2024 Olympic Student of the Year: Ames Black O'Neal
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 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 an environmental science program at our Olympic campus. This year’s honoree will be recognized and will speak at the 10th anniversary of Evening on the Lake, which will be held on Friday, October 25 in Seattle.
We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Olympic Student of the Year: eighth grader Ames Black O'Neal.
Ames participated in a NatureBridge program with his seventh grade class from Portland, OR at our Olympic campus in spring 2024. As a self-described "nature nut," Ames was surprised by how much he learned at NatureBridge and how meaningful he found the hands-on, immersive experience to be. As he later reflected, "Learning is so much more impactful when you are surrounded by the subject matter."
Ames’ journey with NatureBridge showcases the transformative power of hands-on learning and exploration. From rare wildlife sightings to personal growth, his experience was filled with awe, discovery, and meaningful encounters. We can’t wait to see where Ames’ love for nature will take him next!
Tell us a little about yourself. Why were you excited to attend NatureBridge? #
I live in Portland, Oregon and attend Sunnyside Environmental School. I’m an avid reader who is drawn to books about nature and will watch any documentary narrated by David Attenbourogh in a heartbeat. I was pumped when I learned that my seventh grade class would go on a four-night trip to the NatureBridge location in Olympic National Park, even though to be honest, I didn’t know much about the park or what the week would be like.
What were some of the things you learned while at NatureBridge? #
I attend a school whose curriculum focuses on science, and I am a bit of a nature nut in general. So I was a little surprised by how much I learned at NatureBridge. I knew about oceanic plankton, but I had no idea that plankton resided in lakes! I didn’t know that the reason Lake Crescent has such clear water was because of the lack of nutrients! And I didn’t know how much I would enjoy the hands-on experiments, such as replicating ocean acidification through Alka-Seltzer and listening underwater with a hydrophone. There are things I learned at NatureBridge that I still think about—and tell other people.
What was your biggest takeaway from your NatureBridge experience? #
My experience at NatureBridge was amazing. It was informative and fun—a perfect blend of learning and getting to goof off with my classmates. It was powerful to be in such a beautiful environment and to be immersed in what we were discussing. Learning is so much more impactful when you are surrounded by the subject matter. We could see what we were talking about, and watch it happen in real time. I’m not actually sure I totally understand why it makes such a difference to see a creek flowing into a lake while talking about watersheds, but it does. Or why dropping a rope with a disc into Lake Crescent to see how deep it is versus just being told the number matters, but it does. It just does...
I can’t wait to hear all about this year’s students' adventures and memories as they embark on the same trip that I took. And while they will have their own stories to tell, I know that they will be just as incredible.
Stories
2024 Olympic Student of the Year: Ames Black O'Neal
We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Olympic Student of the Year: eighth grader Ames Black O'Neal.
Ames participated in a NatureBridge program with his seventh grade class from Portland, OR at our Olympic campus in spring 2024. As a self-described "nature nut," Ames was surprised by how much he learned at NatureBridge and how meaningful he found the hands-on, immersive experience to be. As he later reflected, "Learning is so much more impactful when you are surrounded by the subject matter."
In Memoriam: Bill Anders, Visionary Leader and Co-Founder of Yosemite Institute
Earlier this year, we mourned the loss of William “Bill” Anders, a true environmental champion and visionary leader whose impact resonated deeply for NatureBridge and society at large.
As a member of the historic Apollo 8 mission in 1968, Bill captured the iconic “Earthrise” photo—a stunning image of our small, delicate planet rising over the moon’s horizon. Reflecting on this moment, he remarked, “We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.”
Alumni Spotlight: Alma McKenry
In April 1985, a group of seventh graders from Vallejo Junior High School embarked on an unforgettable educational trip to NatureBridge Yosemite, then known as the Yosemite Institute. As part of the school’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program, these students experienced outdoor science education, thanks to several dedicated teachers who believed in the value of connecting students with nature. For Alma McKenry, a city kid from Vallejo, CA, the trip to Yosemite felt like stepping into the great unknown.