The Passing of a Giant: Matthew A. Baxter, Jr.
Andy Baxter, prince among men and one of the last true gentlemen, passed away in February 2022. Andy committed himself passionately to several organizations he held close to his heart—lucky for our mission and the students we serve, one of those organizations was NatureBridge.
Andy came to know NatureBridge through tragedy. His son Matt was a NatureBridge educator in Yosemite National Park. In 1999, Matt died in a rock climbing accident. Following his passing, the Baxter family established the Matthew A. Baxter, III Memorial Fund and the Baxter Award was born. The award inspires staff to dream their wildest dream, seek adventure, push their personal limits and impact the world. To date, over 65 staff members have had their dreams realized thanks to the generosity of the Baxter family.
Andy was tireless. He was unique in his ability to push NatureBridge to be better, to make a greater impact and to support our staff and the students we serve with ferocity and compassion. Andy joined NatureBridge’s Board of Directors in 2007. He served as Vice Chair and Treasurer, and was named Emeritus in 2021. His involvement with and support of NatureBridge was profoundly impactful and an inspiration to all. He made us all more generous and thoughtful, and he made NatureBridge a better organization. A celebration of Andy's legacy will take place on May 12, 2022 with NatureBridge friends.
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.