An Incredible 10th Anniversary of Evening on the Lake
On October 25, the Amazon Meeting Center in downtown Seattle buzzed with celebratory energy as over 300 NatureBridge guests and supporters gathered for the 10th anniversary of "Evening on the Lake," our signature Pacific Northwest fundraising event for our Olympic campus.
The evening began with a lively cocktail and activity hour with a portrait booth, giveaways, and interactive education stations led by NatureBridge educators. Guests also had the opportunity to join a special breakout session around the "campfire," where NatureBridge educators and researcher Chelsea Korbulic discussed the impact of community science. Together, they highlighted the significance of student participation in NatureBridge’s community science projects and shared insights from NOAA Field Ecologist Sarah Morley’s research on the Elwha River. The session explored how these hands-on experiences have shaped NatureBridge educators and students alike, emphasizing the role of community science in inspiring students to engage actively in environmental science.
Panelists discussing the impacts of community science in the breakout room.
Following the reception, guests moved to the main dining room for a delicious meal and a mission-centered program led by Olympic educator Anakah Groneman and auctioneer DawnMarie Kotsonis. We were honored to welcome special guest Sally Jewell, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, as well as eighth grader and featured speaker Ames Black O'Neal, our 2024 Olympic Student of the Year, whose story highlighted the life-changing impact of NatureBridge programs. Inspiring messages were also shared by Olympic Campus Director Jen Kidder and NatureBridge President and CEO Phil Kilbridge, who celebrated how NatureBridge programs are instilling a love for nature, building resilience, and fostering community and environmental stewardship.
In the culmination of the evening, hundreds of guests raised their paddles high in an inspiring show of commitment to NatureBridge’s mission, pledging their support to our Olympic campus and its programs, staff, and students. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our sponsors and guests, this year’s Evening on the Lake raised a record-breaking $525,000!
Our heartfelt thanks extend to everyone who contributed to the success of this unforgettable evening: our Olympic board members, event planning committee, dedicated staff and environmental educators, student alumni and their families, sponsors, and guests. We can’t wait to gather with you again next year at Evening on the Lake!
Stories
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.
An Incredible 10th Anniversary of Evening on the Lake
On October 25, the Amazon Meeting Center in downtown Seattle buzzed with celebratory energy as over 300 NatureBridge guests and supporters gathered for the 10th anniversary of "Evening on the Lake," our signature Pacific Northwest fundraising event for our Olympic campus.
"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. 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."