Coastal Camp is Back!
Coastal Camp, our summer day camp in the Marin Headlands, was back in full swing this summer, welcoming 1,300 participants—more than ever before! Highlights included seeing our old friends from Wildcare and the Marine Science Institute, increasing access to more Marin kids and launching our new teen programs.
Bringing the Magic of Camp to Young People #
We've been enjoying welcoming back old friends from WildCare and the Marine Science Institute who bring creatures for our campers to see and sometimes touch. Campers have also had a blast sailing aboard the Matthew Turner during our marine science-themed weeks and spending the rest of the day splashing around at Schoonmaker Beach.
One of our main goals this summer was to improve access to Coastal Camp for young people in Marin who don’t traditionally have the resources to attend camp. We developed partnerships with local programs and schools like Bridge the Gap, Performing Stars, San Pedro Elementary and many more so that we could bring the magic of camp to more young people. To cap it all off, we celebrated the launch of our teen programs, Leaders-in-Training for middle schoolers and Counselors-in-Training for high schoolers. Both of these programs are currently funded through a grant from the American Camp Association and are designed to continue engaging campers through their teens and give them the skills to work for Coastal Camp.
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.