died from consuming plastic. This part of the program really resonated with him. Upon understanding all the ways in which plastic ends up in our oceans, Rylan made a promise to no longer let his balloons be released into the air since they do not make it to space like he had previously thought but instead, come back down into the ocean.
NatureBridge is a place of happiness. It is a place where anyone could be anything. NatureBridge changed the way I look at the Earth, all thanks to my educator Kim Orbik and the NatureBridge organization.Rylan Mamola
This year, in preparation for the next group of Montessori Elementary & Middle School of Tracy students to attend NatureBridge, Rylan has been called to serve as an ambassador and share his experience with each classroom. He himself is looking forward to a second NatureBridge program this coming June, this time in Yosemite National Park.
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.