Thank You, Teachers!
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to celebrate and appreciate our wonderful teachers and educators. We are humbled by your dedication to teaching and commitment to your students’ success. Your hard work makes it possible for students to experience a NatureBridge program. For that we are incredibly grateful! We’d like to highlight a few teachers who have gone above and beyond to make a NatureBridge program possible for their students.
Jamie Garcia, Teacher at Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High School in Los Angeles, CA
Jamie had planned a spring 2019 program at our Santa Monica Mountains campus but the Woolsey Fire in November changed all of that. NatureBridge’s program sites were severely damaged by the fire forcing the difficult decision to cancel programming. It seemed like the end of Alliance’s trip, but Jamie was determined to provide her deserving students with a NatureBride experience and she did. Alliance students were able to transfer their program to Yosemite and experience Yosemite and snow for the first time!
Amber Hespeler, Teacher at Anna Kirchgater Elementary in Sacramento, CA
Amber is very student focused and fully supportive of our program. She worked SO HARD to appropriately challenge her students and make them feel safe and comfortable in a new environment. She spent a lot of time before the trip preparing her students and setting them up for success. There is a lot of mindfulness and intentionality during the planning process and while they are here. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious!
Indi Ekanayake, Dean of Instruction at Rainier Prep in Seattle, WA
Indi is a former science teacher and now Dean of Instruction at Rainier Prep, a new charter school in Seattle. His role involves supervising teachers, supporting student success and developing partnerships with organizations like NatureBridge that provide access to resources that build his students' confidence as learners, scientists and leaders in their community. Indi puts his students first and is dedicated to finding and providing meaningful experiences for them. This school year, Indi organized Rainier Prep's first trip to NatureBridge in Olympic National Park for 69 8th graders and nine staff! Indi hosted parent and guardian information nights to encourage student participation and championed the trip from day one. Indi was instrumental in creating a partnership with NatureBridge that will have a lasting impact on his students.
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.