"Science became fun" at NatureBridge for Alum Laura Lomeli Russert
Laura Lomeli Russert is a NatureBridge alum who grew up in Groveland, CA and now calls Washington, D.C. home. Laura’s journey with NatureBridge began when she attended the Golden Gate campus as a young student with her class from Tenaya Elementary. She still vividly remembers her time exploring the Marin Headlands with her classmates, including Elizabeth “Lizzy” Griffith (Hare), who now sits on the regional board of directors for NatureBridge Yosemite.
Reflecting on her experience, Laura says, "I remember being outside all the time and how fun that was. I didn’t know you could find something like I had at home just steps away from the city." That realization fostered in Laura a deeper appreciation for and connection with nature. She also remembers successfully completing what she recalls as "the most impossible hike in the world" at NatureBridge Golden Gate—and it was that experience which ignited her lifelong passion for hiking.
Laura (left) with Lizzy Hare during their school trip to NatureBridge Golden Gate
After returning home, Laura discovered that, although she “played outside all the time” as a child, her experience at NatureBridge led her to “appreciate being outside more.” She noticed the natural elements all around her and had more curiosity about them. She also began sharing her newfound love for hiking with her family, which led to regular family hikes where Laura acted as self-appointed naturalist and encouraged her family members to slow down and pay attention to their environment. Today, Laura continues to challenge herself with daunting hikes, including summiting Yosemite’s iconic Half Dome.
Laura credits NatureBridge with shaping not only her love for nature but also her passion for education and science. "Science became fun,” she recalls. “You weren’t learning from a textbook anymore, and it became so much more real." Her hands-on, scientific experiences at NatureBridge laid the foundation for her eventual pursuit of a Ph.D. in psychology. “I feel like I owe a lot to NatureBridge,” Laura said, reflecting on the continued role nature and science play in her life.
Laura ascending Half Dome in Yosemite
This belief led Laura and her new husband Luke Russert to choose to support NatureBridge in a unique way. Instead of a traditional wedding gift registry, the couple decided to fundraise for several charities and nonprofits that are close to their hearts, including NatureBridge. For Laura, it was a way to give back to an organization that played a formative role in her life while also helping more students experience the transformative power of nature. She hopes that current and future students who participate in NatureBridge programs receive even "one tenth" of the transformative experience she had.
When asked what she wishes more people knew about environmental education, Laura doesn’t hesitate: "That it’s not boring!" Outdoor education plays a crucial role in helping young people understand the interconnectedness of our behaviors and the environment, Laura emphasizes, and organizations like NatureBridge help bridge the gap between young people and nature. "They don’t know what’s out there; they don’t know what they’re missing. If we could help more people see that, we’d be in a much better place," she explains.
As Laura looks ahead, she remains committed to supporting outdoor education and sustainability efforts. She recognizes that formative experiences like NatureBridge leave lasting impacts on young people, shaping the way they think, dream, and explore both themselves and the world around them. She identifies that NatureBridge offered her the unique opportunity to cultivate skills that would benefit her in the years to come; developing a comfort with the unknown and increasing her independence and resiliency were game changers for Laura, who later thrived in situations that called for courage, curiosity, and adaptability. For students at NatureBridge, Laura says, there is “enthusiasm, community, people who are there to support you.” What she later discovered, after having experienced such a positive environment at NatureBridge, is that “you can find that pocket of people wherever you go.”
Laura (right) with her husband Luke in Alaska
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
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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.