Sense of Place series: Welcome to Yosemite National Park!
What is Sense of Place?
All NatureBridge programs are structured so students develop a Sense of Place. Students connect with the place where their NatureBridge experience occurs and the people with whom they are sharing the experience. This creates a safe and comfortable environment that is conducive to learning and makes the experience relevant to students.
Welcome to… Yosemite National Park
Nestled deep in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park is known for its iconic views—towering granite domes, stunning mountain ridges and gushing waterfalls. Home to more than 400 species, Yosemite provides a breathtaking backdrop for young scholars to learn about a myriad of environmental sciences. Yosemite is the third oldest National Park in the United States.
The Human Story
Yosemite National Park is on the ancestral and present day homelands of the Mono Lake Kutzadikaa Tribe, Bishop Paiute Tribe, Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, Bridgeport Indian Colony, North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California and the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians. They have been living on this land for as long as 8,000 years.
By the time settlers entered the Yosemite area in the mid-19th century, the Valley was inhabited by peoples who called Yosemite Valley, "Ahwahnee," which loosely translates into "Place of a Gaping Mouth."
Fast Facts
- Yosemite is 747,956 acres (1,169 square miles), nearly 95 percent of which is designated Wilderness
- Nearly 800 miles of trails
- There are multiple vegetation zones in the park. From lowest to highest elevation they include: Foothill-Woodland Zone, Lower Montane Forest, Upper Montane Forest, Subalpine Forest and Alpine Zone
- More than 400 species of vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals call Yosemite home ( approximately 40 species have a special status under California endangered species legislation)
- Approximately 1,500 species of flowering plants
- Yosemite is home to glaciers, including those on Mt. Maclure and Mt. Lyell
- The Giant Sequoias that grow in Yosemite National Park are some of the biggest living things on the planet
- Two Wild & Scenic Rivers, the Tuolumne and Merced rivers, begin in the park and flow west to the Central Valley
- 18+ 12,000-foot peaks
- Yosemite Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in North America, is 2,425 feet high
A (very brief) Timeline of Yosemite National Park
- 1849 - The California Gold Rush brought miners to the Sierra Nevadas and in 1851, the first non-Indians entered Yosemite Valley in a state-sponsored militia, leading to the deaths of thousands of Miwok people
- 1864 Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Land Grant protecting the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley
- 1868 - John Muir visits Yosemite for the first time
- 1890 The land is officially designated a National Park
- October 1905 Yosemite National Park is expanded by adding Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley
- 1927 The Ahwahnee hotel opens, and remains one of America's most distinctive hotels
- 1960’s the last Indian village was removed from Yosemite Valley
- 1984 Designated a World Heritage Site
- 1971 The Yosemite Institute is founded by Don Rees
- 2013 Construction begins on the new NatureBridge campus
- 2016 President Obama visits NatureBridge 4th graders in Yosemite
NatureBridge campus and programs:
School & Group Environmental Science
Our overnight environmental science programs in Yosemite National Park offer students the opportunity to explore the deep valleys, grand meadows, and sequoia forests. We collaborate with each school or group to ensure their program experience meets their educational goals.
Armstrong Scholars
The Armstrong Scholars program seeks to inspire all young women, trans-inclusive, ages 15-18 to reach their highest potential, develop a stronger sense of self and explore their personal connection to nature during a 12-day wilderness backpacking adventure in Yosemite's High Sierra.
Family Camp
NatureBridge’s Crane Flat campus serves as base camp for family cohorts to explore Yosemite. Relax under a canopy of tall trees, go on educational hikes led by our experienced educators and explore the grandeur Yosemite has to offer.
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.