Staff Spotlight: Miguel Vicente Diaz
If you’ve ever visited our Golden Gate campus or chatted with someone who has, you’ve undoubtedly heard enthusiastic reviews about the delicious food. While people rave about the programs, the educators and the stunning views, the single most consistent piece of feedback we receive is about the gastronomic magic that’s concocted in our kitchen. This is all thanks to our very own Executive Chef, Miguel Diaz Vicente, who leads a staff of four and serves hundreds of hungry kids each week. We recently chatted with Miguel and learned about what it is that makes the food so great. (Hint… it starts with cooking with lots of love.)
Miguel (he/him) joined the NatureBridge team in 2018 and quickly found familiarity in blending his love of food with his love of the outdoors. “I love to go on walks with my family and play with our dog outside. I have a lot of good memories of playing soccer outside and then teaching and watching my son play soccer too. I also love to go try different foods and eat outdoors. My favorite thing to do is eat crepes with ice cream outside.”
I am so happy with the team that I’ve helped build. The people I work with are really important to me. That’s another reason I really love working here, the people.Miguel Vicente Diaz
A typical day in the Golden Gate kitchen starts with checking on the kids to make sure they’ve had breakfast. Once all of the bellies are full, Miguel begins ordering ingredients for the week, ensuring he has the food that he needs for the different student groups. “I always make sure my items are high quality. The food is very important for them and I want to make them happy.” Miguel works closely with his four kitchen employees, he cooks on the line alongside them, teaches them new recipes and makes sure they have everything they need to be successful, especially during unpredictable times and with varying group sizes. All in all, Miguel says that the return to campus has gone exceptionally well and that they’re continuing to learn every day how to improve what is already, arguably, a 5-star dining experience.
When asked what his favorite part of working at NatureBridge is, it was hard for him to pin down just one thing. “My favorite part of my job is cooking my orders. I love cooking. I even love calling the vendors when they make mistakes. Keeping those relationships strong and honest is important, and it is fun to talk to them but also important to make sure they are working with us how they are supposed to. I love helping people and sharing food. When I work for a place that I love, like NatureBridge, I want to do everything I can to make sure I am helping it and taking it in the right direction. I am also so happy with the team that I’ve helped build. The people I work with are really important to me. That’s another reason I really love working here, the people.”
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.