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
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.