Paula Bush and Dreaming a Better World with NatureBridge
In her 30 years of teaching chemistry and earth science at San Marino High School just outside of Los Angeles, Paula Bush chaperoned 27 years of NatureBridge programs in Yosemite National Park. Each year, the program confirmed her belief in the importance of connecting kids to the outdoors.
“I watched NatureBridge change kids’ lives. I truly believe every kid should have the chance to attend an outdoor program like NatureBridge,” said Paula. “We have mountains 10 minutes away in San Marino and some of the students I taught had never been there.”
As a science teacher, Paula has long been an advocate for hands-on, out-of-the-classroom opportunities. For high school students, testing can be a huge obstacle. At NatureBridge, Paula was always thrilled that students were granted the opportunity to be curious without being tested.
“We’ve killed curiosity in kids!” she said. “NatureBridge is important because it’s not about book knowledge: It’s experiential. You walk on a trail and all of a sudden learning is much more alive.”
Most important was the continuity Paula found at NatureBridge: Tangible lessons that she could reinforce back in the students’ community about nature, being outdoors, caring for the earth and empowering leadership.
“NatureBridge fosters working together, figuring things out as a team, encouraging one another,” said Paula. “Every year, we have students who have never before had leadership roles at school or in the classroom. And all of a sudden at NatureBridge, they become the star. Magical things happened.”
“50 years ago, a group of people had a vision and a dream to change kids' lives by getting them outdoors. They inspired other people to carry on that vision and even though the details and logistics of the NatureBridge programs now look different, the original vision is still intact. That is testimony to the beauty and worth of having dreams. Can we keep dreaming a better world into existence? I say yes.”Paula Bush
It’s teachers like Paula who go the extra step—or mile—for their students. Year after year, our program leaders witnessed Paula show up for her students, leading the way on overnight expeditions in the rain, sleet and snow.
“50 years ago, a group of people had a vision and a dream to change kids' lives by getting them outdoors,” she said, reflecting on five decades of NatureBridge programming. “They inspired other people to carry on that vision and even though the details and logistics of the NatureBridge programs now look different, the original vision is still intact. That is testimony to the beauty and worth of having dreams. Can we keep dreaming a better world into existence? I say yes.”
Pivotal in engaging the next generation, Paula dedicated more than 27 years to creating pathways to learning, growth and environmental stewardship for her San Marino students in Yosemite. And today, she believes those pathways are more important than ever. Paula witnessed a change within her own neighborhood in the early days of the pandemic: As everyone was forced to stay at home, people began to be outdoors again in a daily way. And watching families doing things together outdoors was something she found to be quite wonderful.
“I think an upside of this Covid-19 pandemic has been the chance to reevaluate our priorities as people and as a culture,” said Paula. “We had become a society where children didn’t engage in self-directed play, but were always in adult-directed play. It’s been so fun to watch kids learn how to make their own play again. It was interesting, too, that the safest place to be with others was outside.”
Stories
In Memory of Ty Cobb: A Visionary Leader of Resilience and Impact
Ty Cobb, former CEO of Yosemite National Institutes (now NatureBridge), passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2024 in Reno at the age of 84. Known for his visionary leadership, resilience, and ability to inspire collaboration, Ty guided YNI through some of its most difficult moments while building a foundation for its future growth and success.
WildLink November 2024: Woodlake High School
This November, Woodlake High School students and chaperones arrived in Yosemite for their first year as a WildLink school, and we are so excited to have them on the team! That means that the brave students who signed up for this expedition had virtually no idea what to expect before signing up for the trip, because none of their peers had experienced it before them! The week, although quite frigid, was full of lovely views, learning about Wilderness, spending lots of time by the river, and enjoying the beauty of Yosemite Valley and Wilderness. Their educators Sarah and Amelia were excited to help this group feel a sense of belonging in this place. They were also lucky enough to be joined by Ranger Lissie on their first day in the Wilderness!
Fall Reflections from NatureBridge Yosemite
As an environmental science educator, I spend a lot of time teaching about nature, but this season I’ve been finding that as it turns out, nature has a lot to teach us, too. Sometimes I can let the trees, the meadow, and the lichen teach for me. They show us how to respect each other’s boundaries, how to celebrate differences, how to work together, and how to lean on each other’s strengths in order to exist in a new place. These lessons felt incredibly relevant to me heading into the first week of November, a notoriously busy time at NatureBridge Yosemite. I wanted to focus on messages of kindness and inclusivity with my students, I wanted them to feel a sense of belonging in this new space, and I also hoped that they would share those messages with others.