Fall Reflections from NatureBridge Yosemite
NatureBridge Yosemite Environmental Science Educator Larissa Biette provided these thoughts as a reflection on her experience teaching in the field this fall.
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.
We spent the week uncovering the story of the landscape—noticing the animal tracks on the ground, wondering what clues were left behind to tell us what was here before us. We collected dogwood seeds that would later be planted in the park to encourage forest diversity, and talked about how we could encourage each other’s differences, too. We marveled at the beauty of El Capitan and learned the Southern Sierra Miwok story of how it came to be, and we talked about the importance of spaces like national parks that are dedicated to protecting nature and all of the wisdom that it holds.
As we were walking back to Curry Village on our last day of the program, a student asked if the day was over. Their chaperone answered “Yes,” and reminded him that they were going to stop at the gift shop before they left. Disappointed, he proclaimed, “Shopping is [not as fun] compared to this.”
One of the interesting parts about being an environmental science educator is that sometimes you just don’t get to see the impact you have on the students. Sometimes you just have to trust that you’re planting the seeds—and even if they don’t know it now—some day down the line these students might be influenced by the week we had together. Every once in a while, you do get to see the difference; you'll see the ways in which they’ve grown and changed throughout the week and believe that when you send them out into the world again, they’ll enter it with a new mindset: one of kindness, compassion for others, and appreciation for the world around them. And maybe, just maybe, when they go back home they’ll still think that playing outside is more fun than shopping.
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.