Welcome, Cindy Orlando!
Please help us extend a warm NatureBridge welcome to Cynthia Orlando (Cindy), who is our new National Park Service (NPS) Liaison! Cindy currently serves as the Field Special Assistant (FSA) for Interior Region 12 (Pacific Islands) and as the Principal Deputy Regional Director of National Park Service Interior Regions 8, 9, 10 and 12, where she has served as the Deputy Regional Director since April 2020.
As Principal Deputy Regional Director, Cindy provides leadership for the more than 60 national park sites within California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and portions of Arizona and Montana, as well as Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, including Yosemite National Park, Golden Gate National Park, and Olympic National Park, where three NatureBridge campuses are located. These parks host 65 million visitors a year, with over 3,500 employees. Cindy has over 30 years of park management experience within the NPS and received the Meritorious Service Award from former Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton in recognition of her outstanding leadership and administration of the concession management program of the NPS. Welcome, Cindy!
All of our successes rest on the laurels of our relationships-with our youth, our resources, and each other.Cindy Orlando, Principal Deputy Regional Director Interior Regions 8, 9, 10 and 12 National Park Service
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.